Page 22 of Masters of the Game: Colton

“Well, there it is,” Kelly said, sliding the report across the table to Colton.

They had been back in Boston a week and the majority of that time had been behind closed doors going through what seemed like an endless amount of paperwork, comparing everything the cities had offered, and finally coming up with the document she’d just given him.

He picked it up, although he didn’t have to read it to see what city had been selected.

It had been a joint decision, one they had both agreed on.

The final decision had been tough--either would have been an excellent choice.

Kelly’s team had done research on several vacant lots that she had noticed on their tour of Harlem, ones that hadn’t been recommended by the private company the economic agency had hired to give them the tour.

That was when they’d discovered that there’d been some shady dealings going on.

It seemed the private touring company had deliberately not shown them that land because they were in cahoots with some land developer.

The economics agency claimed they knew nothing about it. And to prove they had operated in good faith, they had thrown even more perks into the deal. A vast number of them had been too good to turn down.

“And you think Lake will accept our recommendation to select New York?” she asked.

“Yes. The end result is too good to be true. Only a fool would turn it down, and Lake Masters is not a fool,” he said, standing to stretch.

“When will you meet with him?”

“I’m flying to Orlando in the morning. Will you have wrapped up everything in this office by Friday?” he asked.

“Yes. I fly home to Atlanta on Friday morning. Why?”

“I’m going to Savannah this weekend and plan to stay for a couple of weeks. I’d love for you to join me.”

“In Savannah, for a couple of weeks?”

“Yes.”

She looked at him, seeming to consider his invitation. “Normally, I use the week following a job to wrap up all the paperwork on a closed assignment, then hold a team briefing,” she said. “I can’t do two weeks, but I could manage one. Will that do?”

A huge smile spread across his face. “I’ll take whatever you’re able to give me. In fact, I’ll drive from Savannah to Atlanta to pick you up on Sunday.”

“That’s nearly a four-hour drive.”

“I’ve done it before, and have no problem doing it again. Especially for you,” he said.

She smiled. “If you’re sure about it.”

“Sweetheart, I’ve never been more certain.”

**

Eric Venters reviewed the PI report that John had faxed to him earlier.

It pretty much verified his suspicions. Something was going on between Colton Masters and Kelly Perkins.

And according to the report, while on business trips to New York and LA, they hadn’t tried to hide their relationship.

He had spent more nights in her room than his own.

But John, being the thorough PI that he was, hadn’t stopped there.

He had obtained a copy of a hotel bill where Colton had checked into a hotel in Atlanta two years ago--a hotel room he had shared with Kelly Perkins.

Her name had been added to the reservation, so she could have access to all the hotel’s amenities.

That was all the proof Eric needed that Masters and Perkins were involved in an ongoing affair that had lasted at least two years.

He’d been right. Hiring her agency had been unethical.

It was time he rattled Masters Unlimited by throwing shade on their stellar reputation.

And there were people who knew how to do just that…

for the right price. And he was counting on them doing it in a way where nothing could be traced back to him.

The next time Masters Unlimited needed consulting work, they would be glad to hire his agency.

He looked up when the buzzer on his desk went off. “Yes, Dorian?”

“Ms. Telfair is here to see you, sir.”

He chuckled. She hadn’t wasted any time getting here after receiving his text. Standing, he said, “Send her in.”

Moments later, a smiling Sherelle walked in and closed the door behind her. “Eric, I didn’t know you had returned from India. How was your trip? And what’s up with the text message? Why didn’t you call?”

Crossing the room, she reached out to give him a hug but he stepped back. Surprise showed on her face. “Eric, what’s wrong?”

“This,” he said, picking up John’s report. “You thought I had forgotten about it, but I hadn’t.” He handed the papers to her.

She scanned them and looked back at him, almost horrified. “You actually hired a private investigator to spy on Colton Masters and Kelly Perkins?”

“I sure did. Hell, you didn’t have the guts to do anything to help me, so I had to do it myself. And do you know what I plan to do with this information?”

She looked stricken. “What?”

“I’m going to spread the word, first among their employees. It should make for interesting conversation around the water cooler.” He sneered. “And you can just imagine what went on during their latest business trips. It’ll be a scandal that neither one of them will ever live down.”

“Eric, you can’t do that.”

“I can and I will. In the end, Masters Unlimited will have no choice but to distance themselves from KP Consulting Agency. And that’s when my company will come in and save the day.”

“No, Eric, please listen to me. You can’t spread that information around the office because I lied.”

He frowned. “You lied about what?”

“I lied about your consulting agency being the top contender for that contract. Lake Masters wanted Kelly Perkins all along. He was the one who chose her and not Colton. As CEO, as well as chairman of the board, he could select anyone he wanted.”

“I think you’re lying now. Don’t you think I know what you’re doing? Trying to save your cushy job.”

“That’s not true. I’m trying to help save your company. If Lake finds out you’re behind it, he’ll destroy you.”

He waved off her words. “He’ll never find out.

I have people in place who will throw a few bricks without anyone knowing where they came from.

Lake Masters will never know my part in this, or yours.

That means your job will be safe. Just look the other way and pretend you don’t know anything when the shit hits the fan. ”

And then, to add insult to injury, he added, “By the way… I don’t love you.

I never loved you, and I certainly had no plans to ever marry you.

” Ignoring the shock of pain in her features, he continued, “I only became involved with you because I needed your connections to Masters Unlimited. But you failed. So get out of my office and never come back.”