Page 64 of Pandora's Pleasure

“Maybe this is a wise choice? We throw money at it…make it go away.”

“Why? What happened?”

“There was some other interest in the land.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m still in this fight.”

“I’ll do everything I can to turn his decision around.”

“He listens to you. Get me in that room.”

Theo shook his head. “Your father has meetings all morning.”

“Why do I feel like he’s avoiding me?” I headed for the door. “I’m going to see him.”

“Not yet.”

I was suddenly curious as to why Theo didn’t want me to see my dad. It was more than annoying—it was suspicious.

“Who’s in there with him?” I studied his reaction.

“Twelve years we’ve been friends. I’ve dedicated myself to your family,” he said softly.

“What are you insinuating? Your hands are tied? That whoever intercepted my project is unscrupulous.”

“You’re the only man I trust in this town, Damien.”

What the hell was his point here?

“We’re as close as two men can get,” he added.

“Why, because you’ve seen my dick?”

“And a very nice dick it is.”

I ignored his retort. “You know how important this is to me.”

“I will always be in your corner. You know that.” Theo always had a way of calming me. “I’ll put this on your dad’s desk as a top priority. See what I can do to get this decision reversed.”

“How could someone persuade him to do this to me?”

“No comment.”

“I get it,” I said, raking my fingers through my hair. “You can’t serve two masters.”

“Right.”

“Do you have a cigarette?”

“You gave up smoking, didn’t you?”

“No comment.”

“I gave it up because you gave it up.” He slapped his arm, where I assumed a nicotine patch was stuck to his bicep. “That’s why I’m wearing this shit. This was your fucking idea.”

“The patch made me antsy.” I shuddered to make my point. “Do you have a cig in your office for emergency purposes?”

“You’re going to have to learn to not smoke during tough times, too.”