Sweet Rivalry (1001 Dark Nights)(29)

“Exactly.” He nods for emphasis. “And hence we have thrown those two bids out. They either co-conspired, worked together, or someone cheated and stole the numbers.”

“So you throw both out? If someone cheated, that doesn’t seem fair.”

“Are you trying to talk yourself out of getting this job?” Mason chuckles but his eyes flash a warning that I heed with caution.

“No. That’s not the case. I’m thrilled to have been awarded the job but I’m just trying to understand. Who had the low bids?” I want to know and don’t want to know, and Mason’s expression reflects the same confusion I feel.

“Meteor and Lux.”

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Patrick. This morning. The papers that fell by Harper’s desk. Was he looking at them? Were they in his hand when I first walked in or did he really knock them off the desk when I startled him.

Think, Ryder.

Fucking think.

“And so you disqualified both of them.” It’s not a question, merely a statement, and yet I know they feel like I am questioning them anyway.

You walked in the room.

Tom clears his throat and looks to his left, where another person sits and then looks back to Mason before meeting my eyes again.

“Given the peculiar set of circumstances one of the bidders left her job under, we’re under the mindset that it’s best that we throw both sets of numbers out.”

Left her job under. I think of Harper’s comment this morning. May the best woman win. And know they are referring to Harper––can’t be referring to anyone else since she’s the only female bidding––and reject the idea that she cheated immediately.

And yet they won’t give her the bid because of New York. Her words echo in my head: When a woman stands her ground, it’s easier to get rid of her than rally behind her.

I feel sick to my stomach.

Did Patrick already have the papers in his hand when I walked in? Or did he accidentally knock them off Harper’s desk when I startled him?

I try to remember. Will myself to see it all again.

They were in his hand.

Are you sure though? Accusing someone of cheating is a huge deal.

Goddamn right I’m sure. Harper wouldn’t risk this chance by cheating. Besides, she wouldn’t need to.

“I was in here early this morning. I startled Patrick when I walked in. We both jumped and I burned my hand spilling my coffee. When I looked up, he was putting papers onto Harper’s desk. At the time, I thought maybe he’d knocked some of Harper’s papers onto the ground because I’d startled him…but now that I think back, I’m pretty damn sure he had them in his hand before he dropped them.”

“Are you accusing him of cheating?” Mason’s back gets straighter and he sits up taller.

“I’m just telling you what I saw. It was just the two of us this morning before anyone else got here. Harper’s meticulous, Mason. She wouldn’t leave loose papers on her desk. They’d be in the color folder, not sitting there so anyone could just look at them.”

What in the hell are you doing, Ryder? This job is huge. HUGE. So why are you risking it?

Because integrity matters. Winning the fight when the others have their hand tied behind their back is not right. It’s dirty.

And getting dirty with Harper is one thing.

Being dirty this way is completely different.

“So what is it that you are suggesting, Mr. Rodgers?”

A woman is not worth giving this job up for. Don’t be stupid.

Don’t do it.

“I may regret this in the end, but let me review their numbers.” The looks on their faces tell me what I’m saying is as crazy as what I feel like I’m saying. “It has to be the one building that’s off, right? So let me figure out what that number should be with the original bid set package. I’ll most likely get close enough to their numbers and then you’ll have your answer over who cheated.”

“And what if you aren’t the low bidder anymore?”

My heart is pounding in my chest and my knee is jogging up and down. I purse my lips and look each one of them in the eye before answering. “Then I trust you to award the bid to the person you feel is most deserving in skill, experience, and ethics.”

Fuck, I just screwed myself, didn’t I?

“Why would you even offer this?” Tom asks.

“I don’t know,” I say as I shove up out of my chair and pace the room, hand on my neck and disbelief in my brain. “Maybe because I want to win the bid fair and square. I won’t accuse Patrick of cheating unless I know he did and I don’t think it’s fair to assume it’s Harper because of something we don’t know all the details of. I’d think it would be the opposite. If you’re trying to get your reputation cleared, you’d give a great bid and do it free and clear…but that’s just me.”

Easy, Ryder. One night of hot sex does not mean you side automatically with her. Your dick doesn’t make the decisions here. You do.

And yet I still know she wouldn’t cheat. Why would she have to? She’s just that good.

Mason looks at Tom and there’s a flurry of whispers between them before they turn to me and stare. “Young man, I’m not sure I agree with your business sense, but I admire it. I understand wanting to win fair and square, but while you’re playing clean, someone else is always playing dirty.”