One Bossy Offer (124)

I don’t answer.

I’m too busy tasting blood as my teeth pinch my cheek.

The bitch has some nerve to mention Jenn after everything she’s done.

“Such a shame it had to come to this. If you’d just called me sooner, you could’ve avoided a lot of the carnage and time away from her and those lovely doggos.” She gives me a smile as demure as a cobra’s.

At one time, I might have fallen for it, but now?

I try to understand what I ever found attractive in this woman as I glare at her, my knuckles straining white in my fists.

“No matter, though, it’s the destination that’s important. You had to be so stubborn, Miles. Don’t worry. As soon as our resources are combined, I’ll make sure the story vanishes. Wickes and Oakes are quite open to an outside mediator, it’ll be like it never happened.”

She sits on the bench next to me, this human shadow that doesn’t need any sun to make everything darker and more depressing.

“How can I believe you, Simone? You’ve given me a hundred reasons not to trust you. You’ve never given one to believe anything you say.”

“I’ve already apologized for taking such drastic steps, didn’t I? An apology I think you accept—or else we wouldn’t be here.”

She pauses, barely biting her lip, her eyes raking over me like she’s expecting an answer.

I’m fucking granite, completely unmoving as I fix my eyes on the pigeons battling each other for food again.

“Miles, you know this isn’t personal. I took no joy in going there, but it was the only way to get through to you.” She pauses and sniffs. “Anyway, we’ll both be better off once we’re pooling our resources. And I don’t expect you to agree right away, but hey—once we’re running joint campaigns again, sharing world-class clients, and tearing up the California media market, maybe that merger will be back on the table.”

Again, I’m silent, refusing to look at her.

“We’ve always been better together. I’m just sad it’s taken this much time and effort to get you to a place where you realize that.”

I’m not expecting her to reach for my hand.

My instinct screams to rip her fucking arm off, but when her hand sweeps over mine, I turn my fist up, grabbing her fingers.

I squeeze until it hurts.

It must be jarring.

Her eyes widen, suddenly unsure, and she swallows loudly.

“Of course, I’ll... I’ll make sure the stories about your father disappear.You don’t have anything to worry about. We certainly can’t do business without this schoolyard unpleasantry behind us, right? We’re two royals squabbling over the same kingdom. Let’s like it, Miles.” She hesitates. “...don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Let’s,” I clip, releasing her hand.

I leave her squirming awkwardly before I fish out my phone, pull up the live video I want her to see, and slowly pass it over.

Her eyes bounce from the screen back to me.

“What’s this?”

“That’s us doing business. Let’s watch together.”

She raises an eyebrow but stares at the screen.

“Isn’t this from the PNW Herald?”

“Correct. We have a partnership with them,” I tell her.

I hear her inhale sharply when the camera focuses on Ava Wickes and Jillian Oakes. The women stand in the center of the screen, a microphone in front of them.

They shift their weight nervously, but determination flashes in their eyes.

“I’d like to thank my employer, Pacific Northwest Herald, for allowing us a public platform to set the record straight. We both have something we really need to say regarding the recent accusations against Royal Cromwell,” Ava says pointedly, looking at the other woman. “Jillian?”

Simone’s cheeks are already turning red as she looks at me. “What the hell are they doing? I didn’t know anything about this.”

“Listen and find out,” I urge, hoping Truman’s getting all of this over the Bluetooth.

“Ten years ago, I worked for Cromwell-Narada’s legal department as a junior attorney,” Jillian begins. “My first few years with the public defender’s office wasn’t coming close to paying off my loans from school. I needed a corporate job with real compensation and Cromwell was the perfect fit. I rose through the ranks quickly in their Legal Affairs department. Eventually, our then-CEO, Royal Cromwell, noticed the long hours I put in and my ability to settle cases quickly and efficiently. When our director left, Royal offered me the position. However, I went into law to make a difference, not money. And in four years with the company, I paid off my student loans and found a way to support my family. I turned down the promotion and asked for a reference letter instead. Now, I’m the legal director of Pacific Conservation Defense Fund. Something I did entirely on my own merits, with a little help from Royal Cromwell that came gratefully and unconditionally. During all of my years in this field, the only person who has ever harassed me—” Jillian says, drawing a deep breath.

“Is Simone Niehaus, chief executive of Pacific-Resolute,” both women say together.

“Miss Niehaus threatened my reputation and my livelihood. Her proxies convinced convicts who received life sentences during my time as a public defender that their chances of appeal would be better if they filed a suit against me and complained to the Bar. These men were caught on video committing violent acts. I did what I could, but there was video evidence. Defending a lawsuit backed by top criminal attorneys isn’t cheap, even if I were to win, and the only way she promised to back off and drop it is if I made an open claim she gave me in writing against Royal Cromwell,” Jillian finishes.