Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(5)
I was there too. I did some of those things and helped her with much of it. But I also had breaks. I went out with friends to get away. I was able to have some respite, but not my mom. She was there 100% with him to the very end and I owe her everything for it.
Except for this. I’m doing this charity concert—benefiting cancer research—and I’m doing it because my father loved Cunningham Falls passionately. While it was too small to suit me or my stepmom for long term purposes, it was a part of who my father was, as his family had lived there for generations.
“Mom,” I say quietly. “You will never know how much I appreciate everything you do. I couldn’t be what I am without you. But I am doing this concert. It’s important to me and I’m not going to budge on it. I’m so sorry for the extra work this will cause you, but I also know you will figure a way to salvage whatever you were working on or in the alternative, find something even better.”
Her lips flatten as her shoulders slump in defeat, knowing that even the memory of what a saint she was with my father isn’t going to sway me this time. She knows that I’ve had a very rare win in a battle against her.
“Fine,” she finally says with a long sigh. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you,” I whisper but the smile she gives in return is dull.
Eyes filled with disappointment, she nods at my water. “Now drink up and let’s get you home. Don’t forget we have an early meeting tomorrow with that security company I want to hire.”
I’m so relieved she’s given up fighting me on the concert that I put the coconut water to my mouth and start to suck every nasty drop of it down.
Chapter 3
Kynan
I pace the lobby of our office building waiting for my 10AM appointment to arrive. I was forced to put on a suit today which I hate, but Jerico asked me to meet with a new prospective client because he was otherwise tied up in meetings in Washington, D.C. I’m waiting in the lobby because we have not hired a receptionist yet. Our client base is too small at this time to justify the expense, but that’s about to change.
Jerico told me he had financial backing to start this business in addition to the huge casino contract we’ve been working on for the last three months since he convinced me to move to Vegas to work for him. He’s been in D.C. a lot so I have to assume some of the financial backing is coming from that part of the country. My guess is he’s been hired to assist in some type of covert operation—with most likely the CIA—and thus I’m here meeting clients.
Our offices are definitely unique. The interior is all dark paneled walls, cream marble flooring, and high-end furniture. The outside looks like a fortress.
He bought a three-story building in downtown Las Vegas that was in foreclosure. The outside is composed of white concrete and to the casual observer driving by, it looks like there are no windows. Just solid concrete from top to bottom.
On closer inspection, though, there are rectangular windows that go floor to ceiling on each level that are frosted on the outside to match the exterior.
It looks strong and intimidating on the approach, but step inside and it’s elegant and warm. I’m guessing Jerico wants his civilian clients to feel comfortable and since most of them are extremely wealthy, he paid a great deal of money to an expensive interior designer to make it so.
My favorite part, though, is a small, discreet silver sign on the main lobby door that reads “The Jameson Group - International Security Services.” It reminds me that in addition to babysitting pop princesses, I will be doing some adrenaline-inducing jobs as well.
I glance at my watch, noting that our very first client could be walking in the door at any minute. For the past three months, we’ve been working non-stop on the casino properties. After hiring me and another marine buddy of his, Jayce Barnes, he went on to recruit another twelve security professionals to join his business. But that project is going to be winding down and he wants to start building up a name in domestic protection services.
Yay. I get to be a bodyguard.
Glancing at my watch again, I wonder if Joslyn Meyers is punctual or doesn’t care about wasting people’s time. My preconception about any star—be it actor, singer, or politician—is that they mostly don’t care about keeping others waiting.
I did my research before today’s meeting because I wanted to know what I’d be facing. Jerico wants to land this contract and even though he has a strong personal recommendation behind him, it’s going to be up to me to seal the deal.
Joslyn Meyers is an interesting story, no doubt. Nineteen years old and probably on a trajectory to stardom. She won a national talent competition—one of those ones that are on TV with celebrity hosts that help them to compete against others week to week—and scored a recording contract. She put out an album but sadly, it had lackluster sales and she wasn’t offered a second one.
She wasn’t defeated though. Joslyn was offered a Vegas contract to perform at one of the major theaters here, where she puts on a show that appeals to a broad base audience. She sings some of her own songs and does amazing covers of legendary artists, and somehow manages to combine in unparalleled choreography with a slew of backup dancers. I understand it’s quite an entertainment spectacle.
So that’s her story. My guess is she’ll move on from Vegas at some point, but here she is now. And apparently needing security services, although I can’t understand why. It’s not like she’s a huge mega star or anything.