Page 80 of Negotiating Tactics

He was pissed now. “Who the hell are you?”

“A friend of Alex’s, like I said.”

“What kind of friend of Alex’s cares about my domestic situation or my money troubles?” he asked.

“The kind of friend who knows that your domestic situation and money troubles could affect her. The kind of friend who doesn’t want to see that happen,” I said.

“Meaning what?” he asked, glaring at me through narrowed eyes.

I glared back, letting the moment build.

Then I leaned back, studying him. “Alex,” I said, hating to call him that, but pressing on, “I’m going to ask you a question, and before you answer, I want you to really, really think.”

“Seriously, Noah Wilder, what is this?” he asked, his own patience wearing thin, but his curiosity still not satisfied. Exactly where I wanted him to be.

“This is me offering you a solution to both of our problems,” I said.

“And what’s my problem?” he said.

“Money, of course,” I said.

“And what’s your problem?” he asked.

“You.” I let the word hang for a moment and then pressed on. “As a show of good faith, I’ve taken care of your back rent and paid this month, too.”

“Bullshit,” he said on a huffed-out laugh.

“Far from it. You can check if you’d like.”

“Oh, I will. Now what the hell do you want from me?” he said.

“Only one thing,” I answered.

“And what’s that?” He had tilted his head and was studying me intently.

“I want you to stay away from Alex.”

For a split second he looked angry, and then he pulled his phone out of his pocket and read the text message I’d had his landlord send.

He huffed. “So I guess you had something to do with this text thanking me for my payment?”

“Like I said, I’m a man of my word.”

His expression was closed-off, wary, but I could see his wheels spinning.

And saw just the moment to push.

“Are you ready to answer my question?” I asked.

His nostrils flared, and his eyes shifted, but after a moment he met mine and said, “What’s your question?”

I didn’t let a second pass before I said, “How much?”

Twenty

Alex

“I’m sorry, but can I cancel dinner tonight?” I said to Noah as I sat at my desk, my phone tucked between my ear and shoulder.

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