Page 82 of Five Mountain Daddies

I raise an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I have beeninvolved?”

“They’re rejecting the contract,” he says. “I wanted to tell you in person, before they announceit.”

I clench my jaw. “That’s a goodcontract.”

He shrugs, a cocky little smile on his face. “You shouldn’t have done it alone, Amelia. I know you’re the head of the company, but that’s not how things work aroundhere.”

“It was a good contract,” I repeat. “You’re going to tank it, for what? Because you felt leftout?”

His smile falters for a second. He steps into my office and the door shuts silently behind him. “Understand something, Amelia,” hesays.

I cross my arms. “What do youwant?”

“This company is mine. Your father was smart, set things up in your favor, but it’s mine. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but soon enough you’ll be gone. Don’t make any decisions without meagain.”

I stare at him, and for a second I feel angry. This arrogant bastard is tanking a good deal just because he wants to have control of thecompany.

But my anger slowly fades. At least now I know where he stands. Now I know for sure that he’s my enemy, and that we’re not allies in this or anythingelse.

“Is that all?” I askhim.

His nostrils flare. “Be careful,Amelia.”

“You can go. Leave the door open on your wayout.”

That pisses him off, and I know it’s a petty and meaningless victory, but it feels good. He turns and leaves my office, and I lean back in my chair,groaning.

What the hell did I walk into? I don’t know what my father was thinking, making me the head of this company. Ingram is a monster, and at least now I can see him for what he really is. But it’s going to be a fight from here on out trying to get anything done. Ingram’s going to try and sabotage me every step of the way, and if I fail at this negotiation, the board will ruinme.

Honestly, they might ruin me anyway. That contract was good, and as far as I’m concerned, it was a success. If Ingram brought it to them, they would have accepted it. I may be fighting a losing war, no matter what Ido.

With all that swimming in my head, my cell phone starts ringing. I don’t really pay any attention as I answerit.

“Hey there, boss,” Samuel says, his voice deep and alluring, almost sending chills down myspine.

I hesitate a second. I probably wouldn’t have picked up if I realized it was him. “Hi, Samuel,” Isay.

“How are things at theoffice?”

“Fine,” I answer. “How’s themine?”

“Big and dark and scary,” he says, laughing. “Just the way we likeit.”

I can’t help but smile a little bit. His laughter is so infectious. But that’s tainted as soon as I realize that I have to tell him about thecontracts.

“Listen, I’m glad you called,” Isay.

“Of course you are. You’ve been thinking aboutme.”

I glance at the window. “Notexactly.”

“Sure, you have. You keep thinking to yourself, if I can make you feel the way I did that night behind the bar, what else can Ido?”

I bite my lip. “That’s not what I want to talkabout.”

“But you’re not denyingit.”

“Listen, this isimportant.”

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