Page 56 of Lilly

"Because we have someone else in mind for L.A.'s mayor. Someone better suited for the job. The current mayor must step down, but he won't do so without incentive."

"Wait a minute." Dean drops the paper and raises his hands. "I didn't sign up to do things that are illegal. I thought I was just—actually I don't know what I signed up for."

I smile at him. "Because you were too focused on the perks. The executive position. The Mercedes. The money. I assume the ten thousand was deposited in your account?"

He quickly nods. "Yes. Yes it was."

"And you don't think you have to work for those things?" Phillip asks. "I'm sure Katherine mentioned that to you when you spoke last May."

"She said I'd have to complete certain tasks but I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know it involved breaking the law. I don't want to go to prison. I can't. I have a son. His mother left. I'm all he has left."

"You won't be serving jail time, Mr. Ashford. We have ways of circumventing the law. It's something you'll learn more about once you're a member. For now, rest assured that you can do these things without risk of punishment," Phillip grins, "at least in the usual manner. Since we're already on this topic, let me make it very clear that you are now under a different jurisdiction. The laws you will be abiding by from here on out will be the laws of the organization, and not abiding by those laws will result in a punishment to be decided by your fellow members, specifically those who serve on the ruling council."

Dean coughs and takes a drink of water. His hand is shaking and some of the water dribbles down his chin. He quickly wipes it with the cloth napkin that was on his lap, then shoves his chair back and stands up. "On second thought, I don't think I want to be part of this. But I appreciate your time. I'll just be going now."

Phillip and I remain in our seats as we watch Dean race to the door. When he opens it, our guard is there, blocking the exit.

"Would you move, please?" Dean asks. I find the panic in his voice rather amusing.

The guard doesn't move, and he's so large, Dean is unable to go around him. Dean turns back to us, his eyes searching the room for another exit, but there is none.

Phillip smiles at him. "Mr. Ashford. Please return to your seat so we can continue."

He hurries back, sweat covering his forehead and dripping down the back of his neck. "I...I don't want to do this. I don't care about the car or the money or the job. Just forget it." He takes the folder and finds the contract and rips it up. "There. Done. Now would you let me leave, please?"

"I'm afraid it's not that easy," Phillip says. "Now sit down and let me finish."

Dean reluctantly lowers himself back down in his chair.

"You've been given your assignment," Phillip says. "You have exactly one week to complete it. When you're done, I'll report the results back to the committee. If they agree to let you continue, you'll receive another assignment. A more challenging one." He clears his throat. "Now, if you must ask a question, do so now."

"What if they don't want me? This committee? What if they reject me, or think I'm not qualified for membership? Then what happens?"

"I'm confident you'll be approved."

"But what if I'm not?"

"The answer to that question is one you don't want, which is why rule number one is so important. Once you've been around us a while, you'll understand. You'll find you're better off not knowing the answers to the questions you want to ask."

Both of Dean's hands are shaking now, to the point that they're rattling the water glasses that remain on the table.

"I almost forgot to mention," Phillip says. "You'll be rewarded for completing your assignments, both the first and the second. The reward is monetary, and for your first assignment, it will be four times the initial amount deposited in your account." Phillip slides the folder over to Dean. "Perhaps that makes your assignment somewhat easier?"

Dean's eyes lock on Phillip. "You're giving me forty grand to make up some fake documents?"

"That's correct. And we'll provide assistance for you to do so."

His lips turn up just slightly as he holds out his hand. "You have a deal."

Phillip's hands remain at his sides. "We already had a deal, Mr. Ashford. You signed the papers. There's no going back."

Dean's smile drops, along with his hand.

"You may go now." Phillip nods toward the exit.

Dean slowly gets up and walks to the door. It opens and the guard steps aside, letting him past.

Once he's gone, the door closes and Phillip leans back in his chair. "That was dreadfully painful. Did you see the way he eats?"

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