Page 74 of Beck and Call

"Well, what hashtag did you set up for them to use to post about the event?" Jana pushed.

"I didn't. These things have to happen organically. We need to trust that the party is good enough for them to want to promote the event. That's what the gift bags are for," he said.

Jana and I shared a look. "So basically, you used all the ad money to throw a party and didn't direct the guests to post or set up any method to determine the effectiveness of this strategy?" she pushed.

"You worry too much, cousin." He turned to me, "Come dance with me. You've been blowing off our talk all week. I'm not going to let you do it tonight."

He grabbed my hand and tried to drag me out to the dance floor. I jerked my arm away. "I'm not in the mood for dancing."

"It wasn't a request." Chad jerked me back into his body.

I tried to shove him away, but he pinned my arms to my sides. "Now, about our future working together. I want the same perks you were giving Anderson." He pushed forward to kiss me, but I turned my face away.

He roughly grabbed my chin to force my face back towards him. "I'm getting really tired of your attitude. What, I'm not rich enough for you?"

"Let me go!" I shouted. I tried to knee him in the groin, but he deflected my attempt.

"You can keep fighting, but I've got many reasons to lure you away from daddy big bucks. Let's see if he likes it when he has to share the bucks with the entire family."

"Now I know why you seemed so familiar. You're one of Franklin's posse, aren't you?" I demanded.

Jana rushed over to me. "Let her go. I texted Beckett to come in and get us."

Chad tsked. "It would really be better for everyone if you would just take me up on my proposition. Beckett Anderson has a lot of secrets. How will he handle if all of them are exposed?"

"You're disgusting. I'd never leave Beckett for you. Now for the last time, let me go!" I managed to stomp on the top of his foot. When he stepped back, I ran away.

Together we headed for the door, but Mr. Easton stopped us before we made it out. He gestured emphatically around the room. "Jana, how could you let this happen?"

She pointed to Chad, who was hopping on one foot. "Talk to your new department head. I had nothing to do with this."

"Well, fix it!" he spluttered.

Jana shrugged, and dropped her office keys on the floor by her father's feet. "Can't. I start a new job tomorrow. Consider this my notice."

Chapter Twenty-Five

Beckett

"Sir," my new secretary's voice called through the intercom.

"Yes, Mrs. Janek?"

"Your cousin Franklin is here with his lawyers."

After what Chad told Evie last night at the club, I'd been expecting them to make a move. It didn't take a genius to see that they were trying to prevent us from getting married so my cousin could inherit some shares of Anderson Global. "Please show them to the small conference room. I'll be there when I can."

Taking my time, I called my father. "The shit show you put in motion has landed in the office. Come and clean it up."

My cell phone rang, and I was glad to see it was Evie. After the drama last night, I insisted she stay at home and rest today.

I answered my phone. "How is your day going?" she asked.

"Unexpectedly awful. My cousin just showed up with lawyers. How is yours?"

"Not too bad. My overprotective fiancée insisted I spend the morning in bed."

"When will you come back to work with me?" I pushed.

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