Page 88 of The Acquisition

I exhaled into the phone. "That would be counterproductive."

My phone signaled an incoming text. I put Stryker on speaker so I could read it. "Huh, well that was serendipitous. It looks like Sabrina is in town and wants to see me. I bet she can get me in front of Malcolm."

"How?" he asked, and there was an edge in his tone that wasn't there before.

"You really are out of touch. They are pretty close," I said while I replied to her text.

Can't wait to see you. Wanna go dancing tonight?I hit send.

Yes!!!! Would you be open to going to a club with Malcolm? He wants to check out his competition.She sent back right away.

"Jana, Jana! How close?" His voice broke through my distraction over texting with Sabrina.

"Uhh, I think they're just friends, but I get the sense that Malcolm might want more."

Something crashed on his end of the phone. "Of course he would."

"Is everything all right?"

"It's fine. Just might have to move up some plans now. Nothing for you to worry about. Malcolm is going to be envious of the scene at Rapture. He's always wanted to break into New York's nightlife. Figure out how to mention the building we have vacant only a few blocks away. He'll be willing to sell your father out in a heartbeat for that location."

"Consider it done. Malcolm is too easy to manipulate."

I texted Sabrina my address at the hotel I'd set up residence in for the last several weeks, and then took a shower while I waited for her to arrive.

It had been too long since we hung out and did anything as normal as getting ready for a night out on the town.

I called down to the concierge and asked them to leave a key for Sabrina and set to drying my hair.

Just as I put the last beachy wave in my hair, I heard the door open. "I brought options!" Sabrina shouted from the entry.

With a towel wrapped around me I joined her in the living room of my suite. "Options?"

She held up a few dresses and wiggled them on their hangers. "Okay, I know they're a little matchy, but so are we."

I looked at her. Long blonde hair, maybe a shade lighter than mine, eyes a bit more navy than my cornflower blue, but looking at her was eerie even for me.

Two dresses, one a tight bandage dress, the other a more flowing handkerchief style, both an icy blue silver. She offered the tighter of the two options to me, knowing I would have reached for the other.

Sabrina raised one blonde eyebrow. "Time for you to rock those curves, sister."

I took the dress from her. "You know I'm not hooking up with anyone tonight, right?"

"God I hope not. If word got back to my brother he'd burn this city to the ground."

I turned my head. "I'm afraid you're wrong." I cleared my throat. "I sent divorce papers. He should have gotten them today."

"Oh, Jana. Why? You love him."

An errant tear ran down my face, and I angrily swiped it away. "God help me I do. I tried not to."

If I was going for honesty, I might as well have unloaded everything. "Look, I have ulterior motives for our outing tonight."

Sabrina nods. "I'm guessing it has something to do with Malcolm?"

When I nodded, she continued. "I didn't think you'd willingly go along if he was going to be there."

"He's acting on behalf of my father, buying stock to try and seize control of my company."

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