Page 31 of Jael

“I’m at the office.”

“What office?”

“Yours—I’m at Hebers.”

“Oh. I must have walked right past you.”

“No. I came in while you were in your meeting and waited in your office until I realized it wasn’t yours anymore.”

“Mm,” Gregory said in a low growl. “No. It certainly isn’t. And Christopher is doing everything he can to make sure I remember that.”

“He is the boss now. You’re not regretting hiring him, are you?”

“No. Nothing like that.” He huffed. “What is it you wanted to see me about?”

“You don’t know?”

“Should I?”

She eased the scowl off her face as she looked at her reflection in the elevator doors. Maybe he was too distracted by the outcome of the meeting to remember what he’d done. Or maybe he was doing what he always did.

“Have you left yet?” she said. “I’m on my way down. I’d rather talk in person.”

“I’m at my car now.”

“Stay there. I’ll see you in a second.”

“Do we have to do this now?”

“Yes.” She hung up and knew it would irritate him, but she didn’t care anymore. She already hated herself for chasing him this far. If it wasn’t Becca’s welfare on the line, she’d bail.Whatever the outcome, she was walking into a fight that she might win for Becca, but no matter the outcome, Jael would lose.

“It’s not about you,” she reminded herself as the doors opened and she quickly found her dad. He was on the phone.

“Tell him I don’t want to hear about it,” he said. “This is his problem, not mine.” He listened, not bothering to acknowledge his daughter. “I don’t care about that. He knows where I stand.” Another pause. “I already told you my final offer. Get back to me when you have something worth my time.” He hung up. “Hi.” He kissed her cheek abruptly. “I hope this is important. I’ve had a bad day. I don’t need more bad news.”

“I wouldn’t have chased you across the city if it wasn’t important. And I’m sorry that you had a bad meeting, but I will need to add to your discomfort.”

He let out an exasperated sigh. “What is it now? Let me guess, the foundation again?”

“It wouldn’t be if you didn’t insist on sabotaging me. What do you expect me to do? Give up?”

“If you can’t run your organization, I don’t see how that’s my problem.”

“The house we’ve been renting off Heber industries was issued an eviction notice. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

“This was your project, not mine. And yet you keep coming to me every time there’s a problem. That place causes you more trouble…” He shook his head. “I don’t know why you don’t give up on it.”

“Why is my client being evicted?”

“Listen to you. Yourclient.Maybe if you weren’t so consumed by that place, you’d know what’s going on around you. The world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“Is there a reason you’re avoiding my question?”

“I’m not avoiding anything. You’re wasting your time with me. Christopher is the one in charge now.”

“But you’re still signing the checks. Have you chosen not to sign any more for the mortgage?”

“I told you. I’ve taken my hands off. If you want to get your way, you’d better start cozying up to the CEO. He’s ready for it, by the way. And I wouldn’t take my time if I were you. He’s not a very patient man.”

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