Page 75 of Sinclair Duet

I pressed my lips together and looked around the table. “Should I be worried?”

“No,” Damien said. “You’ve got this.”

“I feel like there are things not being said.”

Damien took a deep breath and leaned back. “I said I didn’t want to poison you on any members of the coalition. I meant that. What you’re sensing is a problem with me. Dwain Welsh and I are together in this coalition because of Julia, not because we are friends.”

I smirked. “Is that all?”

“Doesn’t that bother you?” Damien asked.

“No. When I worked at Sinclair, I dealt with people all the time who didn’t like you.”

Damien’s lips twisted into a smirk as Van’s laughter filled the air. “Ella, I like you.”

“Thank you,” I replied to Van with a nod. Addressing everyone, I asked, “Is there anything else I need to know?”

Julia’s eyes sparkled. “Eva Holston can be rude. Don’t let her get to you.”

“Now who’s gossiping?” Damien asked with a grin.

“It’s true,” Julia replied. “That means it’s not gossip.”

“Remember what you said about Perry Drugs this morning?” Damien asked, his question bringing back the fog.

While I felt like I was on a witness stand, I replied, “Yes, it’s a corporate front for Body Kindness.”

“How did you learn that?” Van inquired.

I shrugged. “I dug. It took some time, but I was coming up with very little on Perry Drugs. I followed the trail of money.”

Van grinned. “Damien didn’t tell you?”

“No.”

“Have you been given access to coalition information?” Julia questioned.

“No.” The small hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention. “Is it bad that I learned about Body Kindness?”

“Not bad,” Van replied. “Impressive. You see Kendrick Cade doesn’t want that connection made public, for many reasons.”

“It is. I found it,” I said.

“It’s because you’re good,” Damien said. “You’re better than good. The Cades don’t want that information to be common knowledge.” He tilted his head. “So don’t mention it tonight.”

Julia nodded.

“I don’t understand. It is a matter of public record.”

“They’d rather that Perry is solely named as the benefactor to the fraternity,” Julia said.

“And at the same time, they want me to recommend Body Kindness to facilities and physicians.” I didn’t phrase it as a question.

Julia nodded. “I’m sorry if that makes this complicated. I promise it’s legal.”

“I have questions, but I can hold off until we all gather to talk about the campaign.”

“Friday evenings are usually casual, a time to catch up.”

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