Page 47 of Not A Whisper

“What?” I blink in surprise. “You will?”

Garry doesn’t bother reaching for his fork, or even his napkin, like I do. He leans back in his seat and regards me closely.

“I’ve heard of AERO before. Others have pitched it to me, and I’ve had my people look into it. But no one has ever presented it in such a simplistic manner with facts and figures as strong as yours.” His brows raise as he nods in concession. “I was very impressed with your presentation. You were put on the spot, yet you managed an excellent delivery. You’re brightandbrave, Miss Wilson.”

His compliment feels hollow. Given his intense stare, I have a feeling there’s more coming.

“I’m glad you think so.” No I’m not. I really don’t care. “If we’re not here to talk business, why am I here? I should be back at my desk.”

“In a hurry?”

I give him a one shoulder shrug. “Some of us enjoy our jobs.”

Garry laughs. “Yes, well, it’s yourdreamjob isn’t it? That’s what it said in your job application at least.”

I stiffen. How does he have access to that?

Though Garry’s smile doesn’t waver, his eyes flash before they darken. “I suspect you’ll work real hard to keep it. Not everyone gets to be so lucky, you know, landing the job of their dreams so young.”

His subtle threat doesn’t go unnoticed. My jaw clenches before I work it loose.

“I wouldn’t call it luck—” more like strategic blackmailing “—but I’m grateful for where I am in life.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what did you do before Groveton?”

I stare across the table at Garry. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that if he’s seen my job application, he knows my work history. So what’s going on? Is this a way to size me up? An interrogation? A form of intimidation? I want to laugh.

“Mr. Gipson, I’m not good at tiptoeing around an issue. I’m either going to tackle it head on or I won’t give it the time of day.” I push my tray away from me and lean back in my chair to give him a pointed look. “You have something you want to talk about? Let’s talk.”

One of his brows jumps upward in surprise. “It’s been a while since I met someone so straight forward. I’m so used to the games and the restrictions of polite society. But I suppose those types of things are for people who are more…” He waves a hand around as he searches for a word. “Morerefined, I suppose.”

“I apologize for my lack of grace.”

Garry laughs loudly. “God, howrefreshing! I like you, Miss Wilson.”

I don’t have anything nice to say, and I learned long ago to keep my mouth shut at times like this. Pressing my lips together, I wait.

“Well, then, let me be just as straight forward.” He crossesan ankle over his knee as he regards me. “While you may have some pleasant attributes, you’re not even close to the pedigree my son needs in a partner. Grant has taken a liking to you, and I can see why. But my son is a thoroughbred, broken and trained for great things. And you? You’re like a… Oh, I don’t know. A mule? Those are hardworking creatures, aren’t they? Sturdy too, just like you.” He spares my body a sweeping gaze. “Anyway, you get my point. Whatever you had with my son, it needs to end.”

He might as well have just slapped me across the face. It takes everything in me not to react in outrage. One wrong word, and he can retract his donation. As much as I would like to call him on his bullshit, I tamp my anger down.

“Mr. Gipson?—”

“Please, call me Garry.”

“Mr. Gipson,” I say through clenched teeth. “I don’t have any idea what you're talking about. I’ve hardly seen your son.”

“Oh? So he wasn’t at your place yesterday morning? What about Friday morning?”

My face goes slack as my breath rushes out of me. So he really has been watching the guys. Or at least his son.

“Grant is a good boy… for the most part, that is. When he does get himself in trouble, he usually can get himself out of it without me having to step in. But this thing with you…” For the first time, Garry frowns. His brows inch toward one another as if he is considering a conundrum. “It’s different. His mind wanders more now, and I have a feeling I know where it’s going. You’re quite a distraction. One my son can’t afford. He has an empire to take over and he doesn’t need someone like you in his ear. You have nothing to offer him, and you lack the bandwidth needed to wrap your head around running the conglomerates the Gipson name has umbrellaed under it. I won’t let you ruin all the work I’ve put into grooming my son into becoming a successful entrepreneur.”

Garry has the nerve to give me a pitying smile as I sit there, stunned by each offensive word that falls from his lips.

“Honestly, if it was the occasional fuck, I wouldn’t care. I don’t even blame him for looking outside our social circle. The women we run with can be prudish. Sometimes, all we need is an easy, wet pussy to stick our dicks into. But this is more than an occasional fuck, isn’t it?”

I don’t think I can be any more surprised at his crude language. He shrugs as if the whole situation doesn’t actually bother him, but he’s been burdened with fixing it.

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