Page 99 of Back in Black

Drew made a presentation of looking at Gillian for permission. He started to sit, paused, and asked, “Is it allowed? Or will you clout me again?”

Oh, she wanted to clout him all right. Her aplomb shot out the window.“Sit.”

“Great. Thanks.” He rubbed his hands together. “So . . . we’re all sitting. Now what?”

Loren looked at Gillian. “I hope you can understand our dismay—”

Drew snorted. “You know you don’t give a damn about any of this, Loren. It’s just Frannie here who—”

Again, this time more calmly, Gillian said, “Shut up, Drew.” She leaned forward. “As Drew pointed out, through no fault of your own, of course, you are now in something of a predicament. Certainly there may be a few news reporters who take issue with how Drew handles things. But more important than any small measure of censure, the fanslovehim. As is.”

Drew aimed both thumbs at his chest, and mouthed,Love me.

Gillian tried to ignore him. “They don’t want him to change. They support him as much as they support the fighters.”

Fran crossed her legs. “The fact remains that he does antagonize important people, and in doing so, he ruins connections that we need.”

“Oh, please,” Gillian said on a deprecating laugh. “Through his management on every level of this operation, he’s grown the sport at Mach speed. And let’s face it, those who disapprove of him are mostly interested in pleasing the public. And the public has spoken. They want Drew Black.”

Gillian could feel Drew watching her, but she didn’t dare meet his gaze.

Into the silence, he said, “If that glowing praise doesn’t win you over, then know that I have options.” He held up a hand before Fran could speak. “Yes, Frannie, I’m prepared to go to the competition. Your competition.”

“Under his leadership,” Gillian added, “another organization will grow to rival the SBC. Don’t doubt it.”

Furious, Fran shoved out of her chair. “You’re blackmailing us.”

“Not at all.” Gillian stood, too. “I can spin this so that no one will question your decision to keep Drew at the helm.”

“How?” Fran pointed at him. “Look at him! He’s so damn smug even now. He—”

“Generously gives of his time and money to help others,” Gillian said.

Fran’s mouth snapped shut. Loren grinned.

Drew’s head swung around and, very slowly, he came to his feet. Maybe she should have forewarned him about her plan of attack. But . . . as loudmouthed and obnoxious as Drew liked to be, he was absurdly private about the good things that he did for others.

Fran looked back and forth between them. “What are you talking about?”

“Gillian,” Drew warned.

She lifted her chin and continued. “Obviously you don’t know him very well. Yes, he can be abrasive. No one would deny that. But he’s also very giving.”

“Gillian.”

Sighing, she stood up and faced him. “What’s the matter, Drew? Are you afraid I’ll damage your bad-boy reputation? Don’t you think it’s time to grow up a little and admit that you care about others?”

He jutted his chin forward. “Who and what I care about is nobody’s business.”

“It’smybusiness,” Gillian insisted.

“Well, yeah.” He threw up his arms. “You’re on the list of people I care most about.”

Gillian mentally reeled. She could feel the heat of Fran’s and Loren’s stares. “I meant,” she said around the shock, “that it’s my business because I’m representing you.”

He did that infuriating shrug thing again. “However you want to look at it, honey.”

Fran waved a finger between them. “Are you two . . . ?”

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