Page 28 of The American

“I don’t think it will be necessary. The journey to get there is much more compelling.”

Zachary shook his head. “Without the payoff? You guys are gonna build such an anticipation, we can’t leave them hanging. A sudden breakup would do damage to what we have created.”

Thad shook his head, concern rising, especially after his latest conversation with Sage. Even though the fire in her eyes made her beauty distracting, he was put-off by her arrogant dismissal of all he could offer. He grew tired of being underestimated. He could move forward with a farce of a wedding only if he suspected things would actually work with Sage.

A knock surprised him and then Sage’s head in the doorway would have made him smile if they were not at such odds. Judging by the shock in her eyes, his presence was not expected.

“You wanted to see me.”

Zachary held up his hand. “Just a moment. We are almost finished.”

She colored and then closed the door.

“We need to move forward on the properties in the Mediterranean.”

Zachary had asked him about several properties numerous times throughout the negotiations to bring him on. Though they were not part of the contract, Thad knew he had expectations. Some of the properties would be easy to arrange the sale of, others impossible. He took a deep breath.

“I’ll send you the paperwork for the two.”

“I need them all.” His tone broke no refusal.

“They may not all be available. Nothing has changed since we last talked.”

“I’m making it very profitable for you. This is the deal of a lifetime for us all.”

Thad widened his eyes in question. Who else was in on this deal?

“Sage has agreed to take forty percent.”

The news shook him. She would do that?

“I’ll look for the papers for all the properties on my desk in the morning.”

“I told you, from the beginning, some of these properties are not easy acquisitions.”

“We moved forward with the understanding you would try to acquire them all. And Sage is counting on it. For her career.”

“I don’t understand.”

“If this doesn’t go through, you will both be left without a job, in an uncomfortable break up with our company after your relationship got in the way of good business.”

Thad was stunned. “How could you do that?”

He shook his head. “Welcome to big business Thad. We need those properties. Come now, don’t be so unhappy. You get the girl and hugely compensated, and famous on top of it all. I’m giving you the world. All you have to do is part with a few prime pieces of real estate.”

Thad stood to leave. He had nothing more to say to this man. He would like to hop on his jet and head back to Torren before the sun set.

But Sage. Zachary was threatening her too. Her future as a CEO would be destroyed. Zachary had tricked them, manipulated them into this farce of a relationship and then would use it against them.

Zachary opened the door before Thad could leave. “Come in Sage. Let’s finalize your role in all of this too, shall we?”

She looked from Thad to Zachary, her perceptive eyes trying to understand.

“You may remain standing. This will only take a moment. I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to remind you that your futures depend upon two things: the success of this marketing plan, and the acquisition of the prime pieces of real estate. Sage, you will be richly compensated. We decided to bring you in because you would surely discover our plans sooner or later and it is much easier to bring you in on the cut than to have to fire and blacken your name.”

She sucked in a breath. “Understood.” She wouldn’t look at Thad but he suspected all manner of violence and disgust ran through her brain.

He had never dreaded a date more than he did theirs that evening.

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