Page 20 of Billion Dollar Dispute

“I want to help you pay your debt.”

Her eyes narrow. “Why?”

Do I tell her about the deal with my dad?

Her piercing glare would have anyone squirming in their chair. I find it weirdly attractive. Her confidence draws me in. It’s at this moment I realize the one thing I haven’t done yet is be honest with her. The flowers got me in here. I can’t waste this opportunity.

I fix my gaze on hers. “My dad won’t release my trust fund unless…”

Fuck, this is humiliating. I scratch the back of my neck.

Her face softens. “Unless what? You get married? Because that’s a hard no.”

I shake my head. That would be easy…

“You wish.”

Her lips purse. “I think this conversation is over.”

I’ve clearly upset her.

It’s now or never.

The clock is ticking. I have less than five months left. I’ve never failed at anything before. I will not lose this opportunity because I’m afraid of being honest. No fucking chance. So I swallow my pride and spill.

“I have six months to help you make your business profitable. Well, five now that you’ve blown me off for weeks.”

Her head lifts. Curiosity settles on her face, and that’s all I need to see to keep talking.

“You’re a Lincoln, don’t you have plenty of money?” Her eyes drop briefly over my designer suit.

“Not for what I want.”

Her eyebrow quirks. “What do you want?”

I exhale heavily. “A consulting firm, and I want my trust fund money to create the company.”

“Why this company? Can’t you find another one?”

“No, my dad wants me to make Recaredo Events successful. He believes it will have more merit if I turn around a business I don’t particularly enjoy.”

She stays silent, and I think it might be working, so I keep talking.

“My dad said I can’t try again for six years if I fail, so I can’t let that happen.”

“And you think you could help me?”

“Definitely.”

“You can’t throw your money around here and fix things.”

I chuckle darkly. “I know. He wants me to start from square one without throwing cash at the problem.”

“And that irritates you.”

“You have no idea.” I want to explain to her this whole situation irritates me, but she’s distracting me by nibbling on her lip.

While she struggles internally, I take this opportunity to ask more business questions.

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