Page 34 of Meet Mason, the Billionaire

“I’m sorry if I come across as impatient, but I really need to find that portrait.”

“Why? Is the world going to end if you don’t lay hands on it right this second?”

“Will you work faster if I say yes?”

She sighed. “Look, I’m working on several leads right now.”

“What kind of leads?”

“The trade secret kind of leads. Look, do I come to your job and tell you how to take over a company or trade stock?”

“No,” I admitted.

“Then don’t come to my job and tell me how to do mine, okay? Thanks. I’ll let you know what I find out the second I do, night or day. I promise.”

“Night or day,” I repeated firmly.

“You’ve got it boss man. Now excuse me, I’ve got to get back to work.”

I heard the sounds of a video game in the background before the call ended, but I didn’t want to call her out on it.

I went to the startup’s offices and took a tour, shaking hands with people whose names I probably wouldn’t be able to remember. I owned so many companies. Not a brag, but an explanation why the rich jerk can't remember everyone’s name.

The ink had yet to dry on the paper when my phone rang. It was Megan.

I looked up at the room full of sycophants. “I’m sorry, can you clear the room? This is important.”

They cleared out like grease before Dawn and I took the call.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Hello,” she said, her voice sweet and honeyed and magical in my ear. “How are you doing?”

“Oh, I only had a few hours of sleep, but I’m not complaining about that in the slightest.”

“Yeah, me neither.” She laughed anxiously, and swallowed. I got the feeling something was bothering her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um, well… I really hate to ask you this, but—”

Her voice trailed off. I prompted her to continue.

“Ask me what?”

She sighed. “Remember Junebug?”

“The digital artist with a penchant for vandalism?”

“The same. He’s been arrested, and he kind of mouthed off to the judge, and, well, his bail is set really high.”

I chuckled. “How high?”

“Fifteen thousand dollars, once you add in court fees.”

“That’s a pretty penny, all right. I’ve got you covered.”

“You do? I mean, he’ll pay you back after he goes to trial—”

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