Page 145 of Enemies

And we’re still waiting on a bloody hearing.

“It sucks that you have to play fair and Mischa doesn’t…” She makes a face. “If it were Mischa waiting on an approval, Zachary would be hanging by his toes in a basement somewhere.”

“On the contrary. Much can be achieved through reasonableness. What success requires is knowing when each is called for.”

She watches as I place a call to the man who’s causing my headaches—my stateside ones, at least.

“Zachary. Harrison King.”

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” His tone is guarded.

“I have box seats to… a Lakers game,” I decide on impulse.

But Leni waves her hands, shaking her head, and I frown.

“Ah, opening night. In?—”

She mouths a word.

“—October. I understand you enjoy sports.”

The quick investigation done by one of my staff says so.

“I couldn’t accept them. I avoid all possibility of impropriety.”

“I see. And the courtside seats to the Masters tennis tournament in Palm Desert this spring. Those are public sector seats?”

Leni throws up her hands. Evidently, she’s not impressed with my idea of reasonableness.

“Family friend,” he says at last, his voice perceptibly cooler after my veiled threat. “Now, I don’t know what you’re implying, but if you’ll excuse me?—”

“I’m implying that we understand one another.”

Some people can be bought. Others are persuaded by shows of strength, and by threats.

Neither will work with Whelan. Or at least, he’s unwilling to be seen as being bought.

I’m not surprised given my research also suggested he comes from a moneyed family, but it’s irritating nonetheless.

So, I change approaches.

“We’re both men with significant influence.”

My influence is far greater than his, but this is a negotiation, not a pissing contest. The reality is, he can make my life difficult. Which I don’t want.

“You have a city to run and decisions to make as to its future. I respect a man who can’t be distracted from his core mandate. I respect that more than you know. I’m committed to this investment, Zachary. The sooner we can get this queued up, the sooner we can make a toast to our respective futures and continue with our important work.”

He’s silent a long time. “I’ll have our scheduler get it on the books. She’ll follow up in the next day or two.”

I hang up, grimly triumphant as a delivery arrives. Leni watches, obviously curious, as I open the garment bag and laugh.

“Jeans. Is this a joke?” she asks.

I grab the note from around the hanger.

Don’t say I never bought you anything. Rae.

“No. It appears she’s quite serious.” My lips twitch.

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