Page 61 of Shattering Nash

She scoffed, and her lips twisted. “Lucrative? You and your fucking fancy words. Why the fuck can’t you just say profitable?”

His lips twitched. “Profitable deal.”

“That motherfucker goes behind my back to make a deal for my product, and Oz is entertaining the idea. The lack of respect never happened with Sal running things.”

Nash gripped his hips and sighed. “That’s not what happened, and you know it.”

Inez shrugged, playing off the comment. She knew that wasn’t even a consideration.

“If you don’t want to take the meeting with Anders? Then don’t, and this ends here. But he won’t forfeit his businessbecause you chose not to work with him. He’ll seek other avenues for distribution. Money that should’ve been going to you will go to another seller.”

“Not in this fucking state,” she snapped.

“No, but in another, and in the process, you’re enabling your competitor to move up in the ranks of distribution. You really want to help someone else climb the ladder, Inez?”

Fuck, no.This would be the clincher with Inez. She wouldn’t pave the way and make anyone’s life easier. He couldn’t fault her. Everything she had, her empire, she’d earned. Nash hoped she’d remember his words when it came to sitting down and making the deal.

She took a long drag of her cigarette, eyeing Nash head to toe. Her gaze drifted down his suit, and her upper lip curled in clear disgust. Nash didn’t take offense. This was nothing new coming from Inez.

“Problem with my attire?”

She glared. “There you go again with those words. It’s called a suit, you dumb prick.”

Nash chuckled, shaking his head.

“Could’ve been something more, but you always did enjoy doing all the work with little glory. Apparently, you ain’t as smart as everyone thinks you are, huh?”

Now, the insults.

“I don’t need the glory.”

She cocked her brow. “Or the title ’cause you ain’t got that either. Never will. Always gonna be a second in the Underground. A fucking minion.”

Nash arched his brow. “It that how you see Ace?”

It wasn’t.

The corner of her mouth curled, and for a brief second, he saw a little lightness in her. It was fleeting but reminiscent of years ago when he worked under Inez for a short while.

“Fine, I’ll take the meeting, but I’m not promising shit. And he sets it up with Ace.”

Nash gave a curt nod. “I’ll reach out, let him know.”

Inez snorted. “Yeah, you do that. Now, sit the fuck down. We’ll celebrate the fact that I didn’t shoot your ass.”

While he was grateful that wasn’t the outcome, Nash had other plans for the night that didn’t include Inez. Still, he took the drink when it was offered. It was never a good idea to upset her.

Chapter Eleven

Charley stood at her kitchen counter, staring down at the dessert. She’d made it earlier in the day with every intention of dropping it off. Then she’d gotten the call from Elodie. Until now, it had completely slipped her mind. She tapped her foot on the hardwood. Considering she had no plans on returning home tonight, it was best she made the delivery while it was still fresh.

Do I have enough time?

What should’ve taken her at least an hour had her running around, showering, and getting dressed. It had been so long since she’d been on a date, let alone a night with a man. It was completely out of her comfort zone to do something so spontaneous and possibly scandalous with a man she barely knew.

Charley grabbed the bread in one hand and her phone in the other. She needed a distraction from thinking of their kiss, the ride in the elevator, and spending the night with him. Her nerves were officially on high alert.

When her phone pinged, she glanced down at the screen. The caller showed up as unknown, but she assumed it was him

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