Page 94 of Mad Rivals
I shouldn’t look, but I do.
Now I have insider information about what project she’s bidding on…and I’m not exactly sure what to do with it since I, too, am bidding on it, and I have a better chance of winning it since the client plays on the same team as me.
Fuck.
I don’t get the chance to talk to her about it because Dex’s text comes through with the deepfake guy’s info. He prefers to be contacted via email, and Dex tells me exactly what he needs.
I get right to work. I set up a new email address to cover my tracks and send in my request complete with the video footage. And then I wait.
I hear back from the guy about an hour later letting me know he got my request and it’ll take around twenty-four hours…and it’ll cost me, of course.
I send in the payment, and then I wait.
CHAPTER 39: Kennedy Van Buren
A Big Step for Us
I’m so focused on putting a bid together since the client will start accepting bids this Thursday that I don’t even realize I’ve worked well into the evening. The final touches are coming together, and I’m ready to present this.
I’m ready towinthis.
I don’t know if there’s ever been a project I’m so passionate about. Actually, scratch that. There never has been. I know there hasn’t.
Rumor has it they’re only accepting a few bids, and I’m prepared to go in swinging. If I can win this client for VBC in California, my dad will see that I’m a valuable asset out there. It’s sort of my way of proving I deserve to stay there a while, even though I’m sure I don’t need to do that. Maybe I need to prove it to myself.
I’ve spent so much of my time recently feeling like everything is out of my control. If I can win this, I’ll be back in the driver’s seat. I’ll be doing this because Iwantto, not because Ihaveto. Not because my dad dictated it to be so. Not for anyone else.Just for me.
I glance over at Madden, who’s tapping away on his own laptop across the table. “Date nights used to be a lot more romantic,” I say, and he chuckles.
“I can order us in some dinner if you’re getting hungry,” he offers.
I nod. “Or…” I say, drawing out the word. “We could go down to the West Loop for dinner and see what’s going on over there.”
He raises his brows. “Together?”
“You can wear a hat. I can, too. We’ll disguise ourselves.”
“Why didn’t I think of that? You’re so goddamn sexy when you’re being all smart.”
I laugh, and I close my laptop as I lean back in my chair and stretch. “Back at you, Bradley.”
We head to Verde, where we eat way too much pasta, and we take a long walk afterward only to find the same man positioned out in front of the warehouse for a second night in a row.
Madden ducks out of view, and we watch from nearly a block away as he lets someone in a suit into the warehouse.
A few moments later, he lets in a couple. Another man in a suit.
“What the fuck?” Madden murmurs. “Flooring storage my ass.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket, and he taps on the screen. “Aha!” he says a little triumphantly.
“What?”
“The deepfake came through. We can’t use it now, obviously. My father might already be in there. But before sunrise, we’re coming back.”
“We?” I ask, a little nervous to be brought in on this plan.
He looks at me, and I’m surprised at the vulnerability in his eyes. “You’ve been with me this whole time. Don’t abandon me now.”
I nod. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
