Page 146 of Dirty Husband
We're here. Preparing to impress board members two and three.
If we don't manage this, I lose.
Worse, that bastard wins.
We need to impress them. Whatever it takes.
A moment later, an assistant opens the door. She smiles at us and asks us to follow her.
I motionafter youand help Jasmine up the steps.
She stays wide-eyed as she takes in the interior of the building. It is beautiful. Like a church. Tall ceilings, marble floors, walls decked with paintings.
A bit much for a factory.
And there's Marcus. And his second in command. Diablo.
Did his parents realize they were giving him such an apt name? No, that's not quite right. Diablo is a saint compared to my stepfather.
I suppose he's more like Charles. A lapdog who does whatever his owner commands.
That, I understand.
What I don't get is Marcus and Jeff. What the hell do they get out of playing these games?
Maybe that bastard has something on them.
Or maybe they're assholes who like to watch fresh meat squirm. I wouldn't put anything past them.
Marcus smiles.I can't wait to watch you suffer. He holds out his hand. "Shepard." He ignores formalities despite the nature of our relationship. "It's always wonderful to see you."
"Yes." I shake his hand as firmly as I can, but I don't have a grip. The room is spinning. "A little early though."
"The time difference is hard on people." He releases my hand. "Maybe you'd like some espresso?"
"Sure." I suck a breath through my nose. Push it through my teeth. Then Jasmine's hand is on my wrist and I'm capable of inhaling. "But my fiancée prefers tea."
"I'll see if we have anything," he says, as if he will personally check every room for tea. As if it's him, not his assistant, who does the heavy lifting.
"You must be the fiancée." Diablo extends his hand.
"I must." Jasmine releases my wrist to shake. "Jasmine Lee."
"It's lovely to meet you, Miss Lee." He smiles. "I was hoping you'd pick Madrid." He launches into a discussion of the merits of authentic Sangria.
She listens carefully. Or convinces him of it.
I try to stay a part of the conversation, but it's impossible. What the hell is Marcus doing? He could have a direct line to that bastard.
Or he could be fetching tea.
There's no way to know. Jeff is easy to read. Marcus—
I haven't got a clue what he wants.
"I'm sure you'll do well as an actress," Diablo says. "A woman as beautiful as you are won't have trouble finding work."
She turns to me, looking for something, but I'm not sure what it is.
