Page 134 of Playing the Game
“It is. What he doesn’t know is if I can get Jamison’s help with Aiden and the FBI catches our mother, I plan on telling Dorothy she has her job back. She’ll accept it and not move.”
“Let me guess. You plan on getting her back if that happens.”
“I do.”
“When your back is against the wall, you’re completely ruthless. Jamison will be out of his mind that he helps you, then you turn around and make him look bad in Dori’s eyes by telling her he hid that fact from her.”
I shrug unapologetically. “She was devastated when he kept secrets from her before. She will be again. I have to do whatever I can to get the upper hand.”
“You’re forgetting one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll have done the same thing. She’ll be upset with you too.” Jonah strides back to his desk.
“True, but she’ll be working here again, so I’ll be able to make it up to her in ways he can’t.” I swirl the amber liquid in my glass before taking a sip.
“What if Dori decides to move with Jamison? She seems to be in love with the guy.”
“She loves me too.” Desperation sets in. I won’t lose her.
“Maybe she does, but she’s with him now. They have a long history.”
“Who’s side are you on?”
“Yours, of course. But I don’t want to see you get your hopes up only to be let down. I’ve never seen you like this. It’s hard not to worry about you.”
“I appreciate your concern. There’s hope she’ll stay because I don’t see her giving up her career. She loves her job too much.”
“You better hope that’s the case.” He sits behind his desk. “Tell me your plan to get our mother caught.”
“Once I have Aiden’s help, I’m going to tell Isabella I’m not taking my mom’s threats seriously. I’m going to tell her I’m bringing Dorothy back into the business and have nointention of letting the baby go once he’s born. She’ll run right to our mom and tell her everything.”
“And what happens after that?”
“I’ll have to wait and see how Aiden wants to do it, but we’ll set a trap somehow. Let’s just hope Jamison can get Aiden to reason with him. From what I gather, Aiden’s about to kill him. I have to trust his love for his sister will override any grievances he has with Jamison.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to find a message from Jamison. “Speak of the devil.”
Jamison: Aiden’s not taking my calls. I sent him an email with as much information as I had. It’s the best I can do, but I think we need to contact someone else in the organization, just in case. I would do it on my own, but I don’t know the specifics of your meeting with your mother. Contact me when you decide what we should do.
I take a seat, placing my phone and my drink on the side table next to the chair. “Jamison sent Aiden an email. Now I sit and wait.”
“You don’t have time to sit and wait. If this doesn’t get resolved soon, everything we’re working for and what Dad built gets destroyed.”
“I’m aware, Jonah. I just don’t know what to do.”
He runs his hand over his mouth a few times. “Have you told Dad?”
“Fuck no. He’ll panic.”
“Yeah, he will, but he knows our mother better than we do. Maybe he can help us.”
I consider it for a second, but my chest caves in. “The problem with that is our mother is watching me. If she figures out that I went to the FBI after she warned me not to, she’ll kill all of us. Dad won’t stay out of it. He’ll go ballistic and make it known they’re involved.”
“You’re right about that.” Jonah finishes his drink. “How are you going to make sure she doesn’t find out you’re talking with Aiden?”
“From what I can tell, she doesn’t know everything. She didn’t know Dorothy had been reinstated, which makes me believe she doesn’t have access to my emails. I’ll tell Jamison that’s the best way to communicate so we can organize a takedown.” I sip the last of my whiskey.
