Page 10 of The Charmer's Gambit
“Miss Dawson,” he greeted. “A pleasure as always.”
My mouth opened, closed, and then reopened.What the hell are you doing here? were the words I wanted to say, but, “Mister Mershano,” popped out instead. At least my brain had the wherewithal to remember our audience. I frowned at that last bit.
Hold on. . .
His eyes danced with mirth as he watched my sleep-fogged mind catch up with my surroundings. A meeting on the executive floor with two partners and Will Mershano dressed in a suit . . .Oh no.
“Shall we get started?” he asked before I could comment. His focus had gone to the partners behind me.
“Of course,” Jeff replied.
Will tugged on my hand, reminding me that I had yet to let him go, and flickered his gaze to a seat beside the one he just vacated at the table. A cup of coffee and a doughnut rested in front of it. Given he had his own travel mug next to his leather portfolio, I guessed he had procured the breakfast items for me.
How thoughtful. Or maybe not. Because what the hell was he thinking setting up this meeting?
My feet moved on autopilot to the spot he saved for me, and my hands wrapped around the hot mug.Oh, caffeine, how I love thee. I took a fortifying sip and fought a groan. He had added just the right amount of cream and sugar.
The man’s memory when it came to my preferences astounded me. After I first refused his employment offer, he showed up at my apartment holding a bag of my favorite Chinese cuisine. He only knew about my love of Szechuan chicken because it was what I ordered the first night we met, and yet he remembered. No wonder the man owned a multimillion-dollar winery.
“Thank you again for meeting with me on such short notice,” Will started. “As I mentioned over the phone, Mershano Vineyards is in the market for a firm to advise on some international acquisitions and manage the relations going forward. It’s my understanding that Baker Brown’s corporate and securities practice is one of the best.” He flashed me a grin as he repeated my words from the other night before returning his focus to Jeff and Janet. “So I’m here to learn more.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. That grin, coupled with the way Janet eyed me now, confirmed that Will had told them who he took his advice from on setting up this meeting. Meaning I would be either thanked handsomely after this or sacked,depending on whether or not Will moved forward. But maybe his hiring the firm would be a good thing. They could pair him with a more appropriate lawyer, and he would get his legal advice and then leave me alone.
I expected to smile with the realization, but my mouth curled in the opposite direction. An odd reaction to something I thought I wanted.
Jeff launched into a presentation reviewing Baker Brown’s history and statistics, focusing mostly on the handling of acquisitions and client satisfaction. The spiel had been tailored to Mershano Vineyards since he discussed cross-border deals and industry-specific issues related to Will’s business, like alcohol trade laws. Our marketing team had done an amazing job, and Jeff’s delivery was phenomenal.
“Excellent,” Will said after the last slide. He launched into a set of technical questions that surprised me. Someone had done his homework. This business-savvy side of him was one I had only caught glimpses of during our discussions, but I knew it existed beneath the surface.
Evan was the one the family groomed for the Mershano Suites legacy, while Will went off on his own to create his own empire. And from what I’d seen, the man had done one hell of a job. Of course, he had all the right connections through his last name, not to mention whatever inheritance he received, but still, seeing him in action proved that his determination and intelligence played a big part in his success.
“And if I went with your firm,” he continued, “who would be Mershano Vineyards’s primary point of contact?”
“Likely myself or Janet,” Jeff replied, his fingers lacing together on the table. His expression remained all business, but a hint of excitement shone in his hazel eyes. Will’s name alone made him a huge client, but it was his connections to Evan that really intrigued the Baker Brown partners.
“I see.” Will tapped his chin and looked to me. “I was rather hoping to work with Rachel, given she’s the reason I’m sitting here today.”
My lips parted in shock. What the hell was he thinking? He had to be crazy coming in here and requesting an associate for a project that deserved a partner-level attorney. My experience paled in comparison to the two people sitting opposite us. I met their surprised gazes and fought the urge to cringe. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one astonished by Will’s request.
“That’s certainly something we can discuss, but our associates are not typically assigned as the point of contact; however, they might work on aspects of the project as a team.” Janet’s smooth response was well practiced and far more eloquent than the words rolling around in my mind.
“I can appreciate that, but I’ve seen Rachel in action. Unfortunately, a nondisclosure agreement keeps me from going into the details, although I can say that she impressed not only me but my cousin Evan and our family attorney, Garrett Wilkinson.”
That statement had Jeff breaking his composure and lifting both eyebrows at me. “Which project was this?”
Oh, shit. . . Attorneys helped friends all the time, but seeing as Baker Brown paid my malpractice insurance, they would not appreciateknowingabout it. Especially considering who had been on the other side of the table.
I cleared my throat. “It, uh, wasn’t a project, but a favor for a friend. I can’t go into the specifics because of the NDA, but I read through a few things on her behalf. Nothing company related, just a personal agreement.”
Jeff scratched the salt-and-pepper beard lining his jaw. The termsilver foxsuited him well. “That’s how you two met?” he asked.
“Yes.” No point in elaborating.
More massaging of his chin as he studied me. “Hmm, well, we typically frown upon our associates doing work outside of the firm, even as favors for friends, but considering it brought Will to us, I guess we can let this slide.”
I swallowed. The words “for now”hung in the air. Which meant that if Will went with a different firm, we’d be having a more serious discussion, but if he chose Baker Brown, they’d ignore it.
No pressure.
