Page 45 of Truth or Tequila (Grand Slam 1)

“It’s Matt,” he says, reaching out to clink my glass with his. “And I’m going to have to get you up in one. You can be my special guest—”

“Thanks, but—”

“I meant professionally, of course,” he says. “I’m sure some of your clients use private jets. Gary said you work with the Miami elite.”

“I don’t talk about my clients,” I say, putting my wine back on the bar. “I sign non-disclosures—”

“Matt knows what you’re doing for the team,” Gary interrupts. “We’ve already discussed it. He might have some work for you.”

“Yes,” Matt says, “I might have someproblemsin my company that you can help me with when you’re done here. Let’s talk about it at the client party after the game.”

I look at Gary. “Client party?”

“We do one every time we get to New York. An after-party so the sponsors can rub elbows with the players. Stop by. It’s in the main ballroom.”

* * *

“Sophia, come over here and have a drink with me.” Matt Lowry’s holding up a bottle of wine when I walk into the ballroom.

“Oh, thank you, Mr. Lowry, but I don’t mix drinking with business. I’m afraid I’m too much of a lightweight.”

“Well, the only cure for that is drinking more,” he says, smiling broadly. “And maybe if you have a glass of wine, you’ll finally call me Matt. C’mon. Nothing serious. Just a friendly glass of wine so we can get to know each other a little better.”

“I’m going to pass.” I take a step back. The warning bells are going off again. “I don’t mix business with personal either.”

“Ah, I see.” He pours himself another very full glass. “You’re still young enough to think there’s a difference between business and personal.”

“I don’t know if it has anything to do with age. It’s more of a mindset—”

He laughs. “You’re too idealistic for someone who works in crisis communications. I’m sure you’ve seen some stuff.”

“Some,” I say, looking around the room. I’d rather be talking to just about anyone right now.

“Sit down, Sophia. Please. I’d like to discuss a business opportunity with my company.”

“What business opportunity?”

He’s patting the couch cushion next to him. I sit down in the chair the furthest away from him.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Gary tells me you’re discreet about problems of a more, um, personal nature.”

“I have no idea what that means. My job’s to help companies identify problems, work through them, and then try to ensure that they don’t happen again.” I cross my arms. “I don’t spin. I don’t cover up.”

“Ah, so very idealistic,” he says. “It’s a nice mission statement, but I wonder how many times you’ve stuck to it. Don’t think everyone doesn’t know what you’renotcovering up for Gentry.”

Am I the only one who hasn’t heard these rumors about Gentry? I need to find out more about it, but I don’t want to hear it from this guy.

“It’s been nice talking to you,” I say, standing up, “but my client list is full right now. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to call it a night.”

He springs up. “I’ll walk you to your room.”

“The hell you will.” I spin around to find Seb glaring at Matt.

* * *

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