Page 84 of Greed

“Swear you won’t tell him.” I hold out my hand because we made a vow years ago that our handshake was a symbol of our loyalty.

He takes my hand and shakes it hard. “You have my word, Declan.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m in love with Abby Duvall. She works for Rook and is representing me in the deal with Llura.”

His gaze runs over my face. “I’m happy for you. I’m so damn happy for you. For the record, I don’t think Rook would give a shit that you’re involved with one of his employees.”

Glancing at the waitress, I sigh. “Abigail isn’t ready for Rook to know, so I’m honoring her wish.”

“I’ll honor it, too,” he assures me. “Do you see a future here? Is she the one?”

“She is,” I say with no hesitation. “I’m in love with her, Holden. I see forever on the horizon, and I think there’s a damn good chance she does too.”

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

Abby

If at first youdon’t succeed, go to the office of the person you need to talk to.

My dad bestowed that advice on me years ago when he was waiting impatiently for payment for a big plumbing job. The client was an expert at avoiding my dad’s persistent phone calls and emails, so he finally did what any small business owner would do, he went to the client’s office and politely demanded payment. It worked.

Although I’m not currently on the hunt for money from a client, I am trying to reach the one person who will make or break my first assignment as the lead lawyer on a case.

I’ve tried calling Kalina Ash twice today, but her assistant told me that she’s busy and will get back to me when she can. I followed that up with an email suggesting a lunch meeting.

Again, Kalina’s assistant ran interference on that. She wrote me back and repeated almost word-for-word what she said on the second of our calls. “Kalina isn’t available right now, Miss Duvall. When she is, you’ll hear from her.”

I refuse to accept that as a final answer, so I’m about to do what any good lawyer would in this situation. With a beautiful bouquet of fresh blooms in hand, I’m about to step off an elevator and into the executive offices of Llura.

I suck in a deep breath and run a hand over the front of my dress. The skirt wrinkled on my subway ride here, but it’ll have to do. Kalina doesn’t strike me as the type of person who puts a lot of weight in wardrobe choices.

That assumption is confirmed as soon as the elevator doors slide open, and I’m greeted with a flashing neon purple Llura sign hanging above a steel desk.

A dark-haired man is seated behind it, and it takes me a second to realize that he looks familiar.

When he spots me, a broad smile skates over his full lips. “Hey! Sea bass and white wine to drink, right?”

It suddenly hits me that he’s the waiter who served Nyssa and me when we had dinner at Lise a few weeks ago. I mentally scramble to try and remember his name. “Hey! How are you?”

“I’m good.” His gaze shifts from my face to someone to the left of me. “Are you taking off for the day?”

The young woman he’s speaking to nods. “I’m heading to the one o’clock meeting. If you talk to Kalina, let her know I have it covered. Okay, Zay?”

Zay. Zayden.

I let out a sigh of relief at the reminder of his name.

“Sure thing!” he calls to the woman as she rushes toward the elevator before it leaves this floor.

I take a step closer to his desk.

Since the woman who just spoke to him was dressed in jeans and a white blouse, I’m not surprised to see him wearing a pair of faded, ripped jeans and a gray T-shirt.

The dress code in this office is enviable.

“I’m guessing you didn’t track me down to give me those?” Zayden chuckles. “Are they from the woman you had dinner with? That beauty had some pent-up frustration from what I heard.”

I feel a blush rush over my cheeks even though he’s talking about Nyssa. I smile because I intend to tell her that he overheard our conversation about her finding a man to make her come.

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