Page 2 of An Eye For Illusion

“You said you’d get the money from her; you guaranteed it. And here we are, no fucking money.”

Vinny’s voice is too calm. My stomach churns because my time might be up. He turns, walking away from me and heading back towards his car.

“I’ll get it, Vin. I swear. She has the money. I just need a few more weeks. The date is almost here.”

He stops in his tracks and turns to face me again. “I ain’t waiting for no fucking ‘I dos,’ kid. You better figure it out if you value your fucking life.”

He turns, walking away from me again.

“Okay, I’ll get the money from her. I swear. Just call him off. Please, Vin!”

“Fuck him up, Dino,” he says without turning back to give me a second look.

Gravel crunches under tires as headlights shine in my eyes when Vinny turns towards the highway. The rubber squeals as it makes contact with the pavement.

I see the sick grin on Dino’s face, and I know what’s coming. This isn’t my first rodeo with him. I widen my stance, preparing to take the inevitable beating that’s coming.

The blows come fast and hard, one punch after the next. I know what fighting back gets me in this situation, so I just do my best to block the swings at my face because those are harder to explain to her.

Chapter 1

Colin

I stand in front of a counter-height reception desk. Bright lights and white walls surround me. On the other side of the desk sits a small-framed brunette. Her back is to me as she types quickly.

Her name plate simply says, Administrative Assistant to Jade Foster. I find it strange that it doesn’t list her actual name. Jade Foster is who I’m here to meet. She’s interested in hiring me to follow her fiancé. Also strange.

The small brunette jumps as I clear my throat to gain her attention. She turns toward me and stumbles as she stands. “I apologize, I didn’t hear you there.”

I stifle a laugh. Not at her, of course, but at her demeanor. “No harm done. I’m Colin Brooks. I’m here to see Jade Foster.”

“Right, of course, Mr. Brooks. You’re a bit early. Ms. Foster isn’t back yet.” Her eyes dart between me and what I assume to be Jade’s office door.

“Uh, okay.” I check my watch. I’m only about three minutes early.

I casually slip my hands into my pant pockets as she comes from behind the reception desk.

“You can wait in her office. Right this way, Mr. Brooks.”

I’m not sure if her nervousness is because she thinks I’m a good-looking guy or if Jade Foster is a hard woman to work for.

I follow the receptionist a few steps behind and pause to allow her to push the large, solid brown office door open.

“You can have a seat here, if you’d like.” She pats the top of a chair across from Jade’s desk.

I nod but don’t take her up on the offer to take a seat. After a few more awkward moments, she murmurs what I think is her excusing herself before she hurries out of the office, pulling the door closed behind her.

I look around the large corner office. It’s minimally decorated and with mostly neutral colors. The only appealing thing I see here are the two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. I bet the view of the city lights is spectacular at night.

I walk behind her desk and scan the documents neatly organized in stacks. Each one has a sticky note with a company name and “potential resale value vs. investment cost.” I smirk at that. It’s always about the bottom dollar.

I did my research on the company Jade works for. Foster Global, Inc. It’s owned by her father, Harrison Foster. Jade is the CEO and has been for a few years.

Foster Global buys failing companies, makes necessary changes, and resells them for massive profits. And when I say massive, I mean massive. Harrison started this company while he was still in college and never knew a moment’s failure from the start. He’s the epitome of a successful businessman.

I pick up one of the framed pictures from her desk. She’s standing with her father, who I recognize because there are hundreds of available pictures of them when searching online and on their company website. Her bleach blonde hair flows over her shoulders and stands out against the black blazer she’s wearing. The signature designer logo on the buttons is impossible to miss.

She and her father are side by side, both smiling. Her hand is on top of his as they hold a pair of giant scissors, ready to cut a red ribbon in front of them. I can’t make out the sign name behind them. Likely just another notch in their belt, so to speak. Another company they “saved” from ruin. It seems more like theft to me.

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