Page 59 of Counterfeit Connection

“Maybe make it an exclusive? I’m just thinking out loud here. If it’s in print, your father can’t really deny it, can he?”

“Bloody brilliant. Should I be worried you can game as well as I can?”

“Didn’t you just say we work well together?”

Chapter 18

Kaitlyn

It’s weird how slowly time moves when you don’t have a full-time job to go to, but also how fast it flies by. In a matter of thirty-six hours, he stomped into my office, pounded his chest, essentially forced my hand in resigning, we had epic angry sex, he planned a trip to London with a pit stop in Virginia… and I got a new job.

I met with Tobias and Griffin formally about the new position I would be taking, and once I was pleased with my job description and salary, I signed on the dotted line. Poof. Suddenly I’m the newest contracts attorney for Orion Worldwide Investments.

By the time Saturday morning rolls around, I’m waiting for Griffin at my front door with two small carry-on sized rollingsuitcases and a crossbody bag slung over my chest. Marilyn is settled in her cat carrier with her favorite blanket, working hard on her daily biscuit order. I couldn’t leave her behind. She quite literally hates everyone except Griffin and me. That thought makes me smile and feel things I shouldn’t be feeling.Get it together, Logan.

As nervous as I am about going to London with Griffin, and meeting his parents to sell this whole arrangement, that’s all being suppressed by my excitement to see my dad. It’s been too long.

At 9:00 a.m. on the dot, Griffin rings the buzzer and I press the button to let him up, and a few short moments later, he’s standing in my doorway.

“Your chariot awaits.”

“A chariot? How fancy. Rolling out the red carpets for us?” I giggle and offer him the cat carrier. “What time is our flight?”

He takes it from me, holding it up to his face and peering at Marilyn inside. She meows something that sounds like“Stop staring at me. I’m in a bad mood.”

“Our flight is being chartered privately. We can show up anytime we’d like, but I told them about an hour from now.”

“Privately? Just how rich are you?”

He doesn’t answer with words, only a huge, shit-eating grin that I want to kiss right off his face. “Let’s go, ladies.”

“No really. How rich are you?”

“Kaitlyn, haven’t your investigative skills told you all you need to know?”

“I…um…”

He laughs. “Don’t worry. There’s nothing you can’t ask. To answer your question more directly, I’ll make enough money to support the next three generations of my family in the next five years.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know how much money that is. “Would it be weird for me to say thank you for acting like one of us peasants?” I say jokingly.

Griffin laughs so loud in the elevator; it echoes off of every wall and he nearly drops my cat. “Adorable, but not weird.” Griffin leans in with a kiss for my forehead. “Just so you’re not caught off guard, I took your idea to heart and there is a reporter in the limo with us. She will likely have questions for you, just answer them as honestly as you can. I will back you at every turn.”

“Shit, Griffin.” I lean my head back against the wall. “I wish I had more than thirty seconds to prepare for this.”

“I know it’s not ideal, but I promise you… you’re ready for this. I trust you. You just need to trust yourself.”

I take a breath and try my best to mentally prepare the whole way to the limo. Griffin’s driver helps with our bags and soon, I’m greeted by a petite redhead with a cell phone in her hand, ready to record our conversation.

“Kaitlyn, this is Alyssa Hayes. She’s a reporter with theNew York Times,” Griffin says.

“It’s so lovely to meet you, Kaitlyn.” She extends her hand to me and I shake it in kind.

“You too.”

We get comfortable in the seat as Marilyn quiets next to Griffin. “Isn’t she cute?” Alyssa adds.

“She’s quite the little princess, but we don’t mind, do we?” Griffin weaves his fingers with mine before pulling the back of my hand to his lips.

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