Page 74 of Counterfeit Connection

“Oh, fuck,” I whisper to myself.

Griffin

The air outside is clean. The tension can still be cut with a knife. Jason is on the far end of the porch, deep in quiet conversation with whoever it is, leaving me to run through my plans of attack when he’s finished.

We were raised within an hour of each other. We’ve got a few second and third tier acquaintances in common. I have a feeling we respond very similarly when push comes to shove and that won’t be good for anyone. I have to keep in mind he’s set on protecting what is his. That includes Kaitlyn. What he doesn’t realize is, we’re on the same team, no matter what Gillian’s told him, or he thinks he knows.

“Thanks, Nate. I appreciate the work. My best to Colby. Yes, we’ll be home late Sunday. If I need anything further, I’ll let you know. Cheers.”

Jason hangs up the phone, sliding it back into his front pocket. His hands spread out over the railing as he looks off into the tree-lined distance. I know this game. I’ve played it to a master level. He’s using silence to throw me off my feet. Trust me, it’s not the silence that will get me, it will be the pointed questions I’m sure will follow.

The game of chicken lingers on for a few moments before I win the first battle. “We can either do this here, or we can venture out into the barn where their eyes can’t find us. The choice you make will tell me everything I need to know.”

“As long as Sam isn’t in earshot, I think right here will do just fine,” I reply.

“Suit yourself,” he says back but doesn’t continue. He’s waiting for me to make the first pitch.

“You don’t have to worry about her with me, you know? The last thing I’d ever do is put her in a situation where she could be hurt.”

He laughs sarcastically. “That ship has long since sailed, don’t you think?”

“What do you mean? Elaborate, please.” I hold my arms out in confusion. “Kaitlyn is my number one priority.”

“You put her ahead of whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish with this charade?”

“Always. She isalwaysmy first thought.”

“If that were true, she wouldn’t be a pawn in this plan of yours.”

“If by yours, you mean the contract she and I comprised together, it is a decision she made freely and can leave at any time.” I take one step closer. “If you call her a pawn again, I will forget the manners my mother taught me and the respect I have for the Logan family and drop you where you stand.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. Shaw?”

“It’s a promise. I don’t like it when Kaitlyn speaks ill of herself so I’ll be damned if I let anyone else do it.”

Jason allows a smirk to evolve. “Very good. You passed at least one test. And, just so we’re clear, you’d be laid out at my feet before your thought of a fight with me was even finished.”

I clear my throat as quietly as possible. “I completed university a long time ago. I no longer take tests.”

“If this isn’t a game, tell me what you’re doing with her.” He immediately puts his hands up. “I don’t need details of the adult kind. I need details of your relationship as it pertains to this contract you’ve entered. I don’t trust your father, especially after the file I reviewed earlier.”

“Spying on my family? Kaitlyn was right. You really do think you’re James Bond.”

She didn’t say that. I just wanted to dig at him a little bit.

“Kaitlyn ismyfamily, and I will always check into anyone my family is around, especially if the situation is, for lack of a better word, bizarre.”

“There’s nothing bizarre about this. Kaitlyn and I met in the middle of an ongoing issue I’m having with my father. I won’t bore you with those details, though I’m sure you already know most of it. She thought of a way to help me. We came up with a contract, an arrangement together, and when my father approves of the relationship, he’ll sign the controlling portion of Orion over to me. That’s it. After that, Kaitlyn and I can go our separate ways.”

“Hardly, now that you’ve hired her.”

“With all due respect, don’t assume you know anything about our relationship.”

“Or lack thereof,” he adds. “You have to understand, my sister-in-law wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s kind, smart, caring, and brilliant. The last thing I want is for her to end up with a broken heart. Can you assure me that won’t happen?”

“Are you seriously trying to tell me who she is? I know she’s the ray of sunlight in every room she enters, even when she enters it with that glorious attitude I know she possesses. I know her heart is bigger than the last three people I’ve met combined. I know she’s selfless, nearly to a fault, and I know she deserves the world.”

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

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