Page 95 of The Bet
Chapter 28
“Ilook forward to doing business with you.”
“Likewise,” said Xavier, smiling into the phone.
“I’ll send over the contract by the end of this week, have a look over it, let me know if you have any questions, otherwise we’re fine to proceed.”
“Thanks, Chad.”
He hung up, pleased with himself. Relieved, too, to know that someone else had taken a chance on him. He would sign and return the contract as soon as possible.
He scanned through his emails on his cell phone and located the email Izzy had sent him a week ago:
I’ve reported the theft to the police. Will let you know if I hear back. Sorry, once again, but I didn’t ask to be robbed. Hope you can claim insurance.
He was grinning like an idiot, reading through the straight-to-the-point, emotionless email, and he had no idea why. Izzy with her thorns and barbed wire response, and the obviously blatant fact that she didn’t give a shit about him re-ignited his desire to conquer her.
He’d wasted a golden opportunity last week when she had come over and reworked his report. He had been so annoyed about the MacBook being stolen, so caught up in the investment he so badly needed, that he’d let that rule his behavior. He could have been softer, more understanding, more concerned about her instead of Chad’s meeting. If he had been nicer to her at a time when she was so vulnerable, he might have found an easier way to connect with her.
But he’d been pissed off and she’d been eager to fix the situation and leave.
But with him and Chad almost ready to go into business together, he could use Izzy’s help. He knew he needed to be mindful of her time and studies, but if she wanted more work, and he sensed she was always hungry for more, she could do more hours for him.
It was the least he could do. He owed her. He hadn’t secured Hennessy’s investment because of her report, but he recognized the part she’d played in putting it all together. She had produced the kind of report he wouldn’t have been able to do himself. Her report had definitely helped. No doubt about it, and now it was time to make it up to her.
He called her. “I got the investment I needed.”
“What?”
“The investment,” he repeated, “The meeting I had, the document you put together? It worked out and I got what I needed.”
“Congratulations.”
“And, since you had a big part to play in it, how about I take you to dinner?”
“Dinner?” she sounded horrified.
“Dinner. You and me. No strings attached.”
“Uh, no thanks.”
“Come on, Laronde. It won’t be as horrific as you’re making it out to be.”
“I’ve had dinner.”
“Then come and have a celebratory drink with me.”
He would take her to The Oasis, right in front of Luke, so that he could see that progress was being made.
“I don’t drink.”
“Then have a mocktail, and I’ll let you know where we are with the police report.”
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t decline. He had a feeling he might have wormed his way in. She was thinking about it.
“It won’t be too long and it would make me feel good to at least take you out for a drink.”
“Not needed. Really. I’m pleased you got what you wanted.”
