Page 107 of Player
“I don’t think. I do.” I raise my fists. “Fight. Manual labor. Beat the bleedin’ effin’ out of the South African. Yer call.”
O’Brien exchanges a look with the man to his right. It could mean a lot of things; toss the tool from the car, feck about with more pointless questions, with all answers leading back to Ogdenhayer, or take me up on my proposition. I relax and wait.
“That woman threatened Finn.”
O’Brien looks from Clarissa to me.
I shrug. “Scared the bejaysus out of me, she did.”
The corners of O’Brien’s lips twitch. “I’ve warehouse work. Moving heavy crates and such. You game?”
“What’s the wage?”
“Finn,” Clarissa hisses.
“Fair. Better than anywhere else.”
I offer him my hand and, this time, he shakes it. But when he tries to withdraw it, I keep his hand in my firm grip. That gets his attention.
“Bet the bank on me in the final fight and Ogdenhayer will do likewise. Enough to make up the difference in that price increase you were surprised with and then some. And, I’ll beat the South African in the final fight for you.”
O’Brien’s eyes light up with delight.
“Best get back to training.”
He drops my hand and signals for the car to stop. Clarissa shifts around in the seat then scrambles from the car the second it pulls over. Without much fanfare, I follow.
The sedan drives off, disappearing over the next hill.
“I got it all,” Clarissa exclaims.
“Got all of what?”
“Our conversation. I recorded it.” She laughs, oh-so pleased with herself. “When you shifted forward to shake his hand, I was terrified they’d catch me.”
For feck’s sake. I want to strangle her almost as much as I want to kiss her. A grin spreads across her beautiful face, a sign of how unaware she is of the turmoil she’s caused. A man’s mouth always breaks a nose, so the saying goes. With Hayden, it’s not me nose I’m worried about but my—and Clarissa’s—well-being. That exchange can never be broadcast. The boss can never learn of this recording. I need to remember she’s a reporter, and a good one. Headstrong.
Lovely as the day is sunny.
“What? No smart comment? No craic?”
I push away my worries and will deal with that video later. “Course I do.”
“And?”
“How about we just sum things up by saying, I’m in likeFinn.”
