Page 33 of Idol Lives
“Actually, David, I need it by the end of the day.”
David’s eyebrows shot up in unconcealed shock. “Today?”
Naomi’s smile was razor-sharp. “Yes. Maybe you could use that dedicated legal team of yours.”
David’s practiced smile disappeared, replaced by a blank, stone-faced expression. “Yes, Naomi.” Despite losing his first confrontation with his boss, his demeanor was remarkably calm. “Of course. I’ll do my best to get it to you by the end of the day.”
Jason watched the subtle shifts in David’s expression, the obvious signs of his desperation. He’d underestimated Naomi, and now he was paying the price. Jason had to admit a twisted part of him enjoyed the spectacle. He’d been outmaneuvered and had no choice but to play along.
David smoothly rose from his chair. “If you’ll both excuse me, I should get to work.”
Jason waited until the doors swished shut behind David before finally letting out a low whistle. “Damn, girl. That was brutal.”
Naomi finally allowed herself to break character. Her earlier confidence evaporated as her shoulders dropped. She grabbed the key to Gerald’s liquor cabinet from the desk. “I feel like I could use a bourbon now, too.” She glanced at the key, then tossed it into a drawer. “But, no. I need to keep a clear head. David won’t take that thrashing lying down. He’ll regroup and come back at me somehow.”
Jason frowned. “I don’t know about that. I mean, you’re not making any friends today. But I can guarantee you that my father was ten times the asshole to him that you just were.”
A cloud of doubt passed over Naomi’s face. “So I didn’t fuck up just now?”
“Absolutely not.” Jason grinned, hoping to lighten the mood. “You’ve always been an asshole to me, and I’m still here.”
Naomi snorted, a hint of a smile on her lips. “I was never an asshole to you.”
“What did you call me that one time?”
Naomi smiled. “A simple, predictable, alcohol-infused man-child.”
Jason laughed. “See? There you go. Call me when you start saying that shit to all your C-suite execs. Maybe then I’ll tell you to back off.” He sat up in his chair. “Are we good for now? I’ve been itching to check out the executive washroom.”
Naomi gestured toward the door. “Be my guest. But no cruising.”
Jason chuckled all the way to the door. “New man, remember?”
Justice pointed Jason to the executive facilities, just up the hall from Naomi’s office. He knew Naomi had a private restroom attached to her office but had too much respect for her to ask to use it. He also suspected she didn’t know about it and wanted her to find out for herself.
The executive washroom exuded a sleek, masculine vibe, all chrome fixtures and gleaming black porcelain. Even the urinals were black. Jason hated how much he liked it. He was already unzipped and relieving himself when the door opened again.
“Oh,” David said, his voice flat. “You’re here.”
Jason snorted at David’s complete lack of enthusiasm. “What’s the matter? Pee shy?”
“Ha ha.” David took the adjacent urinal, nonchalantly unzipping beside him. “You were awfully quiet in that meeting.”
Jason finished up, shaking off the last drops before zippinghis fly. “Yeah, I know better than to talk back to Naomi.” He turned to the polished, black marble sink, washing his hands and studying his reflection in the mirror. “Hopefully, you do, too, now.”
“I worked for your father, remember? I can handle it.” David stepped back, activating the automatic flush. “Could I ask you something?”
Jason nodded, patting a stray hair into place. “Sure.”
“You don’t remember meeting me before, right? That’s how it feels, at least.”
Jason looked up and made eye contact with David in the mirror. “Of course I do. I saw you at the funeral. It wasn’t that long ago.”
David pursed his lips as he shook his head. “No, not then. I mean the first time we met.”
Jason frowned. It was true. Despite a nagging feeling of familiarity, he had no memory of ever meeting him before the funeral. But he made an effort anyway, thinking about any time his father had introduced him to his employees and coming up blank. “No, I don’t. When did we meet before?”
“When we were teenagers,” David smoothly replied. “It was the summer before you became an actor. My father brought me to a party at your house. I guess your father suggested we might be friends since we’re close to the same age.”
