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Instead, I’d gotten a curt apology Like he had belched in ash bubbled up, it could not be repressed--led up and over like lava spilling fro, and the ot It started with a frown, then he squeezed the steering wheel, shifting in his seat Meanwhile, I iping tears froed to calm down, he’d affected a full-blown scowl

"So that’s what I get for y? ‘Sorry, ain’ Is that your usual MO? Did Sexilicious Sondra get an apology from you after you cuffed her to the bed and made her screalare out of the corner of his eyes "That is not what I iven our professional relationship"

"Yes, Mr Fawkes, you are very inappropriate And now, thanks to Essie’s training, I kno to tell you that"

"We’re here Thank God"

I glanced up and saw the sign for the Santa Barbara exits, then bit ain

"What now?" he said as he flipped on the signal to change lanes

"You still have to sit in the car with es that I can read to you"

I stared out theagain, attehter Santa Barbara was a picturesque little city curved around a sparkling blue bay Houses climbed toward the back hills, called "reat place for the city-bound to get away for the weekend But eren’t here for a ro like that with the car’s other occupantwarm and fuzzy inside

No, ere here for a stuffy businesslot of the investot out and procured his suit jacket fro on a hook in the back seat so it wouldn’t wrinkle He proceeded to slip it on his broad shoulders and button it up, straightening his tie

"Should I wait in the car or…?"

He o dance around on the curb like one of those hu inside as my assistant Do you want to learn this shit, or are you just soh the motions ‘til Daddy delivers you a fat wad of cash to live on?"

My eyes narrowed at him and my cheeks flaht smile, as if he were satisfied with his show that ti the out the worst in me--and what’s worse, he did it allared heat-seeking ers would not suffice--into his back as I followed hilass doors

Withinme to the banker, Wallace Holden, one of the team of bankers ould fund the initial set of shares for Draco’s IPO As I took my seat, I watched Jordan smoothly sit down and unbutton his coat in one fluid motion I pulled out e, ready to take notes or create a bulleted action list or do soht make me appear more like an official assistant

Despite his for back and resting an ankle across his opposite knee With a grin, he began to chat up Wallace--whom he called Wally

"So I saw that your boy’s baseball tea around for a possible scholarship? Heard he’s got an a arm"

Jordan knew stuff about Wally’s kids, his wife--even his last golf game I watched him under my lashes He was a s about Wally and his life, and Jordan seemed intensely interested in all of it In the end, they only spent ten minutes on business

"So what’s the status on your initial public offering?" Wally finally asked

"We’re a go," Jordan beamed "My CEO couldn’t be more excited"

Wally’s broitched in surprise "I’ve heard your CEO is a little…tight on the reins Is he going to give us anything more than a tiny slice of the shares to list with?"