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But the rest of her?
She’s plain. A wide mouth, pointed little nose, and red hair that’s pinned back in some kind of hell bun. She wears dark gray wide trousers with those heels, and a tie and buttoned up shirt.
There’s intelligence in her face that makes her interesting, and her soft gold eyes are full of fire. She’s more interesting than beautiful. Or could be.
And again, I’m not here to score. I’m here to win.
“I could buy your company a hundred times over.”
She laughs. “Why on Earth would you do that? You’re in real estate.”
“I like to invest.”
“Does your kind understand the value of quality?”
I narrow my eyes because this is going dark, wild places. “Are you calling me shallow?”
“Does the nine hundred dollar loafer fit?”
“How dare you.” I should be pissed off, but I’m not. She’s fun. “I’ve never worn a loafer in my life. And what about you? With your try-hard art deco pieces?”
Her mouth twitches as she drops her arms to rest on the edge of the desk next to her hips. “I like art deco. I like style.”
“So do I.” I clear my throat and look up at her from my seat. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. I’m in need of your services. Four weeks.”
“You want the pig’s ear to silken purse treatment?”
“If that means staid and boring and someone who’s responsible and able to carry their family’s flagship, then yes.”
This time, she laughs. Then the laughter fades. “Tell me why I should take you on.”
A lot of reasons go through my head, but I dismiss them all. I go for the truth.
“My esteemed late father decided to set out a task for each of his sons. And when we get our letter, we have four weeks to prove we have what it takes.”
“Save me from the mega rich.”
I ignore her tone and words on account I need her magic touch.
“The infamous and rumored Sinclair jewels are real and we’re each getting a piece. A family heirloom, basically. For some reason I can’t fathom, this is tied up with the Sinclair real estate flagship. The original company. It seems my job is to prove I can be responsible and upstanding. Enough to please the stipulations laid out by the board.”
She looks at me like she doesn’t like me much. Which is insane. She doesn’t know me. And, she’s a woman. “So you miss out on an expensive piece of jewelry if you don’t do this.”
“It’s an heirloom. Beyond monetary value. Part of my family history. And the company hangs in the balance. It’s private now; the shares fall on my family’s side. If I fail, if I don’t prove I’m capable of being figurehead—” I’m pretty damn sure that didn’t come from anyone other than Jenson and my mother “—then the balance of shares will go public and it won’t be our company.”
Elliot looks anything but impressed. “You’re loaded. Buy it.”
“I can’t. There are stipulations and rules.”
Those were my fathers, I think. But this whole figurehead crap, I know my mother’s somehow behind this. How much and why…I’ll find out.
“And,” I add, “I don’t want to let my family down.”
“Your scandal didn’t help.”
“I don’t need you to point that out. Just help me do this.”
She taps her fingers against the desk. “Isn’t getting help outside the rules?”
