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12
“Thank you for meeting with me. Let’s get down to business.” Avarie glanced around the boardroom. She’d made an appointment with the legal team at King Steele again to finalize plans for the upcoming meeting with Lexington Corporation.
“Well, let’s see how you bust our balls this time,” Conrad Bush said under his breath.
She heard him.
“Well, I’m hired to do a job and that’s what I’m going to do. I won’t apologize for doing it,” she snapped. She narrowed her eyes on the older man. Avarie had picked up on the type of man he was in their last meeting. He was from the old generation where a woman’s place was not in the boardroom leading the meeting, but serving refreshments.
Not this woman.
She gazed around, unafraid to meet the gazes of the other lawyers. Some she could tell were embarrassed, while others seemed to agree with Conrad.
“And since we are bringing up the subject of your genitalia, may I remind you that I wear very high heels and won’t hesitate to step on said genitalia.” She grinned, knowing it wasn’t meeting her eyes. Working in a man’s world didn’t mean she’d just roll over when one challenged her. No, she’d meet them head-on. “Now, you all have a copy of the files that are to be discussed with the Lexington group. I want to make sure this deal is completely iron-clad.”
The men around the table reviewed her notes and papers that were before them. Thirty minutes later, she was satisfied the group was prepared for the meeting. Even though Shane had requested she be present at the negotiations, she wanted to continue to work with his legal team first.
Avarie glanced down at her watch and was ready to move on to the second reason she had called them together. They were making good time, and she wanted to continue the meeting as scheduled.
“Over the weekend, I took the liberty to review files and found a few contracts that would be up for renewal and renegotiations. The one that particularly caught my eye is the Rudolph Railways negotiations. This deal was made over ten years ago, and much has changed in the world.”
Laughter from the far end of the table ended with coughing when Avarie turned her gaze in that direction.
Conrad was leaning over speaking to one of the other lawyers Avarie had met today.
She smiled and quirked an eyebrow.
“Please do share with the room. I’m sure we all would like to laugh as well.” She motioned with her hand for him to continue.
Conrad’s mouth pressed into a thin line as he sat back in his chair. He glanced around; everyone in the room was staring at him.
She tilted her head to the side, waiting for him. “Well, Conrad. We all enjoy jokes and laughing. Let’s hear it.”
“Oh, I’m not sure it’s appropriate for members of the legal team to hear.” He shook his head.
“It must be. You shared it with Tom.” She crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. She took notice of the red hue spreading on Tom’s face, and her curiosity was truly piqued.
Tom murmured something to Conrad but was quieted by Conrad raising his hand.
“Okay. If you must know. We were speaking of the way you obtained this job.”
Silence filled the room. No one moved a muscle, clearly surprised by what had just came from his lips.
“Excuse me?” she snapped, narrowing her gaze on him.
“I mean, we all know you’re Fin’s daughter so you were a shoe in. You are to ensure the company itself is protected but you have a certain conflict of interest keeping you from doing your job fairly.”
Avarie was in shock that the man would be so bold to speak such untruths. Did he not know how hard she had worked to get to be a partner in her father’s firm? How hard she’d busted her ass to get the reputation she had?
“What conflicts could she possibly have, Conrad?” Bruce Houston, another member of the legal division, questioned. He rolled his eyes and sat forward. “We all know Fin wouldn’t just recommend anyone. Fin was a fine lawyer and advisor to our group. I’m sure Avarie —”
“She’s sleeping with Shane King,” Conrad growled.
Gasps flew around the room, and all eyes landed on her. She swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say. What she had been afraid of all along was coming to light.
“Oh, now you don’t have anything to say. I took the liberty to look into you. Make sure you would have this company’s best interest at heart.”
“I think you’ve gone too far, Conrad,” Tom muttered, grabbing Conrad’s arm.
