Revenge(30)

The two guys who are sitting on either side of Dylan push their chairs back and stand up. They are the same guys who were hovering around him yesterday, when I saw him busking in the early morning. Why didn’t I recognize them when I first walked in? They’re big guys, like security guards.

Maggie raises her voice. “Go ahead and walk out,” she says. “Walk out with your bad attitude and your secrets. I know all about you, Brandon. I know your type.”

His voice is so calm it’s scary. “You don’t know fuck all about me, Maggie Clark.”

“I know about the crash, and I know about Susan. What else is there? What else are you hiding? We need to know everything. We’re going to be your only friends. Your family. Let me show you one thing before you decide.”

Dylan gestures for his two guys to sit down again. They do so reluctantly.

Maggie flips open her laptop again and types for a few seconds. She closes the screen, but not all the way. She leans forward and pushes the laptop toward Dylan.

The guy at his side grabs the laptop and hands it to him.

Dylan opens the laptop while staring right at me.

Instantly, I feel terrible. He thinks I was part of this attack. That I helped Maggie blindside him.

I try to tell him with my eyes that I don’t know anything. I’m just a small-town girl who’s been an intern for three days. And I’m tarted up in a pink blouse. I couldn’t feel more ridiculous if I was sitting here in my underwear.

His angry eyes turn down to the screen.

The corner of his mouth ticks up. He closes the laptop.

Everyone’s completely silent. I don’t know if they’re more worried about making a multi-million dollar deal, or of Dylan smashing his hand on the glass table again.

I’m scared that he’s pissed at me, and we’ll never get to be friends. I don’t know if I can bear to hear his songs play on the radio and know he hates me.

“Is that all you’ve got?” he asks Maggie.

Nobody but her and Dylan knows what was on the screen. I’d give anything to get a peek, but the laptop is closed now. Maggie probably has it password protected.

“We need to know everything,” Maggie says. “We need to be in control of any scandals before they happen.”

“I’m not running for president,” he replies. The grit in his voice makes him seem like he’s growling.

“No, you’re not,” she says. “This is much bigger than that. The president has to play by the rules. We’re talking about a multi-billion dollar industry. Not some little political game.”

His expressions lightens up a bit. “You think I could make some serious money?”

“That depends. Where have you got Susan hidden away?”

He moves like lightning, striking his fist on the glass table. The table is thick and doesn’t break, but now everyone’s on the edge of their chairs. My heart is beating so hard, it’s making me numb.

“Susan is nobody’s business!”

He stands, towering over everyone. I forgot how tall and muscular he is. He seemed like a regular person when he was seated, but now he’s so imposing.

The guys from either side of him get up and lead the way out of the board room.

Without another word, Dylan storms out of the board room right behind them.

Everyone else around the table is absolutely quiet.

We can hear the three guys talking in the hallway. They’re waiting for the elevator, complaining how long it’s taking.

The woman across from me gives Maggie a thumbs-up gesture. Maggie gives her a sweet smile. I don’t understand why these two are being so friendly. That’s the woman who laughed at Maggie and almost got torn to shreds in the meeting. Was that all planned?

Maggie turns to me. “Well, Jessica?”

My voice is hoarse, almost a whisper. “What do you want me to do?”

She nods her platinum blond head toward the hallway. “Ever heard of the good cop, bad cop game? I’m the bad cop. Now it’s time for you to run after him and be the good cop.”

“What do I do? Am I trying to get him to sign a contract?”

She gives me a patient, strained smile. She might trust me, but she still thinks I’m an idiot.

“Don’t mention the contract,” she says. “Just get close to him. Find out where he’s stashed Susan.”

“Who’s Susan?”

She blinks. “Get into his bed, and you’ll get into his head. Now run along before that elevator gets here.”

I push back my chair and get up. My legs are shaking, and I feel as wobbly as a newborn deer.

Nervously, I walk out of the board room and approach the three guys standing by the elevator.

Dylan gives me a cold look. “I know they sent you after me.”