Page 92 of Ruthless Ambition
The East Coast called me back first, which was good because this was who I really wanted him to trade to.
“Hey there, thanks for getting back to me,” I said. I knew within five minutes he was interested, and we began to talk around the issues, then I floated some of what I was looking for out to him, and he didn’t back off. Within fifteen minutes, I was smiling.
“We’ll need a full medical,” he said gruffly, which was his usual demeanor.
“At LA or with you?”
“Here,” he said firmly.
“I need more than a promise to think about it. If I send him out to you for a medical, you know that’ll make people sit up and notice.”
“Get Mays on the plane, Balan. We’ll talk Wednesday.”
“Will do.” I immediately called Tyquan. “Where are you?”
“Florida. Kids wanted to do Disney World and all the other shit,” he said, and I could hear his smile.
“Florida works. How long they got left?”
“Where do you need me to be?” he asked instead.
“Boston. Tuesday.”
“Are you for real?” he asked me excitedly.
“I am. He wants a full medical there,” I told him with a grin. “It’s just a medical and some preliminary terms have been discussed, but nothing is finalized, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“Damn, woman!” He whistled in appreciation. “You get me this gig, I will fucking love you forever,” he said, and I heard a young voice protesting in the background that Daddy shouldn’t swear in Mickey’s house. I kind of agreed.
“I’m sending you details. Keep me updated on everything.”
“Always do, Tornado, always do.” He said goodbye, and I settled back in my chair, content that I might have a better result for my client.
Realizing the time, I picked my purse up and headed out to grab some lunch. In the foyer, I met Cooper coming in, and I braced myself.
“Where you going?” he asked me.
“Lunch.”
“Alone?” He looked like he wanted to tell me off.
“The street’s packed,” I said as I pointed outside.
“All the more reason to be with someone,” he grumbled as he turned and started walking. “Hurry,” he barked back at me.
“I don’t need you,” I told him irritably as I followed.
“Sure you don’t.”
“Okay, let me put it another way,” I growled. “I don’twantyou.”
“Honey, I heard you squealing over his dick; I know exactlywhoyou want.”
I stopped walking. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Cooper looked back at me and grinned. It was not friendly, but then neither was he, and when he advanced, I took a step back. “You are and always have been a stuck-up bitch,” he told me. “I didn’t like you then, I don’t like you now. But Onyxdoes, and he wants to make sure nothing happens to you, so moveyour fucking tight ass and get to where you’re going, because if you don’t, I’m going to drag you. We clear?”
Cooper looked down at me, and I saw his loathing for me in his eyes. “Fuck you, Coop.” I stepped around him and walked outside, knowing he was behind me and deciding that ignoring him was my best option.
