Page 82 of Third Time’s a Charm

He’s also right about my lack of experience, although he was smart enough not to call it that outright. As much as I hate to admit it, if I’m going to do this, having him on board would be valuable.

“I’ll text you the details.”

Jasper is already sitting at a table by the window when I arrive at the café. There are three large coffees in front of him, and his fingers are tapping out a beat on the table.

Colin arrives moments later, a large box under his arm. I hadn’t even thought to ask him about collecting my personal things from my office, but he’s done it anyway.

I raise an eyebrow at the unfamiliar hard drive sitting on the top.

“I thought there might be personal files on your laptop. So I copied it all,” he says with a sly smile. “If anything’s missing, just let me know. But maybe do it quickly. There’s no telling how long it’ll be before we’re all on the street. Although no sign of an announcement yet.”

“That’s odd. You’d think they’d want to get it over with before news leaks.” I shove the box under the table.

“Tate is probably waiting for the opportune moment. There’ll be some other dodgy deal he’s working around.” Jasper stands and shakes Colin’s hand with more warmth than I expect, then sits again and slides one of the coffees towards each of us.

I don’t waste any time getting down to business. I don’t want Jasper to think this is a social meeting, that I’ve entirely forgiven him, or that maybe we’ll go back to having a personal relationship. I’m in no way ready to tackle that problem yet.

“So, how do we get Tate to sign over the rights?”

“What we need is a lawyer who specialises in IP and employment to maybe draw up an agreement, based on what we have,” Jasper suggests. “We need to get that situation sorted before we meet with Ben Carter.” Hmm. Back to we again. But it’s bothering me less and less.

“Good idea. You know Tate best. Do you think the threat of exposure will be sufficient to get them to agree to our terms?” I ask.

“I hope so.” Jasper looks more confident than I feel.

I put my hand on Colin’s forearm. “I don’t want to compromise you, Colin, but do you know anyone we could talk to?”

Colin waves away the idea that I’m compromising him. “I’m going to be out of a job, regardless. But the only employment law specialists I know are on retainer for Cellar Road International. So that’s not going to help.”

The three of us gaze at one another for a long moment, the clatter of a busy café sealing us in a cone of silence as we weigh our options.

“Ant runs a business, doesn’t he?” Jasper asks. “Maybe he knows a good lawyer.”

“Ben Carter’s brother is a lawyer, I think.” I pull out my phone and call Ant.

“Yeah, Will can help,” Ant says when I explain what we’re thinking. “I don’t think he specialises in employment law, but he’s got a great big firm behind him. Someone on the payroll is bound to know what you need. Why don’t you come down to my office this afternoon? We’ll give Ben a call and I’ll properly introduce you.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Louise

If Ant isn’t happy I’ve brought Jasper to the meeting, he shows no sign of it. In fact, he’s downright friendly, which prickles me a little. I’m not quite ready for back-slapping friendship between them just yet.

By his own admission, Jasper isn’t the type to charm people, but somehow two of my closest friends seem to have joined Team Jasper. Which maybe proves my point about charming. Because, despite what’s happened, Jasper exudes trustworthiness. And that’s way more appealing to me—and apparently my friends—than charm.

Colin has gone back to the Cellar Road offices to keep an eye on things, but Jasper and I crowd around the desk in Ant’s cramped little office and Jasper explains where our thinking is at.

“I’ve been contemplating this all night,” Ant says, leaning back in his rickety chair with a wide grin. “And I reckon Ben is going to gobble this up. I also think, knowing Ben, you don’t need to worry about getting the Tate situation cleared up before talking to him. He loves nothing better than a bit of intrigue. Why don’t we give him a call and bring that meeting you’ve got set up forward?”

Ant puts the phone on speaker, explains the misunderstanding with Jasper, and the situation with Tate.

“Will’s here with me, by the way. Sounds like Cellar Road International are a pack of cockheads who need to be shown what’s what,” Ben says, sounding unexpectedly delighted by the prospect. “You know what I’m thinking …”

And a voice from the background crows, “It’s time to get the band back together!”

Ant roars laughing while Jasper and I exchange a puzzled glance.

There’s a story there. If this all works out, maybe I’ll hear it one day.