Page 61 of Nothing to Win

“THAT SHOULDN’T BE PROHIBITIVE,” Gia said to the small group of her father’s associates enjoying Bram’s birthday party.

“It shouldn’t?”Abernathy asked.

“No.Offset the costs against something else.”

He smirked.“Any suggestions?”

“Marketing,” she said straight out.“Reduce its already bloated budget.A better product is easier to sell.Trust me, it’s more advantageous to have a strong foundation to build on.People like your product, they’ll tell other people.Does half your marketing department’s job for them.Substandard materials will give you problems further down the line and that is not a can you want to kick.”

“Substandard—”

“She’s right,” Baird said.“You have to look again at the primary model.We told you there’d be problems.Hell, even the lawyers told you.”

Oh, Abernathy was… blank.

With perfect timing, Brogan returned to her side with desperately needed wine.“Thank you.”

She held it in two hands while gulping.Alone with her father’s people was one thing.Some of them were Brogan’s people too and she really didn’t want to embarrass him.Once upon a time, she’d have been more concerned about her father.How things had—temporarily—changed.

Baird laughed.“Your girl’s schooling us.”

Was that bad?Was he mad?He didn’t look mad.

Abernathy might be mad.“How do you even know our product spec?”

Yeah, definitely mad.

“You sent them with the partnership request last week,” Brogan said, sipping his Scotch.“I have to admit, I haven’t read the report.”

“Gia has,” Baird said, smile broad.“I had no idea you were interested in business.”

“She’s interested in Spurn business,” Brogan said.

Just then, the crowd moved and she got a glimpse of… ah, salvation!

“Oh, thank you, thank you,” she said.“Uh… excuse me.”

Leaving the small group, she wound her way around others, one person in her sights.

“Roxie,” she gasped, landing on her friend in a hug that almost bowled them both over.Roxie hadn’t been the person she’d spied first.No, her companion was much taller.Her hug’s momentum bounced her from Roxie to the woman’s husband.“Zairn!Thank you for coming.Thank you.Thank you!”

“Don’t get welcomes like this at your friends’ parties,” Roxie said.“See how nice my friends are?”

“Ballard’s the only friend I have left,” Zairn said.“And he lives with us.”

“You pay him, Scroogey.”Roxie patted his chest when his arm went around her.“That’s contractual.”

“Our marriage is contractual, what does that make you?”

Roxie beamed up at him.“A drain on your bank account, sanity, and last good years.”

He bowed to kiss her.“Livin’ the dream.”

“Now I feel shitty,” she said and exhaled.“You just got each other back and you’ve come all the way over here to support me.Unless…” She blinked at Zairn.“Are you and Bram close?”

Until Brogan she’d barely known Zairn.He existed, yes, but had she ever had a conversation with him?No.She probably hadn’t been within fifty feet of him in the past, now she was hugging him.

“Oh no, honey.”Roxie took her hand.“If Z was friends with weeds, he wouldn’t have a knockout like me.No offense.”