Page 337 of Double or Nothing

Every hour I spent repairing problems before they reached Bill’s desk.

Motherfucker.

I see it now in his eyes. In that terrifying warning glare on his face.

He taught me to feel grateful for being allowed to work my ass off, and I did it for his approval. Never secure enough to stop proving my own worth, over and over again.

Bill’s expression tightens when I don’t give him a smile and a nod.

A further warning.

But for the first time since I met William Parker, when I was just a kid with aspirations, it no longer works.

“No,” I tell Adrian. “This isn’t what we discussed. Not in the slightest.”

Christopher shifts in his seat.

“Bryce,” he says, but I don’t look at him.

Adrian frowns, baffled.

“Why? What do you mean? What’s changed?”

Bill coughs to draw my attention.

“Think very carefully, Bryce. Don’t get confused here.”

What a cunt.

Think very carefully? I’ve done nothing else for fourteen fucking days. Fourteen days of hell.

I turn back to Adrian.

“Parker Capital doesn’t want a partnership,” I say. “Not from this documentation. Not since my absence. The intention is to secure enough support from your shareholders to take control before you can organise effective opposition.”

Silence.

Adrian stares right at me.

For several seconds, he says nothing.

Then he looks at Bill.

“Is this true?”

Bill remains composed.

“It is one possible route. No final decision has been made. Calm down, Bryce.”

But I won’t calm down. I can’t.

“Don’t proceed with any agreement yet,” I tell Adrian. “Speak to your board and your own legal advisers. Don’t rely on the documents you’ve been given here, because they’re nothing like the ones we worked on together. Not in the fine print.”

Christopher glares over at me.

“That’s enough, Bryce. You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”

Adrian’s eyes stay focused on mine.