Page 47 of Outcast’s Return

Clement’s eyes finally lift from the pages.

“You know how important this is, Jolie?” he questions me.

“Yes. I do. I really do.”

“If we do this right, then our assets under management double overnight. If we fuck this up, then everything’s exposed.”

“Yeah, I really know that.”

“Word has already leaked about this potential acquisition to our rivals. Everyone’s knocking on the door, smelling blood in the water. They realize that you might’ve seen something their own analysts haven’t. There is a line of people in this business willing us to fail so that they can go at our throats.”

My foot continues to bounce.

“So don’t fuck up, then?”

“Yep,” my brother replies. “There is only one question I can ask you now. Do you think we have what it takes? Answer me honestly, sis.”

I try to swallow, but my throat is completely dry.

I don’t feel ready.

But that’s how I’ve survived so far on Wall Street. Work hard. Be ambitious. Be an Auclair and fight for what you want, no matter what.

“I have what it takes, Clement. We have what it takes. Auclair Capital has what it takes.”

He slams shut the folder.

“I think we do, too. This is good stuff. You’ll be great tomorrow. I have no doubt.”

“Thanks, Clement.”

He’s treating me as an equal, which, coming from a man who thinks everyone is beneath him, is something. I can tell he’s genuinely impressed with my work, and that’s all I want.

I just want to help my family.

“You’ve done so well,” he says softly. “But this document has the details of our entire business. Everything. It’s amazing, but it’s also completely exposed. Who else has seen this?”

“I had Steven look at it,” I reply.

“Steven Rinde?”

“Yes.”

“You shared it with him?”

“He offered to help check it over,” I explain. “He saw it today. I’ve just emailed him a copy.”

Clement pauses uneasily for a moment, and then...

“What did he think?”

“He said it was good.”

Clement leans back in his chair, hand resting on his chin in thought.

“I don’t like that man,” he says. “He’s too calculating. Too brutal.”

I’m not surprised. Clement never did warm to Steven.