Page 215 of Devious Lies (Cruel Crown)
The smug son of a bitch had practically tattooed entertained across his forehead. He brought his wife Lucy to the negotiations, reaching a level of ball-less sap I was tempted to address.
“Nash Prescott in the flesh.” He leaned back in his seat and stretched, his tone flippant. “You look smaller in person.”
Lucy dug an elbow into his ribs. “Asher, stop.” She smiled at me, so opposite to her husband, I wondered why she'd chosen the dick. “You look perfectly proportionate.”
Fucking hell, she looked like she legit meant that as a compliment.
“Mr. Prescott. Mrs. Lowell.” Elliot, the auctioneer for today, glanced between us. He seemed uncomfortable around Asher, which I didn’t blame him for. “Cheng explained the mix-up. We’re so sorry. Please, allow me to extend an apology on behalf of myself and my colleagues.”
“Don't worry about it, Elliot.” Delilah perched on the seat I pulled out for her. “It's not a big deal. Truly.”
The five of us looked ridiculous in a conference room meant for thirty. Twenty-five empty chairs stretched the length of the room.
Elliot sat at the head of the table, the backdrop of Singapore visible through the glass behind him. “I’ll cut to the chase here. Mr. Black, our board has reservations about your… reputation. You’d have to make a substantially larger bid than Mr. Prescott for them to approve the sale.”
Delilah pulled out a pad of sticky notes, scribbled the damn dictionary, and slid it to me.
Good news. I expected this. I’m betting Asher did, too, which is why they had our emails hacked. If you bid in the upper threshold of your budget off the bat, we can make it clear that he'd have to pay substantially over market value to win.
Thank fuck.
Something needed to go right today.
I scrawled back:
Good.
Asher leaned forward in his seat. “If you intended on bringing me here to screw me over, you could have saved me and my wife a trip and done it over the phone.”
Elliot adjusted his collar, looking like he’d rather jump in a pool with sharks than be in a room with Asher. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s our policy not to disclose details before an auction. You request—”
“I don't care what I requested. Common courtesy…”
I tuned them out and read the note Delilah passed back.
This is perfect news. Haling Cove is nearly done anyway. With the soft launch next week, you can assure everything is on the right track for the grand opening, which gives you the opportunity to leave for Singapore the day after.
They’ll need you here for at least two months to 1) navigate your re-zoning request and 2) finalize the purchase.
What the fuck? She’d never mentioned two months in Singapore. My pen strokes left fucking indents in the pad and possibly the table.
Two months? Can’t it be done remotely?
If I’d known, I wouldn't have bothered flying here. I figured by the grand opening of the hotel, Gideon would have gotten his shit together and spilled to Emery. Maybe I could fly back and explain my part of the mess to her myself.
Even as I thought it, I knew I wouldn’t. Given the Sir Balty situation, she needed to cement her relationship with her dad. If I had a chance to talk to my dad, I’d do it. Every fucking day, not just once a week.
Asher continued to demolish Elliot, but I gave no fucks. I snatched the Post-Its from Delilah, not bothering with subtlety.
1. Walking naked in your own home.
2. Chewing gum.
3. Smoking.
4. Noise after 10 P.M.
5. Leaving the toilet un-flushed.
