The Other Side of Greed (The Seven Sins #5) - Lily Zante Page 0,15
words float back to me.
I could call that guy. The slimy one who’s traveled around the world and found his calling, or so he thinks.
Use him.
I don’t use people. That’s not me. Yet there would be something satisfying to be gained from watching him at the food night. This is my chance to see if he can rally to the cause and help me on demand.
It’s just as well that Simona sent me his number. Now I can find out how serious he was about wanting to help out.
Chapter Eight
BRANDON
I’m about to cut into my nice, juicy steak when my cell phone goes off. It’s on vibrate mode, but I can feel it jiggling around in my jacket pocket.
I ignore it but a few seconds later it goes off again. I give Jessica an apologetic grin and reach for my cell phone to quickly see who it is and to turn the damn thing off, but the darn thing stops buzzing.
I stare at the number. It’s one I don’t recognize. Just as I go to switch it off, it starts to vibrate again.
It could be a prospective investor. A client. A chance to make another deal. I can’t ignore these things. “Excuse me. I have to take this.” Jessica shrugs and plays around with her salad.
“Hi, is this Brad? Brad Hartley?” It’s a voice I vaguely recognize but can’t place.
“Who?” My jaw clenches during the few seconds it takes for the penny to drop.
“This is Kyra Lewis. You came for an interview at Redhill last week.”
The corners of my lips turn upwards in a wry smile as I wipe my mouth with a napkin. Well, well, well. She wants me after all. “How can I help you, Kyra?”
Jessica’s interest rockets. She sets down her fork, her eyes widening.
“Are you still interested in doing some volunteer work?”
Of all the times she could have called, she picks now. “Can we discuss this another time?” The quiet ambiance of the restaurant and the sight of my tantalizing steak divert my attention. I wish I hadn’t taken this call.
“I don’t have another time. You either want to help or you don’t, and right now we could do with some help.”
I cough lightly. It’s late in the evening. What the hell could she possibly want right now? “Now? As in, right now?” It’s after hours. I never signed up to work after hours.
“You said you were free. You said you were eager to help.”
“I am, but, I’m kinda busy.”
“You don’t seem to be interested. Don’t worry about it.”
She hangs up.
My eyebrow lifts. No one hangs up on me. Jessica eyes me coolly. “Did I hear correctly? Was that … Kyra Lewis?”
I hold up a finger, indicating to Jessica that I need to deal with this. Then I call Kyra Lewis back. She doesn’t pick up until about the fifth ring, and this infuriates me even more.
“What?” Her irritation crawls down the phone.
“You hung up,” I state, breathing in slowly, in order to ground myself.
“Look, Bradley. I don’t have time to talk. Either you can help right now, or you can’t.”
This could be my chance to get into Redhill. “Where do you need me to be?”
“At Redhill.”
“I’m making my way over.” I hang up and stare at my barely touched steak, my mood plummeting at the meal I’m going to have to give up. Lewis had better make it worth my while. “I’m sorry. I have to go,” I tell Jessica.
Shock animates her face. “Was that Kyra Lewis?” she asks, again, trying to read my expression. “It has to be. Such an unusual name. Such an unusual woman.”
“It’s business.” I hesitate on whether to tell her.
Jessica wipes her mouth as her cool expression slips into confusion, wondering what I am up to. She doesn’t need to know. “But you’ve barely touched your food,” she cries.”
“You’ve barely touched yours.” I nod at her plate. She’s had maybe a tiny flake of tuna, and a couple of salad leaves.
“I’m done.” She presses a dainty, manicured hand against her super flat stomach.
I chortle. “You’ve hardly eaten a thing.”
“What are you up to, Brandon? Level with me here. Why are you leaving me to see Kyra Lewis?” Is that a hint of disappointment I detect behind that cool mask, that flawless porcelain skin. I sense unease behind her cool blue eyes and perfectly painted glossy lips. Dare I think that she might even be jealous? “I’ll explain later.”