The Other Side of Greed (The Seven Sins #5) - Lily Zante Page 0,16
me. Jessica is usually emotionless.
“What are you up to, Brandon?”
The muscles in my neck tighten. “I need to take care of something.”
“At this time of the evening?” She’s going to pry it out of me unless I tell her.
I huff out an irritated breath. “It’s ... you know I have my sights on Greenways?”
Jessica’s eyebrows lift ever so slightly north. “Go on,” she says, a wicked grin spreading on her face.
“I’ve offered her my services.”
“What services?”
“My business acumen.”
“What for?”
I’m tempted to quickly wolf down my steak, because I don’t know what Kyra wants me to do or how long it could take. While this is a useful turn of events, it’s not ideal, her interrupting my evening like this.
“To convince her that moving somewhere else would be better for her company. She doesn’t know who I am. She has no idea. She thinks I’m a hippie-cum-redeemed-capitalist who has returned from a sabbatical visiting Third World countries and now I want to do good here.”
Jessica claps her hands together. “That is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!”
“Thank you.” But I am still completely bummed about having to give up my steak. I need the deal, and this woman has summoned me. I should go because I have no choice. “Sorry to leave you.”
“Don’t be. I’m intrigued. This is fabulous; this idea of you going undercover. I want you to keep me up-to-date with your progress.”
“You can’t tell anyone, Jessica. It will ruin things.”
“I won’t tell anyone. I’m impressed at the lengths you’re going to.”
“The situation demands it.” I get up and leave a wad of bills on the table. “Are you staying?”
“I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go.”
“I can drop you back.”
“You run along. Keep me posted.”
“Sorry.”
“Stop saying you’re sorry. Why does she even want you at this ridiculous hour? Doesn’t she have a life?”
“Evidently not.”
She gives a stiff laugh. “What a crazy world, you leaving our dinner and seeing Kyra Lewis instead.”
“Seeing her? I don’t think so. I’d rather rot in Alcatraz.”
“You owe me another evening, Brandon.”
“We’ll have dinner again soon, I promise.” I take her hand and kiss it.
“I’ll hold you to that.” The smile she gives me has more sizzle than ever. She wants me. Odd that it’s taken the mention of Kyra Lewis for her to express her feelings so pointedly.
I rush away, remembering that I have to get into character. That I’m not a billionaire any more, but a down-on-his-luck, broke loser.
Kyra hasn’t told me a single thing, she hasn’t given me a clue as to what she needs me for. I suspect she’s calling my bluff. I got the impression she doesn’t like me much, and for that very reason, I’m determined to rise to the challenge.
I rush home to change into my casual clothes, then drive the battered old Toyota Corolla. The fucking stick shift takes some getting used to. It’s a cart. A real pain in the butt to drive. Every time I have to get into this, I cry for my Tesla.
I reach her factory and walk around the side to the back. What I see is like a punch to my gut. The huge expanse of land is now teeming with life. Lowlifes, by the looks of it. I suddenly feel as if I’m in the middle of Hell.
The place is a hive of activity, filled with people. A shiver rolls over me as I glance around. This assortment of people makes me want to retch. I suddenly fear for my life.
A long row of tables is on one side. People are setting them up, and others are bringing things over. I see the big guy, and then I notice that his arm is in a sling. He catches my eye and waves at me. I walk over to him, grateful to see a familiar face.
“Hey, glad you could make it. Kyra said she called you.”
“Yeah, I came as soon as I could.”
At least he seems happy to see me. When I ask him about his arm, he says he tripped and fell. I catch sight of the older woman setting up the tables with a bunch of others.
Still none the wiser, I ask him what’s going on.
“It’s our weekly food night for the homeless. Didn’t Kyra tell you?”
Food night? We’re feeding homeless people?
I gave up steak and Jessica for this? I look around with a sinking heart. This isn’t what I signed up for. I fight the urge to gag.
We’re feeding people who don’t shower? Or clean? People who could be crawling