Redeeming Her SEAL (ASSIGNMENT Caribbean Nights #9) - Kat Cantrell Page 0,66
the coast of Ilhota Rosa as well. The injunction is cutting into the satisfaction of your guests.”
Probably a useless tactic, but she was running out of ideas.
He shrugged. “Be that as it may, it’s a legal matter. It would be impossible for me, a mere businessman, to instruct the court to remove an injunction against something that may harm the habitat of our beloved marine life.”
Audra checked her eye roll because it would not further her cause to antagonize him. “You’re a mere businessman as much as I’m a mere dolphin aficionado. You could get the injunction removed. You filed it, after all, and besides, I have zero doubt you could influence whomever you wanted to into doing exactly what you tell them.”
His hazel eyes sought hers and held, boring into her with something so cold it seeped into her soul. “Except you.”
“Except me,” she agreed hastily.
He didn’t like that she’d wiggled out from under his thumb, and there was a part of her that couldn’t believe he’d do anything to hurt her, but she did have her suspicions about the near hit-and-run she and Rachel had endured. It had felt like a warning. The car could have easily mowed them over, but hadn’t.
“Let’s put that to the test, shall we?” He showed his teeth, and she very much feared that meant he was about to clamp down on one of her major arteries. “I’ll cancel the injunction. If you get back together with me.”
What? But before she could tell him to go to hell, to leap up and storm out of his office, he dropped the rest of his nuclear bomb in the dead center of Audra’s chest.
“And if you don’t, I’ll ensure that Aqueous Adventures’ business license is revoked. Your choice.”
ReefCo’s name had graced his paychecks for almost a year, but despite that, Charlie hadn’t been inside the building itself since he’d dropped by to fill out HR paperwork. It hadn’t changed. Overblown sculptures dominated the lobby, and the people dressed far too well for a nonprofit organization.
The stench of money permeated the very atmosphere, and Charlie almost turned around to see if Jared Anderson himself had snuck up behind him. Might have made this come-to-Jesus easier if they could have it out on the ground floor in full view of his employees.
But the devil was clearly occupied with other matters, which meant Charlie would have to get in to see him another way. This time, he wasn’t leaving until he crossed the finish line.
He smiled at the pretty receptionist. Pamela, according to the name plate on her long white desk. “Hi. I’m hoping you can help me.”
“Hello, there,” the brunette practically purred. “Are you lost? I’d be happy to give you directions.”
Not hard to fill in the rest of that blank. …to my house. …to my G-spot. To the storeroom in the back where I can guarantee no one will disturb us.
“That’s kind of you. But no,” he said apologetically. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Right where he should have been a long time ago. He’d put off this confrontation for far too long. Anderson owed him some answers. Charlie would get them or peel the man’s fingernails from his nail beds without mercy. And that was because he was feeling generous since Audra had explained how her relationship with Anderson had come about. Now that he’d had time to cool off, his former friend might escape without scars. But that all depended on the nature of those answers.
“Where can I direct you then?” Pamela’s eyelashes batted so hard, it almost created a breeze.
“Get me in to see Anderson,” he said with a lift of his chin. “And I’ll owe you one.”
She frowned. “He’s very busy, given that he’s just returned from an extended trip overseas.”
Right. Audra had mentioned something about him being out of town. “It’s pretty important. Mention the name Charlie St. Croix and see if that doesn’t clear his schedule.”
It was a gamble that had never worked before. But the right one this time, obviously, as she spoke into the phone and then nodded. “He’ll see you. Go right in and take the elevator to the eighth floor.”
That had been too easy. He didn’t like it. His mind played over all the possible reasons Anderson would have agreed to this little chat without Charlie resorting to threats or waiting outside the parking garage for the obnoxious chauffeured limo the billionaire favored. Both of which he’d have done in a heartbeat.