The Billionaire's Revenge (The Blank Check #6) - Jeannette Winter Page 0,20
better for her back then, but now, it was a moot point. Jordan could never be with anyone who’d been with Marvin. Not just because friends don’t do that, but he knew he’d end up in prison. Marvin would run his mouth, dig after dig, until he sent Jordan over the edge. Yup, he definitely could picture himself harming Marvin over Gianna. That thought should be enough to make him keep his distance. He had too much to lose. And why risk it for someone who obviously isn’t interested.
The waitress returned and asked, “Since you two haven’t even touched the pizza, would you like me to box it up for you to go?”
Jordan had wanted to get the conversation out of the way. It took longer than he’d anticipated. There wasn’t anything left to say, at least not regarding Marvin. He asked, Gianna, “How do you feel about cold pizza?”
“Love it.”
Jordan turned back to the waitress and said, “You can box it. But I could use coffee and maybe the dessert menu.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“Dessert?” she asked. “We didn’t even eat our dinner.”
“You can eat the pizza when you get home.”
She chuckled. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of going out to eat? I mean I could’ve just ordered delivery if that was the case.”
“Then next time, we eat in.”
“I don’t remember discussing a ‘next time’,” she said flatly.
He smiled. “I mean Saturday. Rosslyn has already called to let us know there is an informal dinner party being thrown by you and we were invited.” Jordan noticed her tense and he added, “Yet you don’t seem happy about that.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied.
“But?” He knew there was one. It was written all over her body language.
“But it might be growing larger than I’d first thought.”
“It’s just the family from what I know,” he stated.
“Exactly,” she replied softly. “There are a lot of you guys and I’ve only met Rosslyn and Charles.”
“And me,” he corrected.
“How could I forget?” she teased. “I don’t normally mix business with pleasure, and you obviously are aware that I supply some staffing for Grayson Corp.”
“Yes I do. And I heard that Rosslyn is pleased with your employees. It’s something I wanted to discuss with my brothers as well.”
“And that is the problem. I never…”
“Associate with potential clients. If you’d rather, I can tell my brothers not to consider Today & Tomorrow and we can look elsewhere,” he offered.
“No! I…I’d like the opportunity to show you what I can do,” Gianna stated.
I’d like that. Unfortunately you’re only talking about work.
“Then why don’t we order dessert while you plan your pitch,” Jordan said.
Gianna snickered and replied, “How about we eat dessert and you can call my office and make an appointment for next week.”
“Agreed.” He picked up the menu and scanned the dessert section. “What’s your feelings on a chocolate lava cake? Feel like splitting one?”
“No way. I mean I love them, but since I haven’t eaten, I’m not sharing one bite,” she grinned.
“You’re right,” he said.
“About the cake?” she asked.
He shook his head. “You’re no pushover Gianna Ionnetty.”
Gianna glared at him. “Please don’t base my business skills around my love of chocolate. I’m not sure which surpasses the other.”
“I’ll let you know next week,” he teased. “Now let’s order and this time, eat it.”
“Sounds good, as long as you understand I wasn’t joking. I’m not sharing,” she smiled.
He was glad she seemed to have relaxed, but even though she wasn’t concerned about Marvin, Jordan was. The only thing Marvin had done over all these years was up his game. Gianna wasn’t ready for it. Jordan was going to need to make sure he was close by to play interference. That meant there was no way was he waiting until Saturday before he saw her again.
“I’ll agree to those terms only if you’ll have dinner with me again tomorrow night.”
“Jordan, I don’t want to spend every night talking about Marvin,” she stated.
“I don’t believe I mentioned his name. What do you say? Want to try actually eating a meal with me?”
Gianna sighed. “And if I say no, does that mean I can cross Lawson Steel off as a potential client?”
He had to give her credit. She was blunt. “Like yourself, I take my business very seriously. If you gain a contract with Lawson Steel, it’ll be strictly based on you being able to meet the company’s needs.” And not mine.
She looked at him as though she wasn’t sure what to say. Eventually she nodded. “Okay. But