her comforter over her head. But that wouldn’t stop tomorrow from arriving . . . or Mr. Jared Worth. No, she was going to have to figure this out today, heartache or no heartache.
“But I still don’t understand how I could have a partner I’ve never heard of.”
Paul leaned back in his chair, looking very much like their dad. Except her dad still smiled at her and teased her. Somewhere between Little League and law school, her brother had lost his sense of humor.
Several seconds ticked by before he said, “You’re absolutely certain you don’t recall ever hearing the name Jared Worth before?”
“No. . . .” But there was something slightly . . . familiar about his name. On further thought, she’d probably heard it on the news when they were discussing a recent escapee from the mental hospital.
Paul shifted forward, propped his elbows on the top his desk, and pressed the tips of his fingers together. His gold cuff links sparkled in his desk’s high polish. “Let me try to explain this once more. Your initial start-up costs were provided by a loan.”
“Yes.” She wasn’t that dense. “From the bank.”
Instead of saying Jennifer, he just gave her the look. And that look was just as effective and just as annoying as hearing the word out loud.
“As I recall, you didn’t obtain a bank loan until some ten months into the start of your business.”
“It was a year,” she said, certain of at least that one fact. She remembered it perfectly. Steven had come back from his meeting at the bank all smiles and laughter. He’d scooped her into his arms, twirled her about. One year, babe. One year to the day we’ve been in business. And with this new loan, I’ve guaranteed us a sound start to the second.
Her laughter had been as free and joyous as his. They’d celebrated by having dinner on the beach, and later, after the sun had disappeared and the only remnants of the fire they’d built had been a small pile of orange coals, they’d made love. It had been one of a hundred perfect nights she’d spent in his arms, and its memory was both unbearably painful and unthinkable to forget.
“All right, a year. So for the twelve months preceding, where did you think the capital was coming from to run Blue Sky?”
She hadn’t thought. Steven always took care of the financial side of the business while Jenny concentrated on the bookings and office work. “I . . .”
Her brother pinched the bridge of his nose and let out another sigh.
She didn’t know which were worse: the sighs or the Jennifers.
“I don’t know what else I can tell you, Jennifer.”
The Jennifers had it. By one.
He unsteepled his fingers and sorted through the small stack of papers on the edge of his desk. Locating the document he’d been looking for, he slid it across his desk toward her. “When Blue Sky Air was formed, you and Steven signed a loan agreement with one Jared Worth.” He gestured to the document in front of her.
Could he stop saying that odious man’s name?
“The loan was in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars.”
“One hundred . . .” André’s perfect salad didn’t feel so perfect now. She felt sick.
“One hundred thousand dollars.”
More than sick.
“The terms of the agreement were such that the entire balance was to be paid in full by the end of three years.” Paul paused, glanced back down to the papers, flipping through several sheets. “You know, it’s really rather remarkable.”
“What is?” she asked, though she didn’t really care. “It’s an interest-free loan. Very generous of him. I guess if there’s anything positive to be gained from today, it’s knowing that all you owe him is the original amount of—”
“Please, don’t say it again.” It was a mountain of a sum. Mount Everest to be exact.
How in the world was she ever going to get that kind of money? Even if the amount was in pesos, she’d have a hard time coming up with it.
“What if I . . .” She paused. “What if I can’t pay him back?”
“Then he’ll become your partner. Your equal partner.” For several seconds, Paul looked at her. “Maybe your having a partner isn’t such a bad idea.”
“Are you crazy?”
His gaze was unwavering, and Jenny felt herself begin to squirm under his scrutiny.
“All I’m saying—”
“I know what you’re saying. You think I can’t run Blue Sky Air on my own. Well, I can. I am .” Blue Sky