Relentless (Option Zero #2) - Christy Reece Page 0,28
but his eyes were still more solemn than she’d seen them in a while.
“I’m fine, my dear. It’s just been a long day.”
She could definitely agree that it had been a long day. She had spent hours on the phone, talking with her contacts about funding for her project. The halfhearted promises to consider the project had been almost as disheartening as the straightforward rejections. Money was tight, and some of those toes she might step on with this film were likely friends or at least acquaintances of these people. She understood that, but this story was too important not to tell.
The call from Lawrence Medford’s friend Kate Walker had been out of the blue. If a deal panned out, it would be in her opinion, a bona fide miracle.
But that was a worry for tomorrow. Refocusing, she gave her uncle a bright smile. “Do you have a new project? Can you talk about it?”
“You know me. I always have five or six simmering. Nothing that’ll knock anyone’s socks off, but still some solid works. Speaking of projects, I’m sorry yours has been put on hold. I know Lawrence Medford was going to be your biggest financier.”
“He was, but I’ll get it made.”
His brows furrowed in surprise. “You have the funding?”
Since she didn’t know if things would work out, she wasn’t ready to tell him about her conversation with Kate Walker. “I have several investors I’m talking to.”
“Why don’t you concentrate on scriptwriting for a while? Maybe sell one or two of them? Then, when the purse strings loosen up, you can go back to your project.”
“It’s an important and timely story that needs to be told now. Human trafficking is more rampant than ever. People need to know.”
“Then let me help you. We’ll work on it together. I can—”
Aubrey held up her hand. “Thank you, Uncle Syd, but you’ve done more than enough for me.”
Grabbing her hand, he squeezed gently. “You’re like a daughter to me, you know that.”
“I don’t know what Mom and I would have done without you after Dad died. You’ve been my lifesaver more than once. Believe me when I tell you I love you dearly and appreciate you, but I have to do this on my own.”
He sighed deeply, squeezed her hand one more time. “I understand, but you know you can always come to me.”
“Can I steal this handsome man away for a dance?”
They both looked up into the laughing eyes of Becca. Dressed in an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress, she was the picture of health and happiness. The azure blue of her dress was the perfect complement to her white-blond hair, creamy skin, and ocean-blue eyes. The sparkle in them said she was having the time of her life.
She and Becca had wanted to be actors since they were both little girls playing dress up together. They used to put on plays for their families and friends, and on occasion, their efforts had been filmed. When they were teens, those old recordings had been unearthed to entertain unsuspecting guests at numerous gatherings.
Aubrey was thrilled to see her cousin’s dream come true in such a big way.
Uncle Syd rose slowly to his feet. “Chatting with my lovely niece and dancing with my beautiful daughter are the reasons I came tonight.” Holding out his hand to Becca, he said, “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s show them how it’s done.”
They took a step away, and then Syd turned back to Aubrey. “Give it some thought, sweetie.”
Aubrey nodded her agreement, but she already knew the answer. She had taken enough from her uncle. She would meet with her possible new benefactor and hopefully get this project off the ground. If the funding didn’t come through, she would find another way.
Chapter Thirteen
Bogota, Colombia
While Xavier drove, Liam sat in the passenger seat and mentally reviewed the plan for the raid. With the intel Myron had been able to give them, along with the research Serena’s team had dug up on the property, Liam knew they would be successful.
No one ever questioned why he was so focused on human trafficking. They knew the story almost as well as he did. This was his op. He was the one who’d gotten the intel. The one who’d worked the assets. He was the one with the biggest investment in a successful outcome.
A small huff came from the man driving the SUV. Xavier had been his friend long before OZ. They knew everything about each other and had no issues with speaking their minds.