Mike considered this. He scrubbed a hand over his face and loosened his tie as he blew out a heavy breath.
“How is he still vetting deals when we were supposed to sign today? This was supposed to be a done deal, a formality.” In the back of his mind, Mike wasn’t completely surprised. He’d warned Everett about getting all their ducks in a row before making plans. “Fuck. This is some bullshit. He’s basically hedging his bets. He’ll meet with them today and see what they offer then use our deal to ensure he maxes out. Shady.”
Kendra cocked her head. “Ellie said he knew Everett was going out of town. So he planned this shit.”
The woman was hot-headed, but he was right there with her.
Mike got to his feet and paced the length of the conference room, turning on his heel as he figured his next move.
This was not going to happen on his watch.
Monroe Properties needed this deal too much. They passed on so many other prospects that were just as good if not better, but Everett insisted on going with Arnold due to their family ties. There was no way Mike was going to do nothing. He wouldn’t let the company fall.
He was hot just thinking about it.
He clenched his teeth. Keep your head together.
“Okay, even if they do sign today.” He nodded, mentally running over the logistics. “It takes three to five business days for the filing to process. At the earliest, it would be Wednesday, but more likely Thursday or Friday, which is why he rescheduled for Friday.”
“That snake.”
Mike pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and squinted as he met Kendra’s gaze. She looked like she was seeing red. Like Mike, she might tell Arnold exactly where he could stick his secondhand deal. Most days she was a feisty back-talker who put her nose in places where it didn’t belong. Today, he needed that, though. Because of her fierce loyalty and nose for details, she’d sniffed out this problem.
Now Mike might be able to do something about it.
Still standing, Kendra whipped a notepad and pen out of nowhere and held them at the ready. She seemed to be waiting for him to let her in on their course of action.
“Ellie fucking hates this dude,” Kendra said. “She said he’s an asshole and a dictator, and she knows he’s up to no good.”
“We’re not sitting ducks. We have a little time. Not much, but enough to do some digging.” Mike lifted his chin as Kendra rounded the table and sat down in the seat facing the door. “In the meantime, get me everything you can find on Easton Investments. If you don’t mind, see if your friend is willing to do a little more snooping around. Find out what number they’re coming in at. I’ll be wracking my brain all weekend, but I’ll come up with something by Monday. Maybe we can match whatever Easton is offering, so we don’t lose out on this deal.”
Mike fell into to the seat across from Kendra. Suddenly, he felt exhausted. There was no escape. He glanced at his phone again. All this shit was going on at work, and he doubted he would find any solace at home. In a few hours, he’d be moving in a new roommate.
He tugged his tie off and cracked his neck.
Zora was still heavy on his mind. After what Kate said on the yacht, it was getting harder and harder to deny how he felt about Zora. That his mind was on her when he was in the middle of a crisis at work meant there had to be some weight to Kate’s words.
Am I in love with Zora? Wouldn’t I know?
The silence in the room ripped him from his thoughts, and he lifted his chin to find Kendra watching him.
“Is it this, or is something else bothering you because I noticed you looked a little tighter around the collar this morning.” Kendra’s pen was down and her body was angled to him. She seemed to scrutinize his every movement.
Is it that obvious?
“Come on, now,” she said. “Out with it because I need you thinking clearly about Arnold and the Chessington Building. A deal like this will do a lot for this company, and I could use a raise.”
She grinned, but Mike sensed her prying had less to do with the growth of the company, and more to do with her affinity for juicy gossip. Plus, she was itching to insert herself into someone’s relationship. Ever since Sophia locked Everett down, Kendra had been hinting at finding Mike a match.
She looked at him with questioning eyes.
If he was in love with Zora, and he seriously doubted it, why was he holding out? What was the worst that could happen?
He never felt about any other woman the way he did about Zora. She was kind, free-spirited, and a firecracker— blazing and beautiful, but just out of reach. They’d gone down this road before and decided to turn back, but what if she was it for him? What if they were wasting away the best years they could be spending together?
There was so much at risk. Although, if he really thought about it, there was even more to gain.
Mike eyed Kendra thinking of the benefits of getting a woman’s point view for a change. He could use her as a sounding board before he did anything stupid like tell Zora exactly how much he’d held back all these years. Against his steely nature, he parted his lips and let everything spill out…in a roundabout way.
“So this guy…a friend of mine, he’s known this girl for almost their whole lives,” Mike began.
“Uh-huh. Ooh, I love this kind of story,” Kendra murmured adjusting in her seat to get comfortable. She hugged her shoulders close to her and rubbed her hands together.
“She’s beautiful, sweet, motivated, and a good friend who’s stood by him even though he’s basically been avoiding her by dating as many women as possible to keep himself from getting hurt or causing her more hurt than she’s already been through.”
Kendra nodded. “Okay. I get it.”
“So she deserves so much better, and he knows it,” Mike went on. “But it doesn't stop him from feeling like he needs her—even if they’ve gone down this road and he got rejected once. I don’t know what to tell him, but it’s like his life is magnified ten-fold when he’s with her. Everything just feels right, you know?”
“Yes.”
“They laugh together, play together, and they are more themselves when they’re together than when they’re apart.”
Kendra pressed her hand over her heart for a second like she really got it, but then she scooted her chair close to the table and squared her body to Mike like she was about to school him.
“Let me guess. They’re both broken?”
Mike nodded, but Kendra was not done yet.
“Her pain is about her parents, who were two amazing people. The mother lost herself somewhere along the way. The dad stepped out on their marriage and replaced their family, so she thought the grandmother could take care of the kids and everyone would be better off without her. This girl, the one your friend loves, she’s scared of repeating history, right?”
Mike’s eyes went wide, and his mouth fell open.
“How long did it take you to figure out I was talking about Zora?”
Kendra smiled and tilted her head forward. “When you said, ‘so this guy.’” She laughed. “Please give me some credit. How long have I been working here? How long have I known this family? I’m required to keep my mouth closed, not my ears.”
Mike bit back a grin.