Call It Business ( Book 3 of 'Call It' Series )

Chapter 80 | The Real Torture

"And then how did you two handle that? That sounds pretty serious," Barbara Cohen asked, hunching forward with the curiosity clouding her features.

"We have been dealing with that serious stuff for almost thirty years." Jeff Wallace waved a hand to the side, exchanging an amused look with Beverly. "Bev called me, we came up with a quick PR campaign to save her client, and then we went out to have a few drinks."

Beverly pointed a manicured finger at Barbara, a silvery smile sharpening her mouth. "Cabernet Sauvignon," she accentuated slowly, "That's our celebration wine."

Jeff hummed an approving sound. "For the minor wins, yes," he elaborated. "It is Pinot Grigio if the victory required a bit of—" He trailed off, drawing his index finger and thumb together.

"Immorality," Beverly completed in a conspiratorial whisper, toying with a wave of brunette hair scattering on her shoulder. "We also love a good payback."

"That we do," Jeff approved to Barbara's increasing confusion. "But only if we have a high opinion of that person. For example, Kurt? Absolutely not. If it was Elijah Bailey, I wouldn't hesitate. I'd drag his name through one court to another." He paused, his eyes narrowing on Barbara, "Do you know who he is?"

Macy knew. He was the CEO of Bailey Agency, aka Jeff Wallace's biggest rival in the field and Ian Campbell's manager's boss. She liked the man, though. Unable to recall a time when he was even somewhat rude or contemptuous to her, Macy had always believed that this rivalry was happening in her father's head only. "Does your father still try to steal my clients?" He would ask and joke about it. Seriously, he was cool!

Yet, on the other side of the glass, Barbara Cohen wasn't so sure. "I heard about him," she mumbled after hesitant silence.

"He is the president of some agency, that's not that important," Jeff explained dismissively, perching his hip on the brim of the metal table next to Beverly's chair. "The important thing is that dragging Elijah from court to court would benefit us both. It would be a free advertisement for him no matter the result. Meanwhile," he paused, twirling a hand to Beverly.

"We don't want to do that to Kurt," Beverly chimed, opening her palms to each side of her. "No, Barbs, we don't want to give that kind of limelight to Kurt. He is already taking a lot, isn't he? No, we like to dim that light until it becomes an itsy bitsy faintsy sparkle," She beamed at her.

"That can only be seen under UV light," Jeff added with a solemn nod.

"Like some dirty stain," Beverly went on.

"Exactly," Jeff murmured quickly.

"Then we will go out and sip our Pinot Grigio," Beverly said, her eyebrows shooting up.

"At Sicily," Jeff elaborated.

"On a boat," Beverly added, twirling a hand up in the air.

For the love of gods!

Resisting the temptation of banging her head against the mirror, Macy squeezed the coin and glared up at the villain, who was listening to the chit-chat with the same level of puzzlement with his father and Barbara. Oh, yes, Stephen Blanchard was still in there, looking so done with everything and everyone.

"I can't decide if your mother's questioning was worse or whatever this is," Macy mumbled, running her fist through the waves of her hair.

"My mother's one was more of a physical torture, not an emotional one," the villain replied under his breath, his dark brows knitting together as his gaze darted between Beverly and Jeff, "This one has both."

"And your father is a victim of it as well," Macy pointed out, motioning her head to Stephen. "So much for sacrificing himself so that Mr. Clermont and my dad wouldn't have to be in the same room."