Penny knocked on the door. “Annette phoned from the lobby. Are you expecting someone named Lily Francini? Apparently, she’s downstairs.”

Sawyer looked up from his laptop. “Francini?” He pressed his lips together. He didn’t know she would be here so quickly. “Yes. I am expecting her. We are,” he corrected. “Send her up and let Jack know that we have a meeting together.”

“I will take care of it. Not a problem.” She smiled.

“Good. Tell him we can meet in here.” He slammed the screen shut and pushed back from his desk. “Clear my schedule for the next hour at least.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

“We don’t want to be disturbed.” He eyed her with a dark stare.

“Understood, sir.” She closed the double doors behind her.

Sawyer leaned in his seat. This wasn’t the arrangement he wanted, but he didn’t see what options there were. He had always been logical and pragmatic in his approach to business deals. This one made him color outside the lines more than he ever had before. He didn’t want to admit it made him uneasy.

Five minutes later his business partner waltzed into office, cocky and arrogant as usual.

“You mind telling me what the fuck this is all about? Who is this girl and why is she here?” Jack Rivers’s voice was deep and boisterous as he slammed the door behind him.

Sawyer walked around to the front of his desk. Jack was already busy pouring a drink. Bourbon straight.

He didn’t have much time to talk Jack into this. It was rare he made a decision like this without him, but it had happened late last night. Jack had gotten in from an east coast tech conference.

“How was L.A.?” he asked.

Jack rolled his eyes. “I ate sushi, fucked an actress, and made us a five-million dollar acquisition. Ok I guess.” He shrugged.

“Glad you enjoyed yourself.” Sawyer leaned on the edge of the couch.

“I was hungover as hell after the wedding,” he admitted.

“Me too. Still can’t believe Ben got married. That bastard shocked everyone on Saturday by actually going through with it.”

Jack laughed. “He’s not exactly the husband type, but I guess Rachel will figure that out eventually.”

“Penny returned our tuxes for us.”

“Damn it. I forgot about that before I flew out to L.A.”

Sawyer shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. That’s taken care of. No more weddings for us for a while. We’re done with the penguin suits. Ben’s on his honeymoon.” He paused. “Listen. I need you to hear me out for a minute.”

“Sure. Anything brother.” Jack grinned.

“Remember Jill Banks?” Sawyer prodded.

“Of course. She left six months ago. Advertising hasn’t been the same since. That department is a revolving door. We can’t keep anyone in there. I don’t have any idea why.”

“Well, while you were gone I found her replacement.”

“I was gone for two days. You work quickly.”

Sawyer lowered his eyes. “I’m not sure what you’re going to think about this.”

“Hell, Sawyer. I don’t give a shit who gets hired to run advertising. I want it taken care of. Leave me out of the hiring process. You know I don’t get involved in those details.”

The dark brooder eyed his friend. “That might be, but I think I need to bring you in on this hire. It’s different. She’s different.”

“I’m listening.” He slung the drink back.

“The Francinis backed out of the resort deal yesterday.”

“What? That’s a hell of a Monday for you to handle on your own.”

Sawyer knew he finally had Jack’s attention.

“Yeah, they royally fucked us over. They pulled everyone off the job. It’s a ghost town.”

“I don’t believe it. We never should have gotten into business with them. I knew it.” Jack’s brow furrowed.

Sawyer tried to calm it. “I paid Gino Francini a visit. He’s broke. In debt up to his eyeballs.”

“I don’t give a shit. We aren’t shelling out more money.”

“Hold on.” Sawyer held his hand up. “It turns out Gino has a niece. A niece who happens to have a degree in advertising.”

“And you swapped her for a ten-million-dollar land deal? Does she have a ten-million-dollar brain?”

Sawyer grinned. “Something like that. It’s up to her, but she has a chance to erase her uncle’s debt if she can grow our global presence by ten percent in the next year.”

“Can she do that? Have you seen her resume?”

Sawyer braced himself for what was coming next. “I only know what Gino told me. But it’s on her. On him to deliver. We either have a ten percent growth, or we will find a way to collect what he owes us.”

Jack chuckled. “Fucking unbelievable. You think this will work?”

“I had him by the balls. It was the only offer he made. She works for us until the profit grows with the campaigns she produces.” Sawyer smirked.

“Have you seen her?” Jack waggled his eyebrows.

“No.”

“Hmm.” Jack looked interested. He poured a second drink. “So that’s the meeting? We size her up and see if she’s up for the challenge? You couldn’t have told me this earlier like maybe over coffee this morning?”

Sawyer nodded. “I like surprising you when I can. But I can handle it from here if you prefer.”

He shook his head. “Hell no. I want in on the interview.”

“Good, because she should be here—”

Penny walked through the door. “Miss Francini is here.”

They smiled at each other.

“Send her in.”