Power Play by Tara Lynn Page A

you reports on me?”
    “Your team, Ms. Martin,” I said.
    “Really?” She nudged towards me. “Tell me what you think of the other people in it then.”
    I smiled and edged towards her. “I can't help it if you stand out from those around you.”
    Jesse looked softly through the two of us. He must have seen that this was more than a short term play for me. He rose out from the table.
    “Pardon me,” he said. “I see a few white clouds around that I want to turn dark and stormy for the company.” He turned to Kerry. “Ms. Martin, I hope I’ve made clear the nature of your team’s purpose.”
    “Quite clear,” Kerry said. “I’ll pass the information on.”
    “Good.”
    They shook hands. He gave me a curt nod, then slid over into a table of round, old white men, not far away.
    “I like him,” Kerry said, eyes glazed as she watched him work.
    “Just how much exactly?”
    She laughed. “Are you feeling threatened?”
    The crystal promise of her laugh washed the tension out of me like a hit of opium. My grandfather had offered me a puff of his old pipe once, and I'd never taken another. He hadn't been an addict, but he had far more discipline than even me. Stone Holdings had grown to its current size thanks to him. My father only managed to keep it stagnant in his short tenure.
    Kerry was proving to be far more addictive than any drug though, now that she was relaxed. The purpose of all this must gotten through to her.
    “I’m not threatened,” I said. “Just contemplating the cost of a hitman.”
    “I’m surprised you two haven’t sent one after each other already.”
    “Ah it'd be too much of a mess if it didn't work.”
    “Really?”
    Her smile had dimmed. Did we look that bad?
    “Relax,” I said. “We’re not feuding royalty. None of us is going to end up penniless as long as this company stands.”
    “But the company means a lot to both of you. It's not just about money.”
    She had that right. I chuckled without much humor. “Aren't you an accountant?”
    “Only in business. And I think that ended when your brother walked away.” She shrugged. “Guess we're back to networking.”
    It should have made me laugh, but my mood was falling swiftly under the clouds.
    Networking was mostly Jesse's domain. I won my friends through strength. Even Trey kind of feared me at times.
    But fear would not let me keep this company. Making money might, but it still didn't earn me any respect. My father may have written me into his will, but I had no doubt he died loathing me.
    We were Texan royalty and I had never quite been satisfied with that. After I refused to accept my reserved family spot at Rice University, he had even said, “You may be my blood, but you are no real Stone.”
    So why give me the company?
    In a way Kerry had revealed his true purpose. Nothing brings a man greater despair than giving him what he wants before ripping it away. Deep down, I always knew that I was just warming the CEO seat for Jesse to grow up a little.
    “I'm kidding,” Kerry said. “It's just our joke right?”
    Our booth was dark and murky. Her heat seemed to burn brighter in it. I edged closer like a plant seeking the sun.
    “Sorry darlin'. I think I'm showing too much of my hand today. Are you satisfied that I didn’t just orchestrate this whole gig to get you in my lap?”
    She glanced down at my legs, her gaze itself warming me as much as a touch. My mood swung up as quickly as it had fallen.
    “You’re awfully optimistic, but yeah, at least this part of your little scheme worked.” She tipped in on an elbow, just a tip of the head away from my mouth. “Did you really just bring me here to prove you hadn’t made up this job?”
    “For starters,” I turned in towards us. “I was hoping it might give you the appetite for something more.”
    “You are way too bold for your own good. You know that?”
    “You call it boldness. I call it being honest. And honestly, I’m sorry that I trapped you with