okay, Dad?” Avra shared a concerned look with Khouri when their father simply raised a hand and rushed from the room.
* * *
Samson Melendez smoothed the back of one hand along his square jaw and studied the young woman seated on the other side of his desk. Through a narrowed, dark gaze he focused intently on her face looking for anything to disprove what she was telling him.
“Convinced?” Setha Melendez asked her brother after he’d silently watched her for the better part of two minutes.
“Not really.” Sam’s canyon-deep voice had the tendency to fill a room especially when his words carried the added air of suspicion. “I can’t understand anyone—who’s in their right mind—volunteering to spend hours negotiating with the likes of Avra Ross.”
Setha recrossed her long legs. “No one except you, right?” she drawled, smiling brightly when her brother’s probing-pitch stare wavered. She elected not to call him on it. “Anyway, I won’t be dealing with Avra but with her brother.”
“Khouri?” Samson pushed out of the hulking desk chair that was set behind an equally massive desk. “He’s no adman. He’s his dad’s right-hand guy. This is a little below his pay grade.”
“Well, apparently he doesn’t think so.” Setha bit down on her bottom lip in an attempt to douse her smile. The times were few and far between when anyone managed to surprise Samson Melendez. She swung her foot a bit more merrily. The moment was definitely one to be savored.
Samson took a seat on the corner of his desk and fixed his little sister with another probing glare. “Why wasn’t I told about this, Set?”
Still savoring the moment, Setha shrugged and studied the fringe hemline of the tan wrap dress she wore. “If I had to guess, it’d probably be because the decision had already come down from the top.”
Sam leaned forward a bit. “Dad?”
“Mmm…and Basil Ross.”
Sam winced then. “Old fools,” he muttered, running a hand across his dark, straight hair. “They haven’t got a clue about advertising.”
“But they do have a clue about getting things done.” Setha leaned forward then to pin her brother with a teasing leer. “I guess they figure since you and Avra Ross have issues…”
“Bullshit.” Sam began to massage his forehead. “I got no issues with that woman aside from bein’ aggravated out of my mind every time I see her.”
“Mmm…” Setha propped fist to chin and wondered if Sam had any idea of how soft his voice had become.
Obviously he did for his gaze narrowed in renewed suspicion. “You asked for this, didn’t you?” He coolly shifted the subject.
The smug expression on Setha’s licorice-dark face showed the slightest traces of unease then. Aside from being hard to surprise, her brother had a scary talent for reading people. “Dad asked me to step in,” she blurted and stood from her chair. “He thought I’d like a change of pace since we’re a bit slow just now,” she added, referring to her job managing Melendez Corporate Charities.
“Bullshit again,” Sam said while folding his arms over his chest. “Why the hell would you want to be involved in this?”
“I wanted to help.”
“Double bullshit.” Sam gave her the benefit of a hard stare for only a few seconds longer and then shrugged. “But I won’t argue.”
“I promise I’m not after your job, Sam.” Setha clutched her hands to the center of her chest. “Besides, I don’t know a thing about negotiating ad rates.”
“Then you’re in luck since rates aren’t what we can’t agree on.” He leaned across the massive desk and grabbed a hefty file there. He passed it to Setha and waved a hand to urge her to view its contents.
Obliging, Setha peered into the worn folder and scanned the first 8½x11 glossy she picked up. Her mouth fell open. “You’re not serious?”
* * *
Khouri adjourned the budget meeting following his father’s hasty departure. He forbade Avra to leave and grilled her about the advertising issue being unsettled with a client because of personal differences. Avra, unfortunately, wasn’t interested in discussing the Melendez account.
“Did you see how he just rushed out?” She bit her thumbnail while watching the closed conference room door.
“So what?” Khouri didn’t break his slow stride while pacing the room and shuffling through the account folder.
Avra rolled her eyes. “So what?”
“Hell, Av, he’s gotten notes and had to leave meetings early before.”
Avra’s gaze slid back to the door. “There’s more to it. He looked strange… I don’t think I’ve ever seen that look on his face before, have you? Khouri?”
Her brother didn’t respond and Avra waited for him to pass by during his pacing. She reached out to punch his arm and winced when her fist connected with an iron-hard bicep. “Dammit, Khouri, the least you can do is listen to me.”
Khouri’s deep-set stare was focused on his mobile. “Your client wants a meeting in the morning,” he muttered. “They’re sending Setha Melendez.”
Avra’s brows rose and her expression turned animated. “Aah…the baby sis—they really are going after cooler heads. Prettier heads, too.”
“Pretty.” Khouri smirked over his sister’s use of the word.
“Haven’t you ever met her?” Avra folded her arms across the tailored salt-and-pepper vest she sported. “I was sure that you had….”
Khouri only shook his head.
“Guess that makes sense. Hmph, she’s not a big presence at the company—works for the charity end, handling money the corporation donates internationally or somethin’ like that.” She rolled her eyes and eased from her perch on the table. “If what I’ve heard from most men is true, then you’re in for a real treat tomorrow morning.”
Khouri remained silent and Avra guessed—hoped—he was too preoccupied by the upcoming meeting to worry over her departure. She took advantage of the fact and decided to try for a quiet escape.
Answering the email regarding the meeting, Khouri didn’t lift his head. “We’re not done yet,” he called.
“Damn, Khouri…” Avra was seconds away from stomping her feet in agitation. “Sam Melendez’s idea of advertising auto parts is to have some half-naked woman cradling brake pads between her boobs. Now I don’t think that’s what we want on the pages of the Review, do you?”
“Maybe not.” Khouri chuckled while finishing up with the email. “But it’d sure as hell sell a crap load of brake pads.”
“Khouri…” She actually whined that time.
Grinning,
