Page 9 of A Corruption Dark & Deadly
"What do you want from me, Bruce?" she asked. "Honestly. What am I even doing here? Why does this involve me? And Jericho is talking about his mansion in the woods like the Seattle Times doesn't write about it once a week." She threw Jericho a snotty glance. "We get it. You're rich. Congratulations. For someone who doesn't like the city, don't you have a penthouse in one of the wealthiest buildings in Seattle?"
"For business," he said. His eyes sparkled with amusement at her outburst.
"For business?" Annie asked doubtfully. "Really? So you only stay in that penthouse because you have business dealings? Come on. You're all about honesty, right? Then be honest. You like having a ritzy place in Seattle you can just retire to, bring your dates to. You live alone. You don't have a family. Why do you need a penthouse? It's because you like the status that comes with owning a penthouse."
Instead of being angry or upset with Annie's outburst, Jericho continued to look amused. It was as though she was some kind of sassy sprite, not quite real, eye-catching and mystical. She had no idea why he wasn't upset. It almost scared her more than seeing him offended by what she said. Why did he look at her that way? Why wasn't he upset? Was he crazy? Or did he have an infinite amount of patience?
"Perhaps," he said. "But let's switch positions for a second, if we may." He shifted in his seat, straightening his spine. "You are me. A successful businessman who prefers the solitude but who has obligations in the city, more professional than personal. You have lots of money. Would you purchase a twelve-month lease at a cost-effective apartment complex where people will know where you live, security isn't as great, and the chance of someone selling you out is greater than anything? Would you live somewhere where someone could walk through your home without a reason as long as they post a notice? Would you live somewhere where they could kick you out at any given moment, where the paparazzi had better access to you, where your neighbors would probably hate you because there's no way those same paparazzi could be regulated at all?" He perked his brow.
"Why live in the city at all?" Annie pointed out. "You have a mansion in the woods? Why not live there?"
"It's big and lonely," Jericho said.
"Like your penthouse?" Annie said.
Jericho's mouth quirked up. "Touché, Ms. Brennan," he said.
"So it sounds like to me, if you want to be happy, just sell your big, lonely houses and buy your own house in the woods that's smaller and not as big or as lonely," Annie said, leaning back in her chair.
"But I don't need to," Jericho said slowly. "I have a house in the woods." He smiled. "I have yours."
Annie clenched her teeth together to keep herself from saying something stupid. "Not my home," she told him. "Get another home."
"I don't think so," Jericho said, shaking his head. "Your brother has proven not to be the most reliable person to lend money to. At least with the deed of the house, I've gotten my investment back in something I've wanted in a long time."
“A smaller house in the woods?” Annie asked sarcastically.
Jericho grinned and turned his attention to Bruce. “You never told me your sister was so feisty,” he said.
“Yeah,” Bruce muttered, reaching up to cup the back of his head with his hand. “We’re trying to work on it. I apologize for her behavior.”
Jericho waved his apology away. “Nonsense,” he said. “I find her honesty refreshing.”
“You know,” Annie growled. “I’m sitting right here.”
Jericho’s grin widened. “You’re right,” he admitted. “How rude of me. To answer your question, despite the fact that it was clearly rhetorical, yes, I’ve always wanted a nice house in the woods. The perfect place to raise a family.”
Annie refrained from snorting again. She did not want to make a big deal over something that should not be a big deal. If he wanted to raise a family in the woods, who was she to critique that? It made no difference to her what he did just as long as he didn’t plan to do it in her home. She didn’t care what that deed said. It was her house. She was the one paying the mortgage, not Bruce. She was the one paying the taxes on the house, not Bruce. How could he make such an important decision without even including her?
It literally made no sense.
“Look,” Annie said, her tone desperate now that she knew there was really nothing she could do. That her house was literally slipping through her fingers and there was nothing she could do to stop it. “I’ve been paying the mortgage. Would you consider giving me the opportunity to pay you back and allowing me the opportunity to get the deed back?”
Jericho was surprised by her question.
“You’re the responsible member from your family, aren’t you?” he asked. There was something that flickered along with the amusement in his eyes. It resembled something like… respect. Her insides churned, as though they were pleased someone as powerful as Jericho would respect her and she immediately hated herself for it. Who cared if Jericho respected her? He was no one to her, just some big name and her brother’s boss.
But, a voice pointed out. That respect could very well come in handy. It might help you get the house back.
“Bruce isn’t completely hopeless,” Annie said slowly, because it was the truth. And despite everything, he was still her brother. “But I’m a lot more organized and on top of things, yes.”
Jericho nodded as though this wasn’t a surprise to him. “I know you have a job at some firm as an accountant,” he said. “I could really use someone like you on my team. I pay a competitive rate, you would get great benefits, and you’d be entitled to overtime rather than a salary.”
Annie looked at him like he was crazy. “You don’t even know me,” she pointed out.
He shrugged his shoulders elegantly. “So?” he asked. “You think that’s going to stop me? I can get to know you, Ms. Brennan. I’m getting to know you right now.”
“You should do it, Annie,” Bruce said in a whisper, keeping his eyes on his boss while speaking to her. “He really does pay a competitive salary, the benefits are great-“