CHAPTER31
The meeting is eventful, to say the least. Halfway through, his father makes a grand entrance and everyone clears the room quickly, leaving the two Carrero men to go at it like raging bulls. I stand outside observing the many eyes watching them through the glass. With my back to them, iPad in hand, I reply to emails; I can hear them arguing in Italian so that no one else can understand what they’re saying.
His father is pissed, but Jake is antagonizing him. I can tell by his tone of voice, and a quick glance at his aggressive posture confirms it. He never knows when to stop. The merger could still be called off; he should be smoothing things over, not letting his feelings get the better of him.
Finally, Senior storms out, yelling something in hostile Italian, and Jake snorts in answer. Senior glares back at him before stomping off with a flurry of nervous assistants running after him, the air crackling with tension.
“Emma!” Jake’s voice makes me jump; he sounds angry, and I snap around as he walks out loosening his tie. His eyes, normally so still, are stormy and dark, and despite his controlled, cool expression, I know he’s aggravated.
“This merger is going ahead,” he almost growls at me, looking a bit ferocious. I swallow my nerves back down.
“He isn’t stopping it?” I’m surprised by this.
“He can’t.” He frowns and takes my arm, pulling me back into the board room and slides the door closed, holding me close to his face. Another example of his hands-on approach.
“It’s gone public, just like I planned. If Carl Hunter or my father back out now, it will damage both of their reputations. They both stand to make a lot of money, and a lot of jobs ride on this merger. Hunter can’t refuse; his business will go under if he does.”
I realize now that the last few weeks maneuvering this deal in certain ways, and letting certain facts leak, has been deliberate. Brains behind the brawn, one of the reasons his father always pushed him to get involved in the family business. Funny that it’s backfired on him.
“If he stands to gain from this, then why is he so angry?” I query. I know Giovanni Carrero values money above all things.
“He despises Carl Hunter; you know this.” He shrugs with one shoulder and casts a look over my head, frowning at the meandering staff.
“Why did you choose to do this deal if you knew it would be this way?” I’ve been dying to ask him this question for weeks but never felt it was my place to interrogate him. Jake’s expression closes and he looks thoughtful.
“Let’s go for food; I don’t want to talk here.” He glances up and out of one the long windows again, as though insinuating he doesn’t trust nearby ears.
“You just had lunch an hour ago, Jake,” I point out, but he shrugs in response, and I know it doesn’t matter. He has the appetite of a horse. The boy could eat all day and still find space for seconds."
