Free The Billionaire & The Barfly (Coming Home) by Adrianne James

her game? She has a very expensive college waiting for her.”
    “ Well, ma’am, that isn’t my department.” Aubrey looked back to Jenna quickly who rolled her eyes and stood up.
    “ Ladies, the money can be negotiated. Everything that Aubrey mentioned is a good idea. It is proven that when customers connect with a product or brand on another level, they buy more. We want to make Becca the brand. She is the reason we are all here. Girl power, and all that.”
    “ I understand that. But we still need to know she will be taken care of. We have received some very generous offers today.”
    Aubrey knew she shouldn ’t speak up without first talking to Mike, but she didn’t want to lose the contract. “What if we can offer her a job after high school? A part time entry level position while she is in college.”
    Mike snapped his eyes to her , and she saw the look he was sending her. They didn’t have the ability to do that without the human resource department getting involved. But Aubrey couldn’t think of a single reason they would turn her down.
    “ In addition to the lump sum for the rights to her game?” Mrs. Stine asked. Becca was practically bouncing in her seat, and Aubrey caught sight of her hitting her mom’s leg over and over. Becca wanted the deal. Hell, she knew Becca wanted it before her mother started talking numbers.
    “ Yes, in addition to,” Jenna said. She finally took note of the situation. She wasn’t going to reprimand Aubrey just yet. She knew it would be coming, but if they signed Becca Stine, it would be worth it.
    “ What if she can only work five hours a week because of school, or what if she needs twenty?”
    “ That will have to be worked out with the department she starts in. But at Viola, we are very flexible with college students. We understand the importance of going to class. We even have a program that gives bonuses to employees who make the dean’s list at their respective colleges.”
    “ YES! I want to go with you!” Becca called out, standing from the table. Aubrey smiled brightly at her and thought the deal was done. She was wrong.
    “ No, we need to know what they are offering first.” Her mother grabbed her arm and pulled her back down to a sitting position.
    “ Jenna, would you please put Mrs. Stine’s mind at ease and show her the contract that we will amend to include the employment should you sign,” Mike said. When Aubrey looked at him, he looked defeated, as if he knew something she didn’t. Was she reading the situation wrong? The girl wanted Viola.
    “ I’m sorry, but we can not agree to anything right now. We need to compare all the offers, and we will get back to you next week.” Mrs. Stine stood and walked to the door to open it. “You all have a great day.”
    They were being dismissed. The worst part? As they walked out dejected and wondering where they went wrong, Henry stood there waiting for her.

     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    “ Go away, Henry.” Aubrey walked passed him with her colleagues, who were all watching the interaction with rapt attention.
    “ Not without talking to you first. Just hear me out. Please.” He kept up with her, stride for stride, no matter how fast she tried to walk.
    “ No. There is nothing to explain. You should have told me who you were.”
    Aubrey pushed the door open and walked out. She could hear him cursing from behind her , but she didn’t look back. Not for Henry, and not for either Jenna or Mike, who were both calling her name. She had to be alone. Her embarrassment was no one’s business but her own.
    The sky that had been completely clear when she entered the building was now filled with clouds. She could feel a mist in the air and hoped to make it to her car before the sky opened up.
    She didn ’t. The water poured down on top of her, soaking her straight through to her skin in a matter of minutes. Not caring how she looked any longer, she kicked off her shoes, grabbed them in one hand, and ran