Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Ainsley Claire (primary phonics books .TXT) 📖

Flirt is growing organically and moving international. Rather than doing a city-by-city rollout like we did in San Francisco, we’ve gone right to straight up advertising on television and within social media, as the app was spreading on its own. It seems my new way of creating matches is resonating. We’ll have revenues of more than two billion dollars this year, if we remain on track. Who would have thought that’s possible? It helped that the State Department got involved, thanks to Walker Clifton, and resolved the piracy issue in China. The Chinese Flirt website now actually belongs to us. The restrictions are tight, so the government may be getting the information they want anyway, but my sister Ava’s husband has been really helpful with keeping it functioning as designed.

“I don’t know yet,” I confess. “Diamond is my baby, and my being out for the last three months has had a negative impact. But the idea of concentrating on things I’m passionate about is appealing. I need to find the middle ground.”

“I think that makes a lot of sense,” Jim says. “Nate’s really excited about the software you’re building for him. He says it will help with the trades after the season is over, and then it will balance out the rookies moving into the game next summer.”

I shake my head. “I hope so. I keep warning him, it’s not going to be perfect.”

When we arrive at the office, I stand outside, looking up at the Diamond Analytics building. I’m proud of myself. I built this company from the ground up. It was a night that I couldn’t sleep when I figured out my algorithm. Now, I employ over three thousand people.

Jim comes to stand next to me. “Ready?”

“Let’s do this.” My stomach flips as I approach the door.

“Ms. Couture,” Joe, our security guard, greets me.

“Hey, Joe. I’m expecting some guests. Just send them up when they arrive. Please don’t announce them.”

Joe’s brow furrows. “You’re the boss. Do I need their names?”

“They’ll have gold badges,” I hint.

It takes a minute, but then it registers. He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”

We ride up in the elevator, and I walk out onto the executive floor. It’s already busy with activity.

“Welcome back,” my assistant says. She turns to Jim. “I’m Sarah. Are you replacing Peter?”

“I’m here just for the day,” he tells her.

“Can you get us some coffee and come in with a note pad?” I ask her.

“Right away.” Sarah walks out.

“She doesn’t know how I take it,” Jim says with a smirk.

I set my bag down. San Francisco is beautiful in late August as the fog finally begins to lift. I love my view. I hear the door open and close behind me, and Sarah sets the tray down.

“How do you take your coffee?” she asks Jim.

“Black, please,” Jim says.

She pours three cups of coffee and sits with her knees pressed firmly together. She’s nervous, but I’ll fix that for her. “Victor is on my calendar in twenty minutes, correct?”

She nods. “That’s correct. Victor’s already arrived.”

“Has he been in this office?” Jim asks.

“I don’t think so. I know he’s here because I just confirmed with his admin.”

“Shortly after my meeting with Victor begins, the FBI will enter the building,” I tell her. “They will come right up. They most likely won’t be announcing themselves.”

Sarah’s eyes grow wide.

“It’s okay, Sarah. They’re not here for me.”

She nods. “Thank goodness. Wait—that means they’re here for Victor?”

I don’t respond to that. “As soon as they arrive, you can let them in. But I ask that you not say anything to anyone.”

“Of course.”

Jim hands her a card. “Once Victor enters the office, you can call this number. They’re expecting your call.”

“O-o-okay.”

“If he asks you for coffee, just tell him you’ll get it. But don’t worry about fetching him coffee.”

She stands. “I’ll bring him in once he arrives.”

Jim steps out with Sarah, and I sigh. I didn’t sleep well last night, too busy worrying about how this was going to shake out. They’ve been watching Victor for a few weeks, trying to get a feel for who he was working with. He’s a Chinese national, and unfortunately, sometimes their government threatens their families back home if they get into trouble, so the FBI wants this to be a quiet takedown.

Victor walks in, all smiles. Due to federal wire taps I know for a fact that he and board member Alex Tuberville have been working to orchestrate a coup at the board meeting later this morning. “Welcome back, Mia. It’ll be nice to have you back at the helm.”

“I’m glad to be here.” I point him to a seat across the desk from me. “Let’s go through the profit and loss statements. I sent you a few questions on last month’s statements, but you didn’t get back to me. I’d like to understand why we’re negative in development and payroll?”

“I responded to your email,” he says defensively.

He didn’t, but I can pretend. “Oh. I’m sorry. It must have gotten lost in the ether. But you can tell me now.”

“I don’t have my notes. I can go get them. They’re in my office,” he offers.

“That’s okay, just give me the broad strokes. As our CFO, you should know without your notes why these numbers are negative.”

“Well, with your absence we had to, um… you know, we had to…” Victor falters.

“Hmm… I don’t take a salary. There was no interim CEO to pay. My absence shouldn’t have affected the payroll. Did you make a financial decision to put Alex Tuberville on salary without my consent?”

His shoulders drop. “He had board approval.”

I’m still the major shareholder, and Mason wasn’t aware of any large expenditures. “I see. What about development costs?”

“I