“Shoot it to me straight, kid. I know you’re after Voltaire. You haven’t said it as plainly, but I know it’s your intention. I don’t blame you. If I were in your position, I’d want it, too. But, in my situation, I have to make sure that the company I sell to, the person at the helm is the right kind of person. That they have their priorities straight.”

Fred pauses to return the next ball, then turns back to me.

“I like you. I didn’t think I did, but then you surprised me at dinner with Chloe. I’m never surprised. I always know what’s coming. I can read people, their intentions. I thought you were a savage businessman with no heart, but now I realize there’s no way a woman like Chloe would be interested in a guy like that. And Frankie adores Chloe. They really hit it off.”

“I appreciate that, Fred, and Chloe feels the same.” It’s not exactly a lie, I know Chloe doesn’t have a lot of friends in the city so it could be true. “I want to start by giving you an idea of where SCM could go once we acquire Voltaire.”

“Hold that thought, kid.” Fred holds up a hand to silence me, his attention drawn across the tennis courts to where Frankie and Chloe are walking out onto the court. Fred’s jaw goes slack at the sight of Frankie in her tiny skirt and low plunging top. “Now I don’t want to say this is the only reason I’ve been playing tennis every day but it sure is a perk.”

Fred chuckles, his additional comments not even registering as I take in the sight of Chloe in a short white tennis skirt outfit. I don’t know how it’s possible but this tennis outfit manages to make the dress Bea picked out for dinner look like a tent. I can see nearly every inch of her toned legs. The tiny built-in shorts peek out from underneath the skirt that barely covers her ass and her breasts are exploding out of the zipper of the low V-neck top. Her bun has been replaced by a ponytail that swings with every step as they approach.

Fuck. I can feel the crotch of my starched tennis shorts tightening.

I’d be annoyed at Fred’s short attention span but I couldn’t form a coherent business thought right now if I tried.

“Ladies, you look lovely.” Fred wraps an arm around Frankie’s mid-section and pulls her in for a kiss.

When Chloe stops in front of me, obviously waiting for a response, I lift my hand and pat her on the head.

She swats me away like I’m a gnat.

“What are you doing?”