Page 6 of The Merger

I shrugged. “I’m not sure what any of this has to do with me, to be honest.”

“Right, yes, of course. I’m getting things backward. I’d like for you to assist him.”

“What about Colter? He needs an assistant. I can’t do both jobs.”

“Of course not. There are plenty of employees who are due a promotion. What we need you to do with Mr. Lawson is more than being an executive assistant. He’s going to need an Operations Manager, and we want someone from the family to step in,” Fitz explained.

“It comes with a raise,” he added.

I cocked an eyebrow. Thoughts of a Waverly-free apartment danced in my head, but most of all I didn’t want to let down Fitz. “If you need me, I’m in.”

He smiled at me. “I knew I could count on you.”

Never had praise made me feel so worthy.

ChapterThree

Stryker

Five years was a long time. I thought it would take a few months to get my shit together, but a few months turned into six, and then a year, and before I knew it half a decade had passed.

Actually, I was ready after a year and a half, but doubt wiggled in, and I convinced myself I needed more before I came for her. So, for the last few years, I set out to conquer the world, at least the business side of it. Finally, I realized I could spend forever trying to accumulate wealth, but the girl I met didn’t value those things. It was time for me to go after what I really wanted in life.

Sabrina Lake was mine. My wife, at least according to the state of Nevada. She could have annulled the marriage or served me with divorce papers. I expected them at first, but it didn’t take long to realize she didn’t remember anything.

I watched through her social media while she lived her life. Did no one see how lonely she was? Sure, her pictures featured her smiling face, but her eyes, those deep blue pools, never reflected the joy she tried so hard to fake.

She was my kindred spirit. Another person who felt alone in a crowd of people. I watched while she made a couple of good friends, and was happy when some of her photographed smiles seemed more genuine. It was harder to see pictures of her with a boyfriend. I almost came for her each time I saw those, but then I noticed her lack of interest.

“Are you ever going to tell me who it is you have been cyber stalking?” Caroline asked, surprising me.

I grunted. She was pretty much my only friend, and even she knew very little about me. When you were raised as a dirty secret and shunned from knowing your own family, it was hard to trust anyone enough to consider them a friend. Caroline tried harder than the others and for that, I owed her loyalty.

“Okay, since you can’t seem to use actual words, then you can listen. You’ve heard me talk about my friend Colter Greyson?”

I grunted again. It wasn’t my most articulate response, but at least I didn’t ignore her like I did most people.

“All right, I can see I’ve got grumpy Stryker today. I’ll cut to the chase then. Colt’s wife, Jana Easton, inherited her family corporation, but she doesn’t want to run it. They’ve decided to merge it into Anderson Global, and they’re looking for someone to handle the merger.”

My interest peaked. I was ready to be done saving failing companies. I’d only done it for as long as I had because I wasn’t ready to settle down without Sabrina by my side. That time was drawing to a close. But having already met Jana Easton, I knew she was friends with Sabrina. Maybe one last assignment could help me finally get closer to Sabrina.

“I need an answer using actual words, Stryker.”

“Okay, I’ll take this one last assignment. But, I’m not talking about my personal life. I like you, Caroline, you might be the only one, but I’m still not opening up about private things.”

“Not what Jana said. She likes you. I’m guessing you didn’t show her the growling caveman side of yourself?” she teased.

“She’s different. Not like the prissy society bitches I’ve met. I found myself telling her things I’ve never told anyone,” I admitted.

Caroline laughed. “Yeah, she’s special. She’s certainly changed Colter Greyson.”

“I’m assuming there was a point to this visit and not to discuss the fact I’m not a complete asshole. If it was just about the job offer you’d have called.” I recognized my method of changing the subject proved I was mostly an asshole.

She sighed. “One of these days you’re going to meet a woman to soften all your jagged edges.”

“Looking forward to it,” I admitted, although I’m sure she thought I was being sarcastic.

“Jana wants you to stay on when Easton merges with Anderson Global.”