the specialised equipment they needed for a limited time.
‘It’s a damn expensive exercise, though; I need to go looking
for additional funding as some of the projects I’d like to explore need
equipment we don’t have and I can’t fund through RBM,’ he added, wincing. ‘I
hate fundraising... I’d rather have my legs waxed.’
‘Hmm...’ Ally touched the top of her lip with her tongue as an
idea took shape in her mind. His think tank needed money. She knew of a
foundation that had money. He just had to do one little thing for her...
* * *
‘So let me get this straight... You will talk to your
foster father, who heads up the Bellechier Foundation, and tap him for funding
for my think tank if I agree to be the face for your campaign?’ Ross asked,
after she’d explained that she had a solution that would work for all of
them.
Ally smiled at his grumpy statement. ‘Pretty much.’
‘Blackmail is still blackmail, even if it’s wrapped up in a
sparkling bow, Jones.’
Ally grinned. Blackmail? What a harsh word! ‘I call it
scratching each other’s backs,’ she replied.
Ross looked sceptical. ‘And what chance do I have of getting
funding from the Bellechier Foundation?’
‘Oh, I’ll tell them it’s a condition of you being the face. Luc
wants you; I want you. You want funding and the foundation funds. The foundation
is family-run, and if Justin likes the project he’ll fund it. Lucky for you that
he loves technology,’ Ally said blithely, feeling like a serene swan on the
surface of the water but paddling like hell underneath.
She was so close—so damn close...
Ross pushed the pads of all his fingers into his forehead. ‘Are
you going to pull any other rabbits out of your hat today?’ he demanded,
sounding irate.
‘You never know.’ Just say yes, Ross. Come
on. Three letters, one syllable...
‘You secure the funding. I’ll do it.’
Ross named a figure and Ally forced herself not to react—not
because the figure was sky-high but because it wasn’t. Jeez, that wasn’t even half of what they’d pay him to be the face.
Despite his many offers of co-branding it was clear that Ross had never got as
far as discussing how much his game and his face were worth...which was far more
millions than he thought.
And if the foundation didn’t cough up, then Bellechier itself
would. Ross simply didn’t understand how valuable he was to them. His appeal was
enormous: to women because he was hot, to men because he had the cool factor,
and to the intellectuals, geeks and nerds because he was so damn smart.
‘I’m sure we could push that figure up,’ Ally said to sweeten
the pot. ‘Like double or triple it.’
Ross’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. So, do we have a deal?’
‘You secure me the funding and then we have a deal.’ Ross
glanced at his watch and walked over to his desk. He scribbled something on a
piece of paper and picked up his razor-thin laptop. ‘I have a conference call in
ten minutes with Japan...in the boardroom. When are you flying out?’
‘This evening on the ten o’clock flight.’
Ross gestured to his office. ‘Stay here and get me a formal
offer before you fly. You do that and we’re in business.’
Ally forced herself not to punch the air in jubilation. She’d
done it...holy smoke, she had her face.
And what a gorgeous, sexy face it was! Whoop!
Pic, sensing her excitement, stood up and shoved his nose up
her skirt. Ally squealed, and then laughed at the cold nose on her inner thigh.
Pushing his face away, she dropped into the couch and wrapped her arms around
his enormous neck.
Ross moved towards her and got down on his haunches next to
Pic’s head and ran a lazy hand down his dog’s back. ‘I’ve got to go. Get me that
offer—and don’t let this hustler con you into giving him any food.’
‘I don’t know where his food is,’ Ally pointed out.
Ross stood up. ‘He does.’ He slapped a bright green sticky note
onto
‘It’s a damn expensive exercise, though; I need to go looking
for additional funding as some of the projects I’d like to explore need
equipment we don’t have and I can’t fund through RBM,’ he added, wincing. ‘I
hate fundraising... I’d rather have my legs waxed.’
‘Hmm...’ Ally touched the top of her lip with her tongue as an
idea took shape in her mind. His think tank needed money. She knew of a
foundation that had money. He just had to do one little thing for her...
* * *
‘So let me get this straight... You will talk to your
foster father, who heads up the Bellechier Foundation, and tap him for funding
for my think tank if I agree to be the face for your campaign?’ Ross asked,
after she’d explained that she had a solution that would work for all of
them.
Ally smiled at his grumpy statement. ‘Pretty much.’
‘Blackmail is still blackmail, even if it’s wrapped up in a
sparkling bow, Jones.’
Ally grinned. Blackmail? What a harsh word! ‘I call it
scratching each other’s backs,’ she replied.
Ross looked sceptical. ‘And what chance do I have of getting
funding from the Bellechier Foundation?’
‘Oh, I’ll tell them it’s a condition of you being the face. Luc
wants you; I want you. You want funding and the foundation funds. The foundation
is family-run, and if Justin likes the project he’ll fund it. Lucky for you that
he loves technology,’ Ally said blithely, feeling like a serene swan on the
surface of the water but paddling like hell underneath.
She was so close—so damn close...
Ross pushed the pads of all his fingers into his forehead. ‘Are
you going to pull any other rabbits out of your hat today?’ he demanded,
sounding irate.
‘You never know.’ Just say yes, Ross. Come
on. Three letters, one syllable...
‘You secure the funding. I’ll do it.’
Ross named a figure and Ally forced herself not to react—not
because the figure was sky-high but because it wasn’t. Jeez, that wasn’t even half of what they’d pay him to be the face.
Despite his many offers of co-branding it was clear that Ross had never got as
far as discussing how much his game and his face were worth...which was far more
millions than he thought.
And if the foundation didn’t cough up, then Bellechier itself
would. Ross simply didn’t understand how valuable he was to them. His appeal was
enormous: to women because he was hot, to men because he had the cool factor,
and to the intellectuals, geeks and nerds because he was so damn smart.
‘I’m sure we could push that figure up,’ Ally said to sweeten
the pot. ‘Like double or triple it.’
Ross’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. So, do we have a deal?’
‘You secure me the funding and then we have a deal.’ Ross
glanced at his watch and walked over to his desk. He scribbled something on a
piece of paper and picked up his razor-thin laptop. ‘I have a conference call in
ten minutes with Japan...in the boardroom. When are you flying out?’
‘This evening on the ten o’clock flight.’
Ross gestured to his office. ‘Stay here and get me a formal
offer before you fly. You do that and we’re in business.’
Ally forced herself not to punch the air in jubilation. She’d
done it...holy smoke, she had her face.
And what a gorgeous, sexy face it was! Whoop!
Pic, sensing her excitement, stood up and shoved his nose up
her skirt. Ally squealed, and then laughed at the cold nose on her inner thigh.
Pushing his face away, she dropped into the couch and wrapped her arms around
his enormous neck.
Ross moved towards her and got down on his haunches next to
Pic’s head and ran a lazy hand down his dog’s back. ‘I’ve got to go. Get me that
offer—and don’t let this hustler con you into giving him any food.’
‘I don’t know where his food is,’ Ally pointed out.
Ross stood up. ‘He does.’ He slapped a bright green sticky note
onto
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