“You don’t need a reason to ask for the bank balance,” Royce cut in.
“I’d need to look it up,” said Barry, shifting from one black loafer to the other. He flexed his neck to one side and straightened the sleeves of his suit.
“So, look it up,” said Royce.
“I don’t have access to the server.”
“Call someone who does.”
Barry hesitated. “It’s pretty late.”
“Your point?”
“I guess I could try to catch Sally.” With a final pause, Barry reached into his pocket for his phone.
While he dialed, Amber moved closer to Royce, turning her back on Barry.
“Is this completely necessary?” she hissed.
“I thought you wanted the bank balance.”
“I do.”
“Then it’s completely necessary.”
“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Let me handle this.”
She took in the determined slant to Royce’s chin while Barry’s voice droned on in the background.
“Do I have a choice?” she asked.
“No.”
“You can be a real hard-ass, you know that?”
“He insulted you.”
“I’m a big girl. I’m over it.”
“That’s not the point.”
She fought against a sudden grin at his need to get in the last word. “Do you ever give up?”
“No.”
Barry cleared his throat, and Amber smoothly turned back to face him.
“Sally is looking into the overdraft and the line of credit to see where-”
“The balance,” said Royce.
Barry’s neck took on a ruddy hue, and he tugged at the white collar of his shirt. “It’s, uh, complicated.”
“I’m an intelligent man, and Amber has an honors degree.”
Barry’s gaze flicked to Amber, and she could have sworn she saw panic in its depths.
“I’d really rather discuss-”
“The balance,” said Royce.
Barry drew a terse breath. “At the moment, the account is overdrawn.”
There were ten full seconds of frozen silence.
Stephanie entered the room from the kitchen, stopping short as she took in the trio.
“Say again?” Royce widened his stance.
“There’s been…That is…” This time when Barry glanced at Amber, he seemed to be pleading for help. There was no help she could give him. She didn’t have a clue what was going on.
Royce’s voice went dangerously low. “Why didn’t you transfer something from corporate?”
Barry tugged at his collar again. “The China deal.”
“What about the China deal?” Royce asked carefully. “Was the transfer held up?”
Barry swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, voice turning to a raspy squeak. “The paperwork. From Cheng Li. It didn’t make the deadline.”
Stephanie’s eyes went wide, while Royce cocked his head, brows creasing. “They assured me the fax would go through.”
“It did. But…well…”
Royce crossed his arms over his chest.
“Our acknowledgment,” said Barry. “The time zone difference.”
“You didn’t send the acknowledgment?”
“End of day. Chicago time.”
“You missed the deadline?” Royce’s voice was harsh with disbelief.
“I’ve been trying to fix it for thirty-six hours.”
Royce took a step forward. “You
Barry’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“And you didn’t call me?” Royce’s voice was incredulous now.
“I was trying to fix-”
“Yesterday,” Royce all but shouted, index finger jabbing in Barry’s direction. “
“I-”
“What in the
“It was the time zones. Technology. The language barrier.”
“You are
Amber’s gaze caught Stephanie’s. She felt desperate for an exit. She didn’t want to witness Royce’s anger, Barry’s humiliation. She wanted to be far, far away from this disturbing situation.
“You’re done, Barry,” Royce confirmed to the silent man.
Barry hesitated a beat longer. Then his shoulders dropped. The fight went out of him, and he turned for the door.
The room seemed to boom with silence as Barry’s footsteps receded and the car pulled away outside.
Stephanie took a few hesitant steps toward her brother. “Royce?”
“Cancel his credit cards,” Royce commanded. “Wake up someone from IT and change the computer passwords. And have security reset the codes on the building.”
“What are we going to do?” Stephanie asked in a whisper.
Royce’s hands curled into fists at his sides. He looked to Amber. “I have to call Beijing. If we don’t fix this, the domino effect could be catastrophic.”
Amber nodded. “Just tell me what you need.”
“Can we talk to Jared?” asked Stephanie.
Royce shook his head. “Not a chance. Not for a week at least.”
Six
Amber hung up the phone after their fifth call to China, her expression somber as Royce’s mood.
“That’s it.” He voiced his defeat out loud.
“Are you sure?”
“Can you think of anything else?”
She shook her head.
He slipped the phone from her hands, setting it on the end table next to the sofa in the living room. The deadline was the deadline, and they hadn’t been able to penetrate the Chinese bureaucracy to make their case to Cheng Li. The deal was canceled.
It was nearly 3:00 a.m. Only a few lights burned in the house, and Stephanie had headed to her own ranch an hour ago. Amber tipped her head back on the gold sofa cushion, closing her eyes. She’d struggled through translations for hours on end, and the strain was showing in her pale complexion.
Royce gave in to the temptation to smooth a lock of hair from her cheek. “You okay?”
“Just sorry I couldn’t help.”
