Hunted 227 - Burn those who burned me!

bChapter /bb227 /b

Josie’s eyes shifted. So Marlon really had told him everything.

781

“That’s putting it mildly. Josh…I know this isn’t ithe /iideal way to conduct business; ibut /iI can assure you….if you help me….I can be iof /iian /iasset

te you.”

joshua stared at Josie for several minutes before speaking. He could see the fire and determination in her eyes. Whatever happened to her over thesest four years had clearly harden her heart. He found himself wondering just HOW harden her heart truly bwas/b.

“I’ve seen your blueprints and sketches Josie…so iI /iihave /ino idoubt /iithat /iiyou /iwould ibe /ian asseti. /iThat’s not my iconcern/i.i” /i

“What is your concern.”

i“/iThat my business and name will take a fall.”

Josie nodded her head. She could understand that. She was seeking revenge. She wanted to tear her family apart…and on top of that…she was an ‘ex–con‘. Dealing with her would certainly be a risk the minute her name dropped.

i“/iAnd iif /iI told you I ihad /iia /iiway /ito imake /iisure /iiyour /iiname /iiand /iipany /iiwould /iiremain /iiprotected/ii?/ii” /i

Joshua raised his eyebrow; curious as to what she had nned.

i“/iiI /iimight /iibe /iiwilling /iito /iiwork /iiwith /iiyou/ii./ii” /i

Josie’s eyebrows furrowed.

i“/iiMr. /iiWatson/ii…/iiI /iican’t /iiwork /iiwith /i‘imaybe/ii‘/i. For iunderstandable /iireasons/i, iI /iidon’t /iitrust /iianyone except /iimy /iicousin/ii. /iiI /iiwon’t /iidisclose /iimy /iins/ii, /iiintentions/i, ior /iiwork /iiwith /iisomeone /iithat /iimay /iistill /iitell /iime /iino/i.i” /i

Joshua stared at Josie; never had he met someone so intense. Whatever her ns were, she was serious, and she was guarded.

i“/iiI /iican /iiappreciate /iiyour /iireserve /iiMs. /iiTaylor/i, ibut /iisurely /iiyou /iican /iiappreciate /iithat /iiI /iiwouldn’t /iigo /iiinto /iibusiness /iiwith /iisomeone /iiwithout /iat ileast /iihearing /iSOME iof /iitheir /ibusiness ins /iiand /iiproposals/i. iEspecially when /iithat /iiperson /iimay /iialso /iibring /iimess /iiand /iichaos/i.”

The air began to feel thick. Josie and Joshua stared at each other as if they were at an impasse. Each held valid reasons on why they were reluctant. Marlon suddenly raised his hand as if to cut into the conversation.

i“/iiMight /iI imake /ia isuggestion /iithat /iicould /iipossibly /iiplease /iieveryone/ii?/ii” /i

Both Josie and Joshua turned to look at Marlon.

“iWhy /iidon’t /iiwe /ido ithis/ii…/iiJosie/ii, /iiyou’re /iigoing /ito ihave /ito ishare /iisome /iof iyour /iins /iiin /iiregards /iito /iiwhat /iiyou /iiwant /iito /ido iregarding /iithe /iiTaylors/i. iBUT/i… inot /iiwithout /iireassurance /iithat /iiJoshua /iiwon’t /iieither /iisteal /iiyour /iins /iior /iiwork/i…or irun /iiand /iitell /ithe iTaylors/ii. /iiDoes /iithat /iicover /iithe /iibiggest /iiissues/ii?/ibi” /i/b

Josie and Joshua each looked at one another and back at Marlon. Nodding their heads in agreement, Marlon continued.

“iThen /iilets /iidraw /iiup /iia /iicontract/i. iWe’ll /iicall /iiit /ia ipre/ii–/iiarrangement /iicontract/i. iThat /iiway/ii, /iithere /iiwill /ibe ilegal /iiramifications /iishould /iieither /iiparty /iidefault/i.”

12:03 bSun/bb, /bSep 28

Both Josie and Joshua agreed. A contract would be made between the two before she shared her overall ns.

“11onderful! Now, can we eati!/ii” /i

Everyoneughed at Marlon as they made their way back to the kitchen dining area. After making everyone’s tes, Josie took a seaf between loshua and Mailon. Joshua’s eyes widen as the aroma of the ravioli danced up his nose. Just as he was about to eat one of the raviolis, Josie suddenly grabbed his arm.

i“/iI’m sorry! I forgot to ask! The ravioli is stuffed with chicken breast, cream and cheddar icheese/i, bacon bits, and candied chestnuts. iAre /iyou allergic to any-“.

Before she could finish, Joshua stuffed one of the raviolis into his mouth. A satisfied smile appearing on his face as his eyes closed with

satisfaction.

“Guess not…”

Josie slightly smiled as she began to eat. Marlon’s eyes narrowed at Joshuab; /bhis gazes at Josie didn’t go unnoticed. Marlon was aware his cousin was extremely beautiful; add that to her brilliance and cooking skills…it would be hard for any man not to fall for her. He wondered if that also included Joshua.

“I’ll have imy /iilegal /iiteam /iidraft /iia /iicontract/ii. /iiIt’ll /iibe /iiready /iiby /iinext /iiweek/i. iWill /iithat /ibe iokay/ii?/i”

Joshua looked at Josie as he stuffed more ravioli into his mouth. Josie smiled lightly, nodding her in agreement; she responded.