The Heartbroker Read Free Page B

just the ticket.
    Turning to face us with the title of his presentation flashing up on the screen behind him, Stefan begins. “ Live It is the personal development experience of choice for thousands of New Zealanders. With a satisfaction rate of over ninety-two per cent, what began as a small enterprise catering to only a few has expanded into the most popular group of seminars in New Zealand’s main city centres and beyond.”
    Stefan flicks up slides covering our numbers throughout the country for both our government and corporate work and our weekend seminars, which are open to all. He’s his usual efficient, knowledgeable self throughout, but has a stiff, formal air I’ve not seen before.
    I catch Logan glancing at me a couple of times as Stefan talks through his slides, and I feel a little thrill in my belly each time.
    “Can I interrupt?” Logan asks when Stefan pauses for breath.
    “Sure.” Stefan shoots him a steely look.
    I glare at Stefan, wondering what’s got into him. One moment he’s undressing Logan with his eyes, and the next he seems irritated by his presence.
    “Have you run seminars in Sydney or Melbourne? They’re the largest cities in Australia, right?” he asks.
    “Yes, they are,” Stefan replies icily. “We’ve been trying to crack the Australian market for a couple of years now, although competition is high over the pond.” He returns to his presentation, flicking to the next slide.
    “Just a minute, Stefan,” I say, interrupting him. “Stefan can show you some of our results and the tactics we’ve been using over there, if you’re interested?”
    “That would be great,” Logan replies.
    “Of course.” Stefan brings up the relevant information and talks us through it, pointing to expected growth across six Australian cities. Growth we can only achieve with Logan’s company’s help.
    “Okay, so I can see your market penetration has increased in the last fiscal year, which is great,” Logan says after Stefan has completed his spiel. “Our research suggests this is just the tip of the iceberg in Australia.”
    “Exactly!” I reply with enthusiasm, glad we’ve reached the crux of the matter. “That’s why we want to work with you, Logan. Your backing in Australia and beyond could increase Live It ’s business ten-fold.”
    I hope I don’t come across as desperate. Truth be told, we’ve been working hard to crack the Aussie market, but so far there’s been no pot of gold at the end of that particular rainbow. We may be New Zealand’s current success story, but we’ve still got a long way to go.
    There’s a sudden beep and we all automatically glance at our phones.
    “I do apologise. I’m going to have to make some calls,” Logan says, still looking at his screen. “But I’m impressed with what I’m seeing here. You’ve confirmed everything we had thought about you.”
    I feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. Does this mean they want to do the deal? Wow, this could mean huge expansion for us.
    “Brooke? Is there a private office somewhere I can make some calls?” Logan asks.
    “Sure. Of course. Stay in here. We have lots of work to do for the seminar this weekend in Queenstown. Take your time.”
    As Stefan and I leave the room, closing the door firmly behind us, he corners me. “You should watch yourself with that one, Brooke.” He’s speaking in hushed tones.
    “What? Why?” I snap.
    “Mr America in there.” He nods his head towards the conference room. “He’s not to be trusted, Brooke.”
    “Why?” I ask, shocked. “What have you heard?”
    I lean in conspiratorially. Alarm bells begin to ring out an unpleasant tune in my head. This deal could take Live It to the next dimension, and then some. It has to work.
    “Nothing,” he replies, shifting his weight from foot to foot again. “It’s just he strikes me as dodgy.”
    “Dodgy? How?”
    “I don’t know, Brooke. Too smooth, I guess.”
    I narrow my eyes at him. “Too smooth’