I open my eyes again and see Eliana still standing in front of me, quivering with rage and sorrow and f**k knows what else.
“What if I made it worth your while?” I ask her.
“We’ve gone from blackmail to bribery?”
“I’ll pay you a million dollars to stay for ninety days.”
Her jaw hits her knees. But I don’t stop now, no matter how stupid this impulsive, reckless decision may be.
“Ninety days,” I continue. “Stay for ninety days to see Project Olympus through launch, and I’ll write you a check for ‘f**k you’ money, and just like that, my recommendation or lack thereof won’t matter to you anymore.”
She’s staring at me like I’ve just spoken in tongues. “Ninety days.”
I shrug. “That’s when the project launches. After that, you can disappear forever with my blessing.”
I could swear she shu
