A Touch of Confidence Read Online Free PDF Page B

possibilities. And what better opportunity to join his grandfather than right now? But even with this opportunity, he hesitated, hating the thought of leaving a job that made him happy.
    “Your business? I swear, I can’t fathom it. I’ll take History and English lessons over business any day. Anthony is way better suited to run your business while you’re away.”
    “Anthony is in Perth. He can’t run my business.”
    Jack wished his brother weren’t away. Anthony would’ve understood how worried Jack had been about Big Jack, and although they’d spoken last night, more than once, a phone just wasn’t an adequate means of communication at a time like this. Anthony would also have been able to run the business effectively. He’d studied Business Management.
    “I stuffed up, Pop.”
    “What did you do?
    “I rented out the property on New South Head Road.”
    “How’s that a mistake? I asked you to rent it out. Got a good feel about those Jones girls. Thought they’d be good tenants. Who signed the lease? Claire or Maddie?”
    Jack cringed. “Neither.”
    “Neither?”
    “Greg Parker did.”
    Big Jack stared at him. “Parker?”
    Jack nodded.
    “Now why on earth would Parker sign on that shop? I never showed it to him.”
    “Yeah, um, I did. This morning.”
    “Why?” The old man looked baffled.
    “Because you told me to rent out the shop today. I think your words were, ‘Get the lease signed, my boy. That property must be rented out tomorrow.’”
    “Yes. So?”
    “So you never mentioned who should sign the lease. I had no idea who you had in mind. When I searched your desk, the only name I found was Parker’s. His number was there, alongside a handwritten note to ‘show him the shop ASAP, with a view to leasing’.”
    “Yes. That was for a property in Surry Hills, not Rose Bay.”
    “I had no idea.”
    “Did you look in my diary?”
    “I couldn’t find your diary.”
    “On my computer. Or my phone.”
    Damn it. He hadn’t thought to look there. Hadn’t imagined his pop was that technologically savvy.
    “Do me a favor?”
    Jack nodded. “Anything.”
    “Next time you visit, bring my iPad along. I’ll go through everything with you.”
    “You have an iPad?”
    “Of course I have an iPad. It’s in the third drawer of my desk. How can anyone work without one these days?”
    Jack hid a grin. He didn’t know a single other person over the age of sixty with an iPad. Big Jack was a remarkable man indeed. “So what do I do about the shop now? What do I say to Miss Jones?”
    “Miss Jones?”
    “Claire.” Just saying her name sent a sharp longing through his gut for another taste of her sweet mouth. No, things were definitely not over between them. Not by a long shot. “She came past the shop while I was there with Parker.”
    “To sign the lease.”
    “Apparently.”
    “Ah, Little Jacky, you messed that one up.”
    “Yeah, I know. But thanks for reinforcing it. How do I fix it?”
    Big Jack shook his head. “Parker signed?”
    “He did.”
    “Then you’re in trouble. He’s a good client, a steadfast one. He’s not going to give up the shop now.”
    That pretty much mirrored what Parker had told him over the phone on the way to the hospital. “I thought I might show Miss Jones another of your properties.”
    “Which one?”
    “I have no idea. Which one would you recommend?”
    “The New South Head shop is the only one I have in Rose Bay. The next closest property is office space in Bondi Junction.”
    Jack pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumbs and swore under his breath. This was so not going the way he’d hoped. Parker had refused to break the contract. He may not have known about the shop in the first place, but once he’d seen it, he’d refused to let it go.
    Miss Jones was going to be hopping mad.
    While Jack regretted screwing her around — no matter that he’d done it inadvertently — he kind of looked forward to seeing her hopping mad. The striking