Chapter 1
Burbank, California
Early fall
“You need a vacation, boss man.”
Jared Langford turned a surly glare on his assistant. “And how do I manage that with all hell breaking loose around here?”
The fact they were a long-term team gave Marty Carlstrand license to presume, to be more personal and open with Jared than he allowed most people to be. Still there was a distinct line, which Marty knew better than to cross. At the moment, he’d stopped just short of it. Jared’s personal life remained decidedly off limits.
“Just do it.” Marty offered an insouciant grin. “You’re the boss. Delegate and disappear. If you don’t take a break soon, you’re either going to have a nervous breakdown or piss off a key backer who’ll jerk the purse strings up tight and cut our cash flow in a serious way.
