Page 2 of The Heiress Bride
A ringing endorsement from a bunch of old white guys.
“But you don’t,” I clarify, because I can read between the lines.
In fact, I can probably list his objections. I’m young. Female. I’ve only been at the company for a few years. Nepotism.
He doesn’t say what’s on his mind, which I canrespect to an extent. There’s a time and place for every truth. But he reached out to me, and if he and the board want a favor, I need to know what I’m dealing with.
King slides up behind me, hands coasting over my hips before he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. I put my coffee down and reach back with my free hand and hold on to his thigh. He’s always been my number one supporter.
“Say what’s on your mind, Ronald.”
“Okay. I think you’re a twenty-four-year-old woman, fresh out of college, with limited experience.”
My smile broadens. Called it.
“You forgot the nepotism part,” I murmur.
In a break from character, he huffs a laugh.
“As my mother loves to point out to me,” I tell him, “although my last name is Montgomery, Chanler blood flows through my veins. There’s nothing I can do to change that I’m afraid.”
King chokes on his coffee.
I shoot him a half smirk, glad to find the humor in the situation. I’m sure I won’t be laughing once I get into these meetings.
“Does this have anything to do with the Cortbuyout?” I ask, almost positive that the rumblings about Gabe buying out the Cort family have the board on edge.
And how could it not?
Gabe’s new money. A techy. He’s not a starched shirt like them. Like my grandfather. There’s bound to be misgivings about having him hold such a hefty stake in the company.
King swaps his coffee for exercise, dropping into a plank position on the plush rug.
“Of course. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that this is the rockiest week of the company’s history.”
“This would be the rockiest week in most companies’ history,” I agree. Even if only one of the events had happened, it’d set heads spinning.
All that combined, well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Ronald called. The board’s duty is to keep the business buzzing along smoothly. Solvent. Profitable. In the world of finance, scandal is a dirty word.
I bite back my sigh. I have nothing to do with either situation, and yet, I’m tied to them both. While a vicious part of me wants to flip them the bird, I lift my chin and schedule a time to meet to discuss this insane idea of theirs.
As soon as I disconnect the call, King finishes a round of push-ups and vaults to his feet. “How’d that go?”
“They’ve lost their minds.” Like literally. I think they’ve melted down. I swap my phone for my coffee, then head for the wing-back chair in the corner.
King takes a seat on the ottoman, attention on me. I hope I never get fully used to being the recipient of all that focus. The zing in my veins is heady, better than any champagne I’ve ever had.
“How so?” he prods.
I tell him about the conversation and the board’s plan to right the ship.
“That’s…” He makes a face.
“Yeah.”
“An option, I guess.” He’s just as baffled as I am. “Not that I don’t think you’re brilliant and capable,” he rushes to add.
A soft laugh bubbles up. Taking a long sip, I lose myself in all the what-ifs and the instant feeling of denial that wells up inside me.
