Page 116 of Threaded Lies

Regardless, the rumors no doubt have spread like wildfire. This meeting is proof of it.

Rhett shrugs and rises from his seat. “I can’t control what people think, Rowan. Actions speak louder than words, right?”

“You’re right. They do.” He should be very afraid of my smile right now. Very afraid. “Let me demonstrate just how much they do.” I look at Rhett. “By the sour looks on everyone’s faces, it’s clear you’ve already got to make your case. Now it’s my turn to make mine.” When he stands there and looks at me, I lift my eyebrows and say, “Sit.”

It takes a few seconds for my brother to act like a petulant child—huffing a sigh, holding my gaze, shaking his head—before taking a seat.

“Shall we talk about mental and financial fitness?” I point to the binders I just dropped on the table. “Those are full of page after page of things Rhett has done to defraud or short TinSpirits. Unsound business decisions based on the largest personal kickback received. Lavish vacations. Questionable expenses that don’t quite make sense.” I open a flap of the binder then close it back up. “It’s all there for you to see, plain as day, but let me guess, most of you already knew this because you yourselves have benefitted from some of his backroom deals.”

“What is your point, Rowan?” Gavin Hope asks pointedly. “That a few perks overshadow or are less than you sleeping with the new owner to get something you never could get before—a seat in here?”

I walk around the table, slowly, deliberately, avoiding going anywhere near Holden, and then stop when I’m back at the front. “What you are all neglecting to see is that none of this matters—if you want me here or if you don’t. None of us have the voting power to make a difference against Holden’s majority.” I point to Rhett. “He did that to you. He stripped you and this board of that power. Not me. No one is calling an emergency meeting to talk about that, huh? But you sure as shit will call one to run my name through the mud and strip me of mine.” I pause, taking my time to look each of them in the eye. “My reputation matters. My work standing for itself matters. My putting the company before my own personal wants and desires matters.”

I stop and smack my hands on the desk, making sure I have their attention. And if I didn’t, my next words sure as shit will.

“I can go one further. If I’m unfit to be a part of this board, then maybe we should talk about how some of you are. If my sex life is on the table, then let’s talk about who you stick your dicks in.” There are gasps and I don’t fucking care. I didn’t bring a knife to this gun fight, and that’s all a huge thanks to Gran. “Let’s see. There’s the board member here who enjoys the company of underage girls and has been caught a couple of times with them but has paid off local law enforcement from pressing any charges.” Gasps fill the room. “Or what about the member in here who meets with a dominatrix a few times a month because he has serious mommy issues?” Everyone stiffens, almost as if they are afraid to look at each other. “Then there’s the person who has multiple affairs going at the same time, spreading the love and STIs, but—”

“That’s enough,” Rhett shouts as he pounds his fist on the table, making everyone jump.

My chuckle is low and condescending as I look at him. “Why? If that’s the game we’re going to play, a public discussion about what I do behind closed doors, then why can’t we discuss what you all do behind yours? Because if that is in fact what we’re playing, I assure you, you’ll lose.”

“Miss Rothschild. It’s not necessary to drag everyone through the mud to lessen your infractions,” Jerry says.

“My infractions?” I raise my eyebrows and meet him stare for stare. Yes, Jerry. I’m quite aware that you have many infractions in the form of that strong porn addiction. I know he gets my gist when he shrinks back some in his chair. “Let’s get one thing clear, my esteemed board members. I’m here because I fucking earned it. I’m here because I learned from the ground floor up and I’m the best for the job. Ironically, the only person I don’t have dirt on is, in fact, Holden Knight, the person I’m being accused of sleeping my way to the top with … so, huh, funny how that works, don’t you think.”

I begin gathering my binders and look up at them one more time. “Vote. Don’t vote. Just remember, whatever the outcome is will sit in corporate minutes that no one will ever see but will somehow make you feel superior. Kind of like Rhett.” I step back from the table and offer a shark’s smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go. I have way more important things to be concerned about, like how to help turn this place around so your shares retain their value and you get to keep your money.”

And with that, I walk out of the conference room with a gusto I don’t feel but that I reflect. My hands are trembling and my heart is beating so fast I’m lightheaded and dizzy.

But my knees hold up and turn to jelly right about the time I close the door to my office and can fall apart.

I sink into my chair and draw in a deep breath.

It was Sloane who caught wind of this meeting. Sloane who overheard a fellow board member on the phone at Starbucks this morning talking about when, where, and why the secret meeting was being held.

But it was Gran and her dirt who stole the show.

FORTY-SEVEN

Holden

Her hair is up and her head is down as she works at her desk, and every fucking part of me wants to walk into her office and take what I can from her until I’m satisfied.

Funny thing is, I don’t think I’ll ever be.

But I study her from just beyond her office window as she works. I don’t question if I did the right thing when it came to arranging the confrontation at The Vine—it was. I don’t wonder if I should have stood up for her in the boardroom—she did just fucking fine. And I don’t second-guess whether what I’m doing with TinSpirits is right or wrong—sometimes being wrong is the only kind of right you need.

But I do know she is the collateral damage in all this.

At first that didn’t bug me one fucking bit. It still shouldn’t. Isn’t that what I came here for? What I’ve planned for.

But … fuck. I care about her. I more than care about her. But what does that mean when destroying her family is my endgame?

I step into her doorway and I clap. It’s slow and loud and it’s well deserved.

She jolts at the sound of it and then immediately jumps up and moves to look out the door.

“You can’t be in here,” she says, clearly putting space between us.