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“Yeah. Let’s do drinks this weekend.”
He winked and wandered off. How many others were sitting at those desks shining up their résumés? They already knew, which meant I knew what I was walking into right now—Mom had won.
Anger pelted through me, ripping my insides apart, and I shook Tav and Hilton off, stalking toward the boardroom. When I got to the door, I shoved it open, and Mom was sitting at the head of the long glossy table, scowling as she tapped away at her laptop.
“Where are your business files?” she snapped.
“I’m sorry, you’ll have to ask IT if you can’t find something, since it seems I no longer am involved in this business?” I glared at her, and she didn’t even bother to look up.
“Oh, I was supposed to get to tell you!” She finally made eye contact with me and shrugged.
“How early did you have everyone in here to vote me out? No one waited to tell me in person? They couldn’t look me in the eye to do it?” My jaw ticked.
She huffed and sat back with her arms crossed. Today she was wearing a black skirt suit that only intensified the sensation that I was at a wake. “I told you that your decisions would have consequences.” She glared behind me, and my chest loosened a bit as Tav slid his hand into mine.
“Good morning, Mrs. Dailey. Lovely day today, isn’t it?” Tav said, being obnoxiously cheerful, which had my lips twitching as Mom shot him a baffled look.
“Yes, it is,” she said slowly.
I glanced around the room and was horrified as tears made my vision shimmery. I blinked fast so they wouldn’t fall. Tav ran his hand up and down my arm, then squeezed my shoulder gently.
“Did everyone know why you were trying to sink me?” I asked, relieved that my voice was firm.
She tilted her head and studied me. “Because this company needs someone who is willing to focus on it.”
I stared at her and my jaw tightened to the point that it hurt. “You mean like I have been?”
Ellis marched toward her, and I grabbed him by the back of the neck to stop him while Tav latched on to his shoulder. “You’re the worst kind of person!” he said, and I had half expected him to say something much worse. “You know, my parents tried to send me away because I didn’t do the things they wanted, and you’re just as bad as they are.”
She sniffed. “I vote Democrat. I’m not like those right wingers.”
I rolled my eyes. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“This is not about you being gay,” she snapped. “I already told you that.”
“No, but what it is about is just as bad,” Tav said, tone completely pleasant. Apparently, he’d decided to kill her with kindness. I was surprised but delighted to see him fire back at her.
For a few long seconds everyone glared, and I could practically hear the sassy bullshit percolating in Hilton’s head, but he managed to keep his mouth shut, though he did widen his eyes in my direction as if urging me to say something.
“I admit I didn’t think you would get this done,” I said, glancing around my former boardroom. “How many people did you have to blackmail and strong-arm?”
She flashed me a mysterious smile but didn’t spill her secrets.
“Fine. You will pay me the legally required severance for my position,” I snapped. “Or I will see you in court.”
Mom smiled serenely. “To the penny.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “You win. You got your way. Call me when the paperwork is ready for me to sign.”
Her face fell and she sat forward in her chair before abruptly standing. “What?”
“I love Tav.” I gave his hand a squeeze that had him grunting, then loosened my grip. “He’s the only Tav there is. My Puffin. The man I’ve always loved.” I shot a glance at Tav, and he gave me an encouraging smile.
“Far’s I know, that’s all true.” He kissed my cheek.
“I can build a new company.” I stared down Mom.
Her mouth fell open and she glanced between us. I had the supremely satisfying realization that this actually wasn’t going according to her plan. “You won’t negotiate with me?” she asked, voice rising sharply.
