AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Piece of cake,” he says, reclaiming the seat next to me. “The minute I tell Max there’s something in the works that will be critical to their decision, he’ll move the meeting.” He catches my hand, leads my donut to his mouth, and takes a bite.
I laugh, thinking about all the many times he did that to me growing up, which would be often. Everything mine was his, and everything his was not mine, it had felt back then, a problem created by our families, a problem we’ve eliminated even before we have true closure. He kisses me and retrieves his phone, and I listen as he calls his assistant and then Max.
My call to Lana is smoother than I expect. She was feeling shitty about asking me to do it anyway, and the interview is cancelled. Lana expects the studio to pressure me, but I assure her I will hold firm. I also promise to work on a target list of special guests for the next season that we can tease the studio with.
I end the call and set my phone down. “It’s done. I took on some extra work to prep for next season, but that’s not a big deal. Now what?”
“I need to go to the office,” he says. “Even if it includes an encounter with my father. Why don’t I take you to a late lunch?”
“Is that rubbing us in your father’s face?”
“There’s a difference between showing him we’re not afraid of him and calling him a killer on TV.” He pushes to his feet, towering over me where I perch on the stool, his hands framing my face. “I’ll take you to Kristie’s. Maybe you can enjoy it this time.”
“Very fancy,” I say, “I’m not turning that down.”
“Then I’m taking you to the Hamptons tomorrow night, my future wife, where we can plan our wedding, be it there or elsewhere.” His voice softens to a promise of naughty things as he adds, “I can’t wait to have you alone on an island all by myself.” He leans in to kiss me, and I think, maybe, just maybe, tomorrow night, West Senior, the monster himself, will be caged, not me.
Chapter Forty
Damion
I enter the office, greet the receptionist, and walk toward my office. Naomi pops to her feet and whispers, “What is going on?” Her blonde hair is mussed up, as if she’s been running her fingers through it, while her simple black dress does its best to look put-together. “I’m being beat up by the board members and your damn father. When can we hope for his retirement?”
“Soon,” I say. “Very soon, but I’m not sure that means he’ll be less of a problem.”
“I’m certain your mother would agree,” she replies, and since she was my mother’s assistant and still talks to her, her “certain” is very certain. “And you still haven’t told your mother you’re engaged, but she knows all about Alana from the buzz she created. I know all about it because the press keeps calling me, but you have yet to really talk to me.”
I trust her. Completely. And for that reason and that reason alone, I motion her to my office, set my things down, and then join her at the coffee table. I spend fifteen minutes explaining what was going on, leaving out sticky details like the Russians, setups, and so on. I stick to what she knows from the press—that I’m in love with Alana and that the board will likely vote my father out.
“And then what?” she says. “He’s not going to take it lying down. You know that, right?”
“I do. I know. I’m working on a way to handle him.”
“Work fast,” she warns. “Tomorrow is one sleep away.”
“I know. I’m getting Alana out of town after the meeting. I want you to do the same.”
“You need me to field calls and alert you if there’s a problem. So, thank you, but no thank you.”
“Stubborn woman,” I say, pushing to my feet.
She joins me and proudly concludes, “You wouldn’t have me if I wasn’t.”
I study her a moment. She’s pretty, smart, loyal, and maybe forty. I’ve never given her age much thought until now, for no good reason. She’s just always been sharp, smart, and loyal. She’s also been stuck as mine and my mother’s secretary for years, working far too many hours. I need to do more for her. “You’re a good one to have on my side, but you deserve a life.”
She waves that off. “I enjoy my job.”
“What about a personal life?”
“Dating is exhausting. Give me more work, I’m fine with it. And you need me in that headspace when you take over.” Her chin dips slightly. “Your mother is on your side, too. Why don’t you take Alana to see her? It’s been at least a decade since they saw each other, right?”
“I’m not going to pull my mother into this. She’s made a new life for herself with a man who loves her and takes good care of her. I want her safely off his radar.”
“Is she, though? She owns stock that she’s passing over to you to make this happen.”
My brows lift. “Clearly, my mother talks too much, since you know that.”
“We’re close. You know that. And if anyone can brag about how good a man you’ve become, it’s me.”
