Page 16 of Never To Be Mine

“So I had the opposite effect of what I wanted? Just great.” I leaned on the back of the nearest chair, feeling exhausted.

“Yes, plenty of our customers love him, too,” Dad said. “You might think he’s a fraud, but people that have tried his green shake swear by it.”

“Because his family is famous,” I said bitterly. “They’re kissing his ass.”

He nodded. “Yeah, most likely. That’s how the world works. We didn’t invent this system. We just live in it.”

“You know I hate that.”

“I know. Anyway, I’ve agreed to a limited partnership on a small project.”

“Dad, no!”

“It’s to stop this runaway train,” he said. “If we partner with him, the narrative changes.”

I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Let me throw him out the window. That’ll change the narrative too.”

Dad chuckled. “Let’s call that Plan B. For now, we’ll announce to the world that you’ve reconsidered your opinion, and we’ll be working on a new project together. That should clean up this PR mess. Especially since you will be overseeing this joint venture personally.”

I had to be in a nightmare. I was still drunk, passed out in my bed. Because there was no way my father would make me work with the man that had made my life a living hell.

Dad didn’t notice my emotional crisis. “In the meantime, you can vet him like you would vet any other potential partnership. I think he has good ideas.”

I wanted to throw something. Do damage. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for his charm like all those other idiots.”

“No,” Dad said with a chuckle. “This is purely a business decision. Do you understand?”

“Yes. But I don’t like it. Actually, I hate it.”

He smiled. “You can have your feelings, but don’t let them affect your work. You’ll be spending a lot of time with him.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” I groaned.

6

HOLLIS

Istood in the hallway outside of Dan Young’s office, trying to look like I couldn’t hear the loud conversation Dan and his daughter were having. The exact words were impossible to make out through the door, but her tone was crystal clear. She was pissed.

I supposed that was to be expected. I didn’t have to wonder if she’d seen the video.

It seemed the outburst at the expo wasn’t a one-off. The woman had opinions and she wasn’t shy about expressing them. I actually felt better knowing I wasn’t the only one that had suffered the wrath of Juno Young.

Dan’s assistant sat at her desk pretending to type. Our eyes met when Juno’s voice hit a particularly impressive decibel.

“Damn,” I said with a wince.

She pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to smile.

The shouting continued. I caught phrases here and there. “Behind my back” and “don’t trust my judgment” rang out clear as day. Then something about a “pretty boy” that I was pretty sure referred to me.

I tried not to take that personally. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d been called that.

Finally, the volume dropped. I straightened up and prepared myself for round two.

The door opened. Juno’s eyes flashed with anger. I cocked an eyebrow.

She had to say it. “Come in.”