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The board still thinks I’m too young and inexperienced to be CEO, and they’re not happy with the last two quarters. I’m going to have to make more cuts soon. Let people go. I’ll agonize over one of those decisions wishing there was another option.

There’s too much weight on my shoulders right now to even think about having something real with Kendall.

If the board found out I even went out of town with her, they’d question my judgement.

As much as I wish I could be with her, I know I can’t.

I refuse to end up like my father. It’s on me to keep the company running, to protect everything he almost destroyed with his affairs and misconduct.

I can’t risk my family’s future by being a lovesick fool.

17

Kendall

After saying goodbye to Nancy and Richard, Monty and I hurry to the shuttle, then rush through airport security, nearly missing our flight—which I know flustered Monty like nothing else.

We barely have a chance to talk until we’re seated on the plane.

Even then, he barely says anything, only giving me one-word answers when I try to talk to him.

The whole flight home, I can’t stop replaying moments from the night before and the morning after. Being with Monty was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

It was the best birthday ever.

But now it’s over. I have to let it go.

I can feel Monty emotionally pulling away from me the closer we get to Charlotte.

Still, he insists on walking me to my car, even though his car service is already here and waiting for him.

“Thank you for an amazing weekend,” I tell him as he loads my luggage into my trunk.

“Thank you for coming with me.” He actually smiles after saying it. The smile fades quickly though. Then he says, “There’s something I need to talk to you about. Something I should’ve told you sooner.”

“Okay?”

Good. Great. He’s finally ready to talk about last night.

“Another round of layoffs are coming at the office.”

His words hit me like ice cold water right in the face. I think I even gasp.

“Oh.”

He wants to talk about work now of all times?

Not us.

Not about what happened between us. And I don’t just mean the sex.

Yes, it was great, but it was so much more. He held me like I was really his.

While I wasn’t expecting Monty to profess his love for me, I thought he might at least admit that he cared about me. That he wanted me for more than a weekend.

But he doesn’t.

I nod slowly while he keeps talking about budget problems and his responsibility to his family like the weekend never happened.