“If my presence in this company is truly the only thing keepingMr. Atkinson in charge, then I will stay. Happily, I might add. But know this: I will consult with Miss Atkinson on every single decision, every single move I make. The truth is you don’t need me. Because you have her. And she is by far the most valuable person here. Thank you.”
All hell then broke loose as the board members began lobbing furious accusations at each other—and especially at Benjamin, while Lucien just sat back in his chair, taking it all in.
“By God, I think he’s done it,” her father whispered and reached for her hand, but Alex needed to get out of there.
She quickly stood and slipped from the room without looking at anyone. She needed to go to her office. There she could think. There she could—
“Alex. Wait!”
She stopped in her tracks and turned to face Lucien. He too stopped a couple feet before her. His handsome face full of concern.
“I… I just wanted to make sure you’re all right,” he said awkwardly.
Adorably.
“I’m fine. I wanted some air.”
His gaze stayed fixed on her face. “I’m sure. I had no idea you would be at the meeting.”
Alex startled a laugh. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No, that isn’t—” He took a step toward her, then appeared to remember himself. “I’mgladyou were. I meant every single word. It is the very least of what you deserve.”
Alex had to look down. His earnest expression was too much for her battered heart. “Why did you come?”
She forced the question past her lips. She had been wonderingsince yesterday. What had her father possibly offered to make him return here? To defend her, of all people?
He was quiet for a long moment, then he stepped closer until the toes of his shoes came into view. “Because you needed help. And I wanted to pay you back.”
She looked up sharply. “For what?”
“Cooking school. My father told me,” he added at her confused look.
“Oh,” she said. “That wasn’t necessary.”
Lucien let out a surprised laugh. “Alex, you changed my life. Why did you nottellme?”
Alex frowned. Wasn’t it obvious? “I didn’t want you to feel beholden to the family.”
Or me.
“So instead you let me think you were some heartless ice queen all these years?”
“Iama heartless ice queen,” she insisted rather stubbornly.
He smiled at that and took another step. “Perhaps an ice queen. But not heartless. Not at all,” he murmured. “There is another reason why I came here today.”
“Oh?” Alex rasped as Lucien tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. It took every ounce of strength not to lean into his hand. “What is it?”
Just as Lucien opened his mouth, the conference door burst open and her father came barreling out. “Where are they? Where is—oh, there you are!” He came rushing over, his face full of joy. “You did it! We did it! They voted Chisolm down! We keep control!” He slapped Lucien on the back and the two men gave each other hearty congratulations. Suddenly, they were surrounded by whatfelt like every employee in the building, all celebrating, as if the end of some great war had just been declared. Alex took it in as if at a distance. She was happy for Father, of course. But she could not muster this level of enthusiasm. Not for this, anyway.
Alex stepped back from the crowd and leaned against a wall, where she was joined by Potts. She gave him a sly smile. “When did Lucien find the time to tell you to put that list together? I thought he only returned last night.”
He looked affronted. “It was my idea. I simply told him about it this morning right before the meeting began.”
Alex smiled even wider. “Very good, Potts.”
“Thank you, ma’am. But I just gathered the figures. You did the work.”
