“I think it’s a great idea, pumpkin. Really, I like it.” Of course Dillon was gonna back her. I cleared my throat and adjusted my glasses, still not saying anything. But Dillon picked it up, even over the Zoom call. “But. The decision I leave in Marlon’s hands as it’s him who has to oversee everything and him who has to approve the staff taking it on.”
I grinned.
I could see the annoyance flicker in her face.
A normal person would’ve backed down.
“Look,” she said instead. “I get it. Y’all know Marlon longer. Y’all trust his vision more. Or whatever the fuck. But I’m just as much of an owner in this company as he is.”
My dick jumped, not gonna lie.
“I’m not saying this to be bossy,” she continued, “but I expect the same level of respect he gets. This can work and I want y’all on board, but don’t think for a second I need your permission to move. We’re doing it. All I need is a date for the first showcase.”
Then she turned to me. “Marlon?”
Couldn’t help but smile at how she handled that room.
“The 18th,” I said.
She nodded immediately. “Three weeks. I can work with that. I’ll reach out to Lavender for HR to get a memo out for internal roles. Everything else I’ll handle.”
She looked around the room one last time.
“Questions?”
No one spoke.
“No? Good. Have a great day, gentlemen.”
Chairs shifted and papers gathered as they filed out one by one.
“Good job, Hunny. I’ll be there on the launch date. I’m so proud—” Dillon started but Rory waved him off.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.‘The decision I leave in Marlon’s hands as it’s him who has to oversee everything and him who has to approve the staff taking it on.Fuck off, traitor.”
And she ended the call before he could reply, leaving her standing there. She exhaled slowly when the door closed as the last men left, her shoulders dropping just a little.
I felt something I don’t need to be feeling ‘cause it sure ain’t business.
After the meeting,I stepped off to the side and waited for her. She stayed behind for a second, gathering her laptop, closing out her notes, making sure everything was in order before she moved. When she was finally done, I watched her come toward me, then I pushed off the wall.
“You did good in there,” I said. “You looked presentable.”
She slowed in front of me, one brow lifting. “Presentable?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s the best you got?”
I shrugged. “You want a speech?”
She crossed her arms, looking me over. “I want you to at leastpretendto be impressed by me.”
“I am impressed,” I said. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Hm,” She stepped closer. “You picked that date real quick.”
“I knew you could handle it.”
