I close her door. To protect what’s hers. To make sure it waits for her, untouched.
Walking over to Corm’s domain, I nod at Larissa, knock once, and enter.
Cal and Corm sit on the white sofa across from each other, looking over some paperwork. They both look up.
Corm gestures to the armchair where Roxy usually sits. “Sorry, but Declan won’t be joining us. He’s been called to deal with something at home.”
I ignore the offered chair. It belongs to the mother of my child. The thought lands and spreads through me like something I should fear. And yet… the feeling, while unknown, is far from fear.
The mother of my child.
I sit beside Cal. “That’s okay. I’m sure you will debrief him.”
Corm observes me for a moment. It’s an annoying habit of his to subject everyone to his glare. It’s also an effective tactic on most, I’ve observed.
Not on me. He should know this by now.
The silence stretches, and for the first time in my life, I decide to fill it. Not because it unnerves me—I welcome it—but because I need to get back to my… Fuck, she is not mine.
“If we are not waiting for Declan?” I shrug in question.
“Yeah, I need to be somewhere else, so maybe we can start,” Cal chimes in.
Corm picks up a folder and moves it in my direction. “I’m not absolutely certain this is going to work, but I guess you’ve proved yourself.”
I ignore the folder and consider my next words. I can’t fuck it up for Roxy.
“Are you ready to sign?” Corm asks, impatience seeping from him.
I push the folder back to him. “We both know I’m not the person you want at this table.”
“We can agree on that,” he mutters.
“So why don’t we fix that?” I cross my legs nonchalantly. And flex my fingers.
“What do you have in mind?” Cal perks up.
“You should offer the stake to Roxy. We all know that. And frankly, I’m offended on her behalf that you are wasting your time. She proved herself time and again here. She is an asset you can’t afford to lose.
“She’s smart, capable, and already up to speed with everything that’s going on here. She might lack experience, but she makes up for it with her drive, dedication, and loyalty. While I don’t understand why she wants to work with you two, she deserves the seat more than anyone else.”
The silence that descends on the room is differentthis time. Both of them stare at me with more respect than they ever have.
I’m slightly winded after my speech. Too many words. All of them essential. Perhaps not enough.
A pause stretches.
My heart hammers in my chest.
I flex my fingers.
The pause deepens, and then Cal laughs.
The sound feels offensive under the circumstances, but I stay focused on Corm.
One corner of his lips curves up. Not a smile, but more a smirk. Like the fucker just discovered a secret.
“I’ll be damned. I thought you two were just fucking, lover boy.” He stands up and goes to his liquor cabinet.
