Page 5 of Yours to Keep

I straightened, my hands gripping the edges of the lectern. “I didn’t come here to destroy what works. I came here to refine it, strengthen it, and make it matter on a larger scale.”

Halfway through the sentence, I saw a woman sitting near the back of the lecture hall. Her dark hair was pulled back like she’d been in too much of a hurry to make it neat, her sapphire blue gaze sharp and unamused.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, her shoulders squared and her posture screaming challenge. She wasn’t whispering to her neighbors or checking her phone. Instead, she was staring directly at me.

Glaring, actually. Like she wanted nothing more than to punch me right in the face.

The thought derailed me for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough to make me lose my place. It would’ve been barely noticeable to people not trained to spot weakness, but my gut tightened in response. I cleared my throat and adjusted my grip on the lectern, my gaze flicking back to her before I could stop myself.

Interestingly, she didn’t look away. Most people did. Some out of intimidation or because they’d already decided whether they were going to fall in line or fight me quietly from within, but not her. This girl held my stare like she accepted the challenge and had every intention of winning.

She was gorgeous in a way that irritated me immediately because it wasn’t polished. No effort had been wasted on trying to impress. Quite clearly, she was the kind of woman who didn’t care if a man approved of her, least of all one standing on a stage in a bespoke suit.

I stumbled over the next word, recovering instantly, but the damage was done. My focus had fractured, pulled away by an inexplicable awareness of her presence. She looked like she belonged here, competent and sharp, like she’d earned every inch of her authority.

And clearly, she hated me already.

“No questions,” I said crisply before anyone could even open their mouth. “You’ll receive further communication from your department heads in the days and weeks to come. Get back to work.”

Restrained applause scattered throughout the room as I stepped away from the lectern. I didn’t look back at her again, because if I did, I wasn’t entirely sure what they’d see on my face—or what I would see on hers.

Backstage, the door shut behind me, muting the noise starting up in the lecture room I’d just left. My sister was waiting, leaning against the wall with her mouth already twisted into that look she reserved for moments when she disapproved of my entire personality.

“Did you have to be so mean?” Liana asked.

I shrugged out of my jacket and loosened my cuffs. “Mean is subjective.”

“You told them you didn’t care if they hated you.”

“I don’t.”

She rolled her eyes. “You could at least pretend to be human.”

“No,” I said calmly. “You start strict and get friendlier over time. If you start friendly, they walk all over you. They needed to know who’s in charge.”

She snorted. “I’m glad you’re not my boss.”

I laughed. “I am very much your boss. You just don’t do anything I say.”

“That’s because I have a life and only a month left before my wedding.”

I frowned. “That’s not an excuse.”

“It absolutely is,” she said. “I’m busy. You have plenty of other accountants to count your stacks of money.”

“Yes, but you’re family and I trust you to look out for me.”

She softened, but just a little. “Good. I trust you to look out for me too.”

I nodded once, but it turned out that her sentence wasn’t quite finished yet. “Which means you’re going to help me find a new florist.”

“A new one.” I paused. “Yours backed out? Why?”

“Well, technically, she didn’t back out. I think she got arrested for selling more than flowers on the side.”

I stared at her, but she just shrugged and sent me a sweet smile. “Apparently, flower arrangements weren’t her only specialty.”

“Get your fiancé to help you,” I said flatly. “It’s his wedding too. Surely, he cares more than I do about the bringers of pollen and allergies at your ceremony.”