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My brows furrow and I quickly shoot my gaze to Cruz, who seems just as clueless as me. I wave my hand apathetically, giving Mr. Danforth free rein to speak his mind. “By all means. Go ahead.”
“Rest your mind. It is nothing of importance,” he tells me, a soft fondness spreading through his gaze. “In fact, quite the opposite, just an observation.” He straightens his shoulders and raises his chin with pride. “I would like to take a moment to acknowledge how well I think you are handling yourself, today in particular. You have shown respect for your fellow members, a fierce protectiveness over your people, and demonstrated just how far you would go to honor the great founder of Dynasty. Today, Elodie Ravenwood, you have earned my respect, and I assume, the respect of the men sitting around you. You’re still growing and learning your position here, while also making some impactful mistakes, but I do suspect that you are going to blossom into a fine leader, perhaps even the leader that Dynasty truly needs right now.”
I stare, my stomach flip-flopping from side to side, unsure of what to say. Karleigh always told me that I was shit at accepting a compliment and I guess she was right. “Umm … thank you,” I tell him, my gaze falling away. “If I knew I was getting graded on my performance, I would have tried to smile a little more.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Matthew Montgomery says, standing and meeting my hard stare. “I must admit that at the beginning, I had my doubts, as many of these men did. You were reckless, wild, and unpredictable, and yes, you still are those things, but today in light of recent events, you have shown restraint. You have gained my respect and I now proudly look at you as my leader. It is because of this that I feel it is my duty to inform you that over the past few days, as your people grieved your loss, others were rallying for your position, and I believe this puts yet another target on your back.”
My brows furrow as my gaze shifts to Carver and King sitting around the table.
“Elaborate,” Grayson cuts in from his position behind me, not giving me a chance to question it myself.
Matthew’s gaze flicks to Grayson’s before slicing across the table to Harlen’s and finally, settling back on mine. “Harlen Beckett,” Matthew says solemnly. “From the moment news spread of your death, he has been campaigning to take hold of leadership, and I fear that this has been going on long before your ‘death.’”
I lean back into my seat, silently dismissing Matthew while still wondering why he’s trying to creep so far up my ass. The usual Matthew is a dick. He’s constantly fighting my decisions and doing his best to make me look like an incompetent idiot in front of these guys, and now, all of a sudden, he’s my brand-new bestie. Move over Ember, there’s a new snake on the loose.
My gaze settles on Harlen who’s quick to straighten in his seat. His hand shoots out, holding it up as he begins to explain himself. “You must understand,” he starts as his son steps in closer to my back. “We all thought that you had perished in the woods. It was my duty as one of the heads of Dynasty to ensure that our organization was not left defenseless, especially with the threat of Paris looming over our heads. I was doing my duty.”
I nod. “Of course. I would expect no less from the men sitting around this table. Dynasty needs a leader to thrive. Though I have to admit, I am surprised that while your son was being kidnapped and tortured, you still managed to find a spare moment to campaign for your own selfish desires. Don’t be fooled, Harlen Beckett. I see you over there, lurking in the shadows. You are on my radar and have been from the very start. I suggest that you be very careful about the next moves that you make.”
He shakes his head. “You have me confused with someone else, Miss Ravenwood. I am loyal, and now that we can all celebrate your safe return home, I have no need to campaign for leadership.”
A fake smile tears across my face as I hold back every wild emotion swarming through me. “Wonderful,” I tell him, not doubting for a second that Matthew Montgomery is going to have a very unpleasant visitor in the late hours of the night.
And just like that, the men at the table stand and start filing out of the room, leaving me behind with the four broody assholes, who now have nothing to do but grovel for forgiveness.
CHAPTER 15
PARIS
Steam clouds my bedroom as I step out of the luxury bathroom in my champagne silk dressing gown. I’m living the fucking life, but I haven’t got it all. Not yet, at least. Everything that once belonged to my spoiled bitch of a twin sister is soon going to be mine.
