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Fantastic.
But she couldn’t help herself.
God, he was so handsome, even more so now, in his three-piece suit and expensive haircut. It was completely tailored and professional except for that shock of cinnamon hair that fell down loose upon his forehead, and the new field of stubble on his chiseled jawline. Small hints of ruggedness, of wildness, of the Jack she’d seen Sunday night. Surrounded by the usual sea of stuffy execs, he didn’t notice her right away. She had time to soak in every delicious inch of him and to delicately wipe the drool from the side of her lips before he turned her way.
When he finally did shift his gaze to hers, his face didn’t register a thing—surprise, excitement, lust – nothing, not even a ripple of emotion. “Hello, Miss Fiorini.” Jack placed a purely professional hand on her elbow as he pointed the way to the boardroom. “We’ve all been waiting for you.”
“I’m sorry if I’m late,” she mumbled, looking down at her bare wrist though she hadn’t worn a watch in years. Why bother when her cell was always close at hand? And she knew she wasn’t late. He was just so…distracting.
“Not at all, you’re right on time,” Jack said warmly, but not too warmly. “After you.”
The other men nodded civilly as she crossed the main lobby, and a few expressed their condolences on Antonio’s passing. She thanked them quietly and led the way into the meeting room, teeth chattering. She clamped her mouth shut hard as people settled in, discussing the weather and their golf swings as they found their seats.
But once they were all seated, the civility melted away. Jack was scarcely three minutes into his welcome spiel when he was interrupted once, twice, and then a third time. Soon it seemed nearly a dozen other voices competed with his.
Eva knew Jack’s business reputation as well as his social reputation. While he was the playboy outside the office, inside, he was the hard-nosed businessman who didn’t take shit from anyone. So she was surprised when Jack began to speak, and another executive cut him off. “I don’t think you’re in the position to lead this meeting, frankly, Jack,” an older man across the table said.
Jack didn’t waver. “And why’s that, Al?”
“Because you’re what this meeting’s about. Whether we should—or should not—continue under your leadership.”
“I understand that,” he said, “but—“
“To be honest,” a woman added. “We don’t know if you should be here at all.”
Jack sighed, a too-stormy-for-the-office expression on his face. But she could understand his frustration. The other executives didn’t speak to Jack the way they’d spoken to her father and brother—they were condescending, almost dismissive. He could barely get a sentence in without someone cutting him off. Every time he said something reasonable, someone would attack or contradict him.
He’d been right. They were gunning for him, no question about it. No wonder he’d come to her, wanting her to back him up.
What a joke this meeting is, Eva thought, at the edge of her seat, drumming her pen on her notepad as two other shareholders took their turns interrupting Jack’s attempts to steer the meeting onto more productive ground. She had only been to a handful of Fiorini Group board meetings, but this felt more like a wrestling match.
“If I could have a word,” she interjected, surprised that her raised voice did the trick when it hadn’t seemed to work for Jack.
Every head swung in her direction, giving her their undivided attention. She could feel Jack looking at her, and her face heated.
“I know I may seem like an outsider to many of you,” she said, making eye contact with first one board member and then another. “My father and Antonio aren’t here with us anymore, but I can assure you this company was their number one priority. I know I speak for both of them when I say they would be deeply saddened to hear that anyone was considering putting their legacy up for auction.”
One of the men to her right, who’d been the most vocally critical of Jack—Christof, she thought—scoffed. “That’s all well and good, Miss Fiorini, but—”
“I’m not finished.” Eva sat up straighter, determined to remain in control until she’d said her piece. She felt a twinge of satisfaction at the man’s astonished expression. She ran her own very successful company, thank you very much, and knew how to lead a meeting. “My family built The Fiorini Group with the help of Jack Bennett. This company wouldn’t be where it is today without him. I have no doubt in my mind that my father and Antonio would want their legacy to live on, with Jack at the helm. Frankly, I can’t even believe that we’re here, having this conversation. Selling out wasn’t in my father or brother’s vocabulary. And as the last Fiorini, and someone with a good deal of interes
t in this company, it’s certainly not in mine.”
A small silence prevailed. Eva could sense Jack staring at her and wanted to look at him, but she couldn’t afford to flush like a schoolgirl with the fate of her family’s company on the line.
Finally, Leonard Banks, at the other end of the table, cleared his throat. He’d always been like an uncle to her and Antonio. “I agree. Miss Fiorini is the voice of reason,” he said, a touch of contrition in his tone. “I think our leader is right in front of us. Jack should guide us as we move forward with our current structure intact. Anything else would be unnatural.”
A few of the other board members nodded in agreement. Even though several men and women remained sour-faced and clearly skeptical, Eva felt a small thrill surge through her. She had helped. Now she had to hope her help would be enough to keep Jack where he belonged. Every word she’d said was true—Jack was an amazing businessman who had helped build this company. He deserved to lead The Fiorini Group into the future.
When she thought it was safe to glance in his direction, Eva tucked her hair behind her ear and peeked. He was sitting back in his chair, looking ever-so-much the captain he was destined to be, authoritative, calm, and in control.
In control of himself and all he surveyed.
She sighed inwardly. I bet he got nothing out of our lesson. After all, he’s the teacher. He’s been with hundreds of women.
The board members went around, stating their agreement or disagreement, until finally Leonard said, “We’ve all had a chance to speak our piece. Why don’t we take the time to think this over and then put it to a vote at the next meeting?”
The motion was seconded and carried and the meeting wound to a swift close. As they all stood and began to leave, Eva’s knees wobbled. Now that the business portion of the morning was over, she could think of nothing but the fact that Jack was so close. In the same room.
