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Rose
Iwalked to the board room with way more confidence than I possessed at the moment. On the outside, I was everything my parents expected of me. I wore the fancy clothes and exuded an air of indifference to those around me. I was taught to never let anyone know what I was truly feeling. But on the inside, I was shaken to my core. There had been no time to process what happened in his office. Now, I was supposed to walk into that boardroom as he was officially given the title of CEO.
James—no, Alexander. I took a deep breath and stepped aside as I waited for my husband to open the door for me. The board didn’t need to see how happy we were per se, but they had to have confidence that this deal wouldn’t fall apart, that the joining of our two companies wouldn’t end up ruining everything the Langston empire had built.
James placed his hand on my back, guiding me inside. His touch burned through my clothes, nearly making me crack under the pressure, but I held strong. I smiled at James as he pulled out a chair for me at the head of the table. Then he dragged one over for himself and took a seat beside me.
“Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet my wife, Kimberley Wallace Langston.”
I nodded to them, giving them a winning smile. “Gentlemen.”
“As you know,” James continued, “with the joining of our companies, I’ve also found a companion for life in Kimberley…”
He rattled on for the board, but all I heard was the word companion. Was that all I was? Even after he realized who I was, he still wanted to call me his companion? I thought it was hard to leave him behind at the island, but to hear myself referred to as an almost insignificant arm piece was worse. I expected it from Alexander. I never thought I would hear that from James.
One of the board members spoke up, drawing my attention. “Mr. Langston, we’re all happy for this union. It strengthens the bonds between the two companies. However…” He glanced around at the other board members. “I think we all share a little concern for what happens if you were to get divorced.”
A small smirk played at James’s lips. “I have no intention of getting a divorce, Mr. Wright.”
“Yet, you were so unwilling to get married just a few years ago. You threw away every opportunity to follow in your father’s footsteps until the death of your brother.” I sucked in a breath, staring at the man who had the gall to say something like that in front of the entire boardroom. “In fact, how can we be sure that you’re the best fit for this company as CEO? It seems rash to me that you first left the company, came back for your brother’s funeral, disappeared for six months, and then came back happily married. And we’re all supposed to believe that you have the company’s best interests at heart?”
“I can assure you, Mr. Wright, I am more than ready to take my position in this company.”
“How can you run a company that you haven’t been part of for years?”
A few murmurs went up around the room. They were all questioning James as a leader, and particularly this Mr. Wright.
“Exactly what are you implying, Mr. Wright?” I asked. “Please, we’re all adults and would like to get on with our day. Whatever you have to say, please say it now.”
He grinned maliciously at me. “I’m suggesting that you married simply to secure your husband’s future with this company. And while it may be a great business deal for your two families, the rest of us are not interested in watching the company fall to its knees because of your game. Your husband is not qualified to run this company, and I put forward a vote to have a different CEO put in his place until we can fully understand his knowledge of what is happening with all our assets.”
He definitely had the whole room talking, but one thing I would not stand for is anyone talking shit about James…Alexander. Whoever the hell he was, I knew James better than any of these men. Or, I had up until I walked into his office and discovered I was his wife.
“Mr. Wright, I’m sure you’re unaware of this, so I’ll excuse your ignorance. Mr. Langston and I have known each other for some time. In fact, we first met when we were kids. We were married six months ago, before the merging of our two companies. The reason he was not here was because of our personal decision to take some time for ourselves before he took his place as CEO. As you so rudely pointed out, after his brother’s death, he had the monumental task of taking his place. And what you fail to see is that over the past six months, Ja—Alexander has been pouring over the company and working behind the scenes to prepare himself for this position.”
I felt James squeeze my thigh, obviously wanting me to stop. Had I said too much or gone too far? I didn’t think so, but I pursed my lips and quirked an eyebrow at the asshole, letting him know with just one look exactly what I thought of him.
James’s hand slipped from my thigh as he stood, buttoning his suit jacket. “Gentlemen,” he grinned. “As you can see, my wife is my best defender. If you take her on, be prepared. Her sharp tongue and quick wit will get you every time.”
The men around the table laughed, but it felt like a big joke to me. They saw me as the wife that should keep her mouth shut.
“But she does make a valid point. I have studied the company over the last six months and I can assure you that I am prepared to take my position, and I do so seriously with the full knowledge of the future of this company. Now, on with business, as we all have better things to do than sit around a table all day.”
And just like that, my husband took control of the meeting. What exactly was the point of me being here? I still didn’t understand it. I glanced over to where his father sat in the corner. I just now noticed him, but he sat there with an evil expression, like everything was playing right into his hands. James and I were pawns in his game, and we always would be.
* * *
“Alisha,”James barked as we walked back to his office. “Will you please call for my car to take my wife home?”
“Yes, sir.”
He guided me into his office, motioning for me to take a seat across from him. Where I normally felt powerful and confident, in his presence right now, I felt like I had walked into a Jane Austen novel—and not in a good way. Instead of the stylish clothes I was wearing now, I imagined myself thrust back in time to the 1800’s, wearing an empire gown and a bonnet on my head. I would be guided around the room, introduced as his wife, but then shoved in a corner to talk with the other wives of little consequence.
“Kimberley,” James said, gathering my attention.
“Yes?”
“Dinner? I should be done by eight.”
