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“Is he going to stay home the rest of the time? Tell him you want to go out to eat or have him take you sightseeing. You can figure something out.”
Bennie’s suggestions left a bitter taste in her mouth. Dani appreciated that the other woman had her best interests in mind, and sure, it seemed like a simple ask. Except it wasn’t. Not for Jameson.
“Would Parcellum accept that? Because they were clear that they wanted Jay to be a part of the actual campaign.”
Bennie shrugged. “They say you know it’s a good compromise when both sides are equally dissatisfied.”
“Mela-Skin goes where you lead, Dani,” Andrea said, “so this is what I need to know: Do you still want this deal?”
Dani exhaled and fell back in her chair, lifting her gaze skyward.
How was that even a question?
A nine-figure investment that would take her company to the next level and afford her more freedom than she’d ever known?That’sthe deal she wanted, the one she’d been ready to sign today before they’d added that dumb-ass Jameson stipulation.
But now?
If she had to, she could let this deal go and start the process all over again with another company, but with the time and effort they’d already spent on Genesis, Dani would prefer to avoid it if necessary.
“I want the deal with the terms we initially agreed upon.”
“Then you have three choices. You can agree to Jameson being part of the marketing for Mela-Skin. You can tell Parcellum to fuck off and hope they walk away. Or we can approach them with this compromise and see if they bite.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Tasha said. “If you have concerns about Prince Jameson, talk to him. See what he thinks. He may be willing to endure a little uneasiness if it gets you closer to your dream.”
Why was she even considering this?
Why not just walk away?
Because she was soooo close to living on her own terms.
Because after a childhood of being passed from family member to family member, Dani needed to be in control of her life.
Because she couldn’t leave the fate of her business in the hands of other people.
Having Jameson in the official marketing for Mela-Skin was absurd and she refused to entertain it.
Walk away from the deal while knowing Parcellum could still make a move? They’d continue exercising control over her actions. She’d be loath to approach another company for fear that Parcellum would institute a lawsuit just to fuck with her.
But the compromise... She’d be grabbing her destiny by the balls; acting instead of reacting, something she’d had to do her entire life.
Jameson believed he wouldn’t be called on to attend many royal affairs because he’d go back to being a full-time lecturer. If that was true, would he mind if she accompanied him to the few he’d be invited to? Was Tasha right? Should she talk to him? If she explained the situation and stressed her intention to inconvenience him as little as possible, would he play ball?
What if he didn’t? What if he reiterated his desire to not be in the spotlight? What if he referred to the promise they’d made to eachother, just a week ago? Was she willing to put a monumental decision that affected her life solely in his hands? Trust that he would put her childhood trauma ahead of his own?
Could she bet Mela-Skin’s future on it?
Fuck if she didn’t want to. But she couldn’t. History and experience had branded an unforgettable lesson on her memory: when your ass is on the line, you have to depend on yourself. Jameson loved her, but it was too much to ask too soon.
She knew what she had to do.
Dani pursed her lips. “Let’s do it, Andrea. Call them with the compromise.”
“You made the right decision. Keep me in the loop,” Bennie called out from the tablet before ending the call.
“I’m on it,” Andrea said, pushing back from the table and rising to her feet. She excused herself and headed back into the penthouse, phone in hand.
Despite the warm afternoon, Dani suddenly shivered as a chill wrapped itself around her bones and set up camp. The whiplash of emotions in the span of a few hours and her Jules Verne–level jet lag were conspiring against her. It was time to go inside, curl up on the couch under a blanket, and watch a good movie.
