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“Then you can always stay with me.”
“Even if you live at the fortress or Perry’s penthouse?”
I chuckled. “Just because you’re in love doesn’t mean I am. You’ve already got me moving out. But if I do fall in love, whoever I’m with will know you’re part of the package.”
“Thanks.” She leaned in and hugged me.
Life hadn’t been easy for us. On the outside, it was like I had it all. On the inside, I was scared of losing the only family I loved while trying to venture into something with two men, which was just as frightening. If Fawn could do it, then so could I.
15
PEYTON
Perry was in one of his moods today. This week hadn’t been easy on him. Between announcing JJ’s role as a partial owner and a vice president in R&D, Perry’s executive team had made their displeasure known. Repeatedly. Even mild-mannered Stefen had been in Perry’s office twice. Luckily, the way the Altair Plaza was set up, there was a building of offices, where we were, and there was a bigger building for research and development, quality control, and the list went on. JJ hadn’t even started working here yet, and it was already a nightmare.
Perry’s door was open. No one else could hear what was going on but Dominic and me. Dominic sat at his desk, back straight, typing away. He was fielding emails and phone calls, letting only some slide through to our boss.
The phone rang.
“Mr. Altair’s office,” Dominic answered.
I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end of the line, but the frown forming on his face was telling.
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“No, Mr. Altair can’t talk to you right now. He’s in a meeting.”
“JJ is not his father, and our business is not Jordan’s.”
Then his demeanor changed. Dominic was done being friendly.
“I don’t care who youthinkyou are, I’m not interrupting him when he’s in a meeting with one of his senior staff.”
“Sure. Whatever you need to do.”
He hung up.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“A sales rep. He’s pissed about JJ. Same song and dance we’ve been dealing with all week.”
Stefen emerged from Perry’s office before I could respond to Dominic. He gave us both a small smile before going toward the elevator.
Sixty seconds later…
“Dom! Pey!” Perry called.
We both stood and went into the office, Dominic in front of me. I closed the door behind us. We had enough security downstairs; I didn’t worry about anyone finding their way up here who shouldn’t be.
Perry had his elbows on his desk, head in his hands, his fingers threaded through his hair. “Tell me it’s going to work out,” he muttered. When he lifted his head, his eyes were tortured, full of pain and exhaustion.
Dominic took one of the seats in front of the desk. His voice was calm when he spoke. “You knew it wasn’t going to be easy when you agreed to bring JJ on. You can’t go back and undo it. You have to be steadfast in the value JJ will bring to the business. You run and own this company, not them.”
I sat beside him. “While I don’t agree with what you did, JJ is talented with his hands.” I wouldn’t sugarcoat anything with Perry. “He knows cars.”
“Not race cars.”
