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My stomach falling to the floor below me.
“I’ve already seen Todd this morning.”
I think I’m going to throw up.
“Prestige Horizons is yours, Marc.”
My mouth falls open, my elbows fall to the desk, and I collapse against it. Everything I’ve worked so hard for is finally happening.
“But before I continue, I need you to know something.” He leans in until his elbows are also resting on my desk, putting him face to face with me. “I knew from the start that your situation with Avery was a set up. I know that you two aren’t engaged the same way that I also know that Todd isn’t engaged.”
My gaze drops to my hands on my desk. I have no words to say back to him as I’ve been caught in an entire summer of lies.
“Cathy knew it was fake the moment you two showed up to the house for dinner. Something about the way she hugged Avery. She said it seemed… off. I didn’t think anything of it, of course. But the more she went on, the more I also couldn’t help but notice.”
“I-I’m sorry, sir.” I shake my head. “I didn’t me—”
He raises his hand to stop me. “None of that. I’m telling you this because from the start of everything until the weekend at the cabin, I noticed what evolved between you two. It might have started out fake, but I don’t believe it’s fake anymore. Is it?”
“No, sir.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Avery wasn’t just my assistant, though. She’s the best friend of my future sister-in-law. But I’m telling you, when I hired her, I hadn’t met her yet and didn’t know who she was.”
“I believe you, Marc. You don’t have to explain yourself. The company is yours.”
I can’t help but sit there stunned. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I haven’t been completely honest with you, myself.” His eyes fall to his hands as he interlocks them on the desk. “Todd was never going to get this company.”
“Huh?”
“It was always going to you.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re such a miserable shit in the office.” He laughs, and I can’t help but join him when he does. “I know it’s because you’ve been alone for so long. Don’t forget that I was the one who hired you and you told me your story about your graduation night. I remember because you told methatwas the reason you were pouring yourself into work. An outlet. An escape from everything outside of these walls.”
“I got over that years ago.”
“Riiiight,” he drawls. “But tell me, Marc. Why does your face look like that?”
“Why does everyone keep saying something’s wrong with my face these days?”
“You’ve got this sad look like your cat died.”
I can’t help the rumble of laughter that comes pouring out of me, forcing Bill to join me.
“You’re not the first person to say that you know? But I’ll tell you what I told them. I’m a dog guy.”
“Noted.” He nods with a laugh. “I have one more thing to tell you.”
“Your tone of voice tells me I won’t like this.”
He shrugs. “You might not. But I need you to fly to Austin this weekend for a week of training.”
“I—”
