AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I needed to make amends and show Layana the intensity of my remorse. But words in a text or call seemed insufficient after the pain my silence must have inflicted. This required a grand, public gesture straight from her playbook.
With newfound purpose, I tidied up the garage, then called Pamela.
“Clear my schedule for tomorrow morning,” I instructed. “And book me an exclusive live TV interview, first thing.”
“The meetingis tomorrow,” Pamela said. “The one we’ve spent months preparing for.”
How could I have forgotten about the final meeting to seal the merger? I shook my head. “First thing after the meeting then.”
“If this is about the reality star?—”
“I’m fixing my mistake.”
“It is extremely ill-advised in your current situation to go on television. Assuming all goes well with the meeting, there willbe a trial period where either party can still nullify the contract. During that time, it’s imperative that you do not participate in any kind of interview given your track record. We need time and distance from the scandal.”
I heard her. I understood the stakes.
“I don't care about how it looks, or how many articles label me a robot,” I said. A clammy sheen coated my hands as the reality of my choice became clearer and clearer in my mind. “This is for Layana. I will have a televised interview with or without your assistance.”
I could practically hear Pamela's teeth grinding through the phone.
“If this all falls apart, I still get paid,” she said. “And I make clear to anyone who asks that it’s your fault.”
“I’m happy to tell them myself.”
“I hope it’s worth it.”
Unquestionably, Layana was. I only hoped my efforts would be enough.
FORTY-ONE
GABRIEL
I’d arrived fifteen minutes early to Biotabloom Dynamics tower for the meeting that would decide the fate of our companies’ relationship. An additional twenty minutes had passed since the meeting was supposed to start.
They’d left me waiting in a small lobby, decorated with heart banners and vases filled with roses, reminding me that today was Valentine’s Day. Leaving me here was either some sort of test of my willingness to tolerate their poor excuse for professionalism, or possibly due to some other factor. Perhaps right this minute, the board was discussing whether or not to allow the merger to move forward.
I should have been sweating. I wasn’t.
Pamela leaned over in the seat beside me, looking me up and down with that shrewd gaze of hers.
She whispered, “Don’t lose sight of the reason we’re here. It’ll be over soon.”
Sure, this meeting would likely occur at some point today, and then this particular situation would be behind us. But that didn’t change the fact that they clearly didn’t respect my time. It didn’t change that this merger meant I would be forced toendure situations exactly like this repeatedly for the rest of my professional career.
For the first time since Biotabloom Dynamics had come to me with their offer, I didn’t feel that my fate was in their hands.
I checked my watch. The meeting was now thirty minutes late. I’d been offered no apologies or explanations, and if I was unable to wrap this up shortly, I’d be late for my television interview. I refused to let that happen.
I rose from my seat.
“Gabriel,” Pamela said between gritted teeth.
I walked to the desk, where the receptionist watched me with eyes growing wider by the second.
“I’m sure they’ll call for you any time now, Mr. Stryker,” she said in a rush.
It wasn’t her fault I was being treated this way. I wouldn’t take it out on her.
