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I take a deep breath. “I really want to be CEO of Baxter Enterprises. And that might affect our relationship, with how you want to live your life.”
She turns back to me and lays her hand on my chest. “Yeah, I know you do. And it won’t because I don’t want to go anywhere where you’re not. I want to be right here with you, right here cheering you on. Now let’s go. We just wasted five minutes talking about something we agreed on all along.”
When we return to the boardroom, everyone is still there, waiting patiently.
Leonard smiles at me and gestures to my seat, and I quietly go back and sit down.
And then promptly stand up again.
“Kylian, man the door!” Luna yells.
“No.” I laugh out loud. Damn. Even now, she always manages to make me laugh. “I just wanted to say something before we start the voting proceedings that we didn’t get a chance to share before.”
“I just wanted to say that despite Baxter Enterprises, and Farmington, Inc., and The Hamilton Group withdrawing our bids, I have talked to Alex”— I gesture to him and he gives me a tight smile— ”and we have actually negotiated a joint bid for Baxter and Hamilton for The Lakes contract that we think will be both mutually beneficial and a very attractive offer for the government. I have no reason to think that this bid will fail to win the contract for Baxter, and for The Hamilton Group.”
Leonard nods. “Well, that sounds like it’s good news for everyone. Now, if I could please ask anyone who is not a member of the board of directors to please leave the room, as we are about to conduct a confidential order of business.”
Clarissa and Alex step out of the room, closely followed by Luna, but not before she gives me two thumbs up and a big smile.
And suddenly, even if I don’t win, it doesn't matter so much anymore.
Fifty-Five
Luna
"To Kingsley!" Matthias says, lifting his glass in the air at Bottle later, much later. After the vote, after the CEO announcement at the Jubilee. And after the night's festivities.
Now it's just the eight of us at the end of the bar, shoes kicked off, ties loosened, drinking to a job well done.
And a new era in Baxter Enterprises.
With Kingsley officially at the helm as CEO.
"To Kingsley!" We all echo Matthias, clinking our glasses.
Damien reaches over and slap Kingsley on the back. "Grandfather is so fucking proud of you right now."
He just blinks at his brother’s words and then shoots a glance over at me.
But I know, inside, his heart is bursting with joy.
"We all know it should've gone straight to you after he passed, but, whatever, it's yours now,” Kylian points out as he reaches over to play with Kiara’s dangling earring. “And you're going to be the best CEO Baxter has ever had."
"So what will happen with the regional director position?" My-Linh asks. Her cheeks glow rosy from too much champagne and she practically drapes herself against her husband’s body. Not that he’s complaining. Just like Kingsley with me, Damien’s eyes barely ever leave his wife.
"I'll hold both positions for now. Historically that’s been the case with the CEO and UK and Europe regional director positions,” Kingsley explains. Then he grins mischievously, winks at me and adds, “Since it’s our most important division anyway."
His three brothers stand up, slamming their hands on the table, roaring their protests all to Kingsley’s dead pan face.
“This is going to be fuuuuuun,” he finally says when the shouting has died down.
I press a sloppy kiss to his cheek. "I'm so proud of you, I knew you could do it."
His arm snakes around my waist, the other pulling my stool closer to his. "Couldn't have done it without you, sweetheart. Or Alex."
I nod. “Actually, about that..."
"Are you sure about this, Luna? It's not too late to back out."
