Winthrope contract on lock and publicly announced will skyrocket our reputation. It’ll drive the company’s value up so hard there won’t be time for sulking.”
She bites her lips together, drawing my eyes like magnets.
“You think I’m on the wrong track?” I rumble, stirred by the nervous jitter in her jade eyes.
“Working people to death might not be the best happy pill. Before the big announcement, everyone was complaining. Susan from HR said she had a dozen people on the verge of turning in their notices.”
“Shit.” I suck in a breath. “That might have been helpful to know earlier, Miss Holly.”
“Can we stick to Paige?” she snaps, locking eyes with mine.
Can we be that informal, without blowing ourselves up?
I give a curt nod.
“Sorry, I was just trying to help. I handled it because I didn’t want you or Nick to have more on your plates.”
“Paige, I need you to be straight with me. Always. You’ve got your finger on the pulse of this company in a way I don’t. You know, Wardhole and all.” I pause, relishing how she smiles. “But thank you for the thoughts. Working people into their graves might not build morale, but having an inspiring vision that gets results will. It helps people understand what they’re working for, beyond money and busywork, and success is a great motivator.”
That lethal smile, brighter than the sunshine, grows into a grin that spreads across her face. Her eyes soften like she might just see me as more than the donkey who never wanted her to have a chance.
More than the dolt full of demons who pressed her up against a hospital wall on an appalling day and kissed her until she moaned.
If my train wreck of a life hadn’t grounded me along with my fear for Grandma and bad memories of the woman I wanted to call my wife...who the fuck knows what would’ve happened.
I’m the luckiest human scum on Earth.
She should have quit then, leaving me no chance of getting through this with her.
“See? I knew you could do it. You’re better with pretty words than you give yourself credit for.”
For a second, my breath stalls, and I’m lost in her sparkling forests for eyes.
I’m about to shrug it off when Nick blows through my office door.
“Bro, it’s like a morgue out—” His eyes land on Paige and he stops. His gaze traces from her to me. “You two have been getting along much better since the hospital.”
He casts his eyes down her body.
Idiot.
Jealousy coursing, I want to punch him, but then I realize he’s staring at her feet. She’s wearing the same gaudy slippers I put over her feet the first time at the hospital after removing those damn heels myself. He looks at me again, but it’s a silent accusation.
“What?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing.”
“Did you need something?”
“I was going to say it’s a bad vibe out there. We have to do something.”
“That’s the plan.” Paige stands, flicking at her hair, her eyes pure mischief again. “Ward said he’ll take care of it and he won’t let us down.”
“He did?” Nick looks at me.
There’s something in her tone. Even if it puts me on the spot—annoying as ever—it’s so cute I want to laugh again. The statement is almost a defense to Nick’s silent accusation.
“Captain Obvious, I’m aware morale’s suffering. Some of our people started with Grandma when she opened this company.” I look at Paige. “Miss Holly—Paige—was just leaving.”
She blushes when I correct her name, and moves toward the door fast, no doubt hoping I don’t notice.
But fuck, I do.
“We’ve been here forever, too,” Nick says absentmindedly. “Some of them still see us as kids, and we’re just not as graceful as Grandma.”
Seriously, dealing with a petulant younger brother should not be part of being a CEO.
Paige stops at the door. “Those are some serious Louis Vuittons to fill,” she says.
“We’ve got to call Winthrope first. He needs reassurance,” Nick tells me, the first sensible thing he’s said all day. “On second thought, Paige might as well be here for it, no?”
Damn, he’s right. I’ve been putting off the call, telling myself I needed to wait until Nick could do it with me.
The truth is, I just don’t want to do it at all.
With Nick here, though, I can’t procrastinate any longer.
I look at my brother. “Nonsense. I’ll send her a summary email when it’s over. I’m sure she has work to do.”
Nick grimaces. “Dude. We have to call a weirdo who’s holding our future in his