head, I look over to Landry and see him beaming with pride. He’s so happy that Laurent is offering to do this for Susan, especially when he can work for Landry and have a much easier job.
“Fuck you,” she spits. “I don’t need your pity. I can run this on my own. You think I’ve lived this many years without knowing how to run shit?” she snaps.
I watch as she turns around and stomps off. We’re left in the room alone with Bash and Laurent. I reach out and turn the phone recorder off so that the rest of the conversation we have isn’t recorded.
Nobody says anything right away, then Laurent stands and I watch as he walks around the table to the other side. He reaches out, wrapping his fingers around the back of a chair and leans forward.
“What the fuck are we going to do? She’s going to run this company into the ground.”
I don’t say anything, knowing that this conversation isn’t my place to stick my two cents in. Instead, I stay seated and look down at the tabletop. This is hard. So hard. I never wanted any of this and to hear the anguish in Laurent’s voice. I know this is killing him.
“When it comes to your mother, there is nothing you can do. She may come to you when she’s calmed down a bit, but if she doesn’t, you can’t do anything.”
“I hope everyone moves to LoneSTAR,” he barks. “They’ll lose their asses here if they stay.”
Nodding, Landry stands and swiftly walks over to his son. I watch as he embraces Laurent. He whispers something to him that I can’t hear. Laurent nods his head, then releases his grip on Landry and takes a step backward.
He jerks his chin up, his gaze focused on him and they’re both silent for a long moment. Then Laurent clears his throat.
“I’m with you, Dad. She’s unstable and I was willing to stay and help, but she doesn’t want me here. So, I’ll be with you and guide the transition.”
Landry reaches out, wrapping his hand around Laurent’s bicep, giving him a squeeze. “I know you will. Proud of the man you are, Laurent. So fucking proud.”
Laurent jerks his chin, then turns and walks out of the room. Julie left with the crowd to get started on sending out the mass emails. Now, it’s just me, Landry, and Bash in the room. Landry tugs out the chair from where he’s sitting and sinks down with a heavy sigh.
“We’re solid, right?” he asks, looking up at Bash.
Bash smirks. “As a fucking rock, Landry. Everything is a go for the new place. The divorce papers should be delivered this afternoon. It’s all good to go.”
“So much fucking bullshit.” Landry chuckles. Then he turns his head, his eyes shifting over to meet mine and he smiles. “But worth every second of it.”
My cheeks heat from his words and I touch them, knowing that they’ve turned pink. He chuckles and Bash snorts.
“When you hear anything about Helen, you’ll let me know?”
“We will,” Landry promises.
Bash stands, gathering his things, then I watch as he leaves the room. Now it’s only me and Landry alone in the conference room. He lifts his head, his eyes finding mine and he raises a brow as a naughty grin appears on his lips.
“We’ve never… not in here,” he says, lifting his index finger and swirling it around.
“You didn’t get enough this morning, twice?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Honey, I never get enough of you. Now on your knees, crawl to me, I want your mouth on me under this table.”
“Then what?” I breathe.
His voice dips deep and husky, his amber-colored eyes turn almost deep rich brown with his next words. “Then I’m going to fuck you against this table. Later today, after lunch, I’m fucking you against the glass in my office. We have a full day, Miss Bradley, come over here and get started.”
A thrill runs down my spine as I slip beneath the table and crawl toward him, doing exactly what he described. Then later, he does what he promised and all in all, I lose count of how many orgasms Mr. Landry Astor gave his personal assistant that day.
Chapter Forty-Two
LANDRY
Hansen hasn’t called, except to ask when we will be arriving. That has me worried. Extremely worried. I would have liked to leave Holden with Bethie, or maybe Lucinda, but Tennessee wouldn’t hear anything of it. I don’t blame her, but I’m also worried about what has happened