However, this isn’t brand new, it’s a few months in the making.”
“Practically ancient,” Lucinda drawls.
I hum. Ignoring her yet again. “I just want to say something, and then I’ll drop it. I know that you don’t trust me right now, that’s okay because I’ll be here long enough that you’ll have time.”
It must be the right thing to say, because Lucinda gives me a funny look, she shifts her gaze to her phone and starts to focus on that. It’s rude, but I figure she’s hurting. Even if Landry and Susan have been separated for years, this is still something new for them and it’s going to take some adjusting.
“What are your plans, for the future, that is?” Lawrence asks.
Landry clears his throat. “Not the place,” he growls.
Shaking my head, I turn to look at Landry and give him a warm smile. “It’s okay, I’d like for us to at least be friendly, if nothing else.”
Shifting my gaze back to Lawrence, I continue to wear my same smile and I explain to him that I graduated with a degree in finance and that I would love to work in the office in a different capacity one day, but that I’m grateful for the opportunity just to work in the building at this point.
“What is your endgame?” Lucinda asks.
As soon as she makes it, I don’t break eye contact with her. She wants the truth, she wants transparency, she wants to make me squirm. The funny thing is, she doesn’t scare me and she sure as hell doesn’t intimidate me.
“The only thing I’ve ever wanted was to be able to provide for my son. I chose Landry’s company because of the perks. The in-building childcare was the biggest selling point. The benefits that Landry provides to all of his employees are unmatchable anywhere else. It’s really the only place I wanted to work.”
“Now that you’re in, what do you want? If you think my father is going to give you any part of his company, you’ve made a grave mistake,” Laurent announces, for the first time he seems standoffish toward me and a bit hostile.
I gasp from his words. Turning my head slightly, I look over to Landry who is staring at Laurent with angry narrowed eyes. “You haven’t told them?” I breathe.
“No,” Landry grinds out.
“I can’t believe you haven’t said anything,” I mutter.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Laurent shouts.
I jump, looking down at Holden, who looks up at me at the exact same time. He is reading the room now and his eyes are watering as he’s on the verge of tears. Standing, I turn to him and scoop him up in my arms.
Looking back over my shoulder, I give Landry a smile. “I’m just going to take him to the bathroom,” I lie.
Leaving the room, I don’t give Landry or anyone else an opportunity to stop me. Thankfully, Holden doesn’t cry, but I still take him into the women’s restroom with me. I’m thankful, when I slip inside, that there is a lounge.
Sitting down on the fancy sofa, I watch Holden walk around the room. He finds a mirror and he starts making silly faces at himself before he begins to laugh and giggle. I watch him, my own mood lifting almost immediately.
I don’t look up when the door opens, assuming it’s just a woman heading into the bathroom, but when the sofa sinks down next to me, I turn my head and I’m surprised to see it’s Lucinda sitting next to me.
“I really want to hate you,” she begins.
Licking my lips, I shift my attention back to Holden, who is still cracking himself up at his own reflection in the mirror.
“Do you?” I ask.
She hums, but is quiet for another long moment before she begins to speak again. “You have a backbone. I like that. I’m still a way bigger bitch, just saying.”
“But?”
Lucinda laughs softly. “I told my dad weeks ago that I would support any choice that he made when it came to women and life, until after I met the person.”
Tilting my head slightly, my gaze flicks to her, then back to Holden. “Are you going to keep me in suspense?” I ask.
“I’m not one hundred percent sold on the two of you together. It’s really fucking icky. But, if you want an old man and you’re good to him, I can’t put a wedge between you, not yet.”
Holden stands, obviously over looking at his reflection and makes his way over to me. Without