Merger to Marriage (Boardrooms and Billi - By Addison Fox Page 0,49

and that was to deal in honesty. He knew Mayson’s impetuous suggestion in his office had been out of a need to help him see the deal through, but he wanted so much more. He wanted her and their baby and the life the three of them could make together.

Their waiter laid the next course on the table, and he used the moment to lean over and whisper in her ear. “I hope you realize I’m not giving up.”

“I hope you realize I’m not done fighting you.”

“Then clearly we need a bit more negotiation as part of our merger discussion.”

He watched her eyes widen and her mouth drop into a small “o,” and fought the temptation to reach up and rub his thumb over her lower lip.

God, how he wanted her.

Holt didn’t miss Sarah’s knowing smile before she focused on her plate. Nor did he miss the subtle shift at the table as Teddy took control of the evening, moving their conversation on to business. He was prepared and was more than ready to get the discussion over with.

“I sent over a counter proposal. What did you think of it?”

Holt nodded. “All your points were fair. I’m not sure why you’re refusing the tenant option. You can make the building far more profitable if you sublease it.”

“I don’t want others in my business.”

“They’re tenants, not others. And you contract them into the space, to your specifications. Add on the progress we already made on the suggested tax breaks, as well as the local agreement to refurbish the subway station that services the area. The build can accommodate the expansion of the station so tenants can access through the bottom levels of the building.”

“I saw that.”

“We’ve also addressed concerns about on-site security with that subway access.”

“Good, good.” The older man nodded. “You’ve thought of everything. Addressed anything I could have thought of and more.”

“Excellent.” Holt took a bite of his meal. They’d passed the most challenging part of the evening and the rest of the dinner would be smooth sailing, which would allow him and Mayson to get on their way and try to work through their relationship.

“I’ve got one more question.”

“Of course.”

“Who is Eloisa Westmoreland?”

…

Mayson watched the color drain from Holt’s face as a stoic mask came down over his features. Why was Teddy asking about Holt’s mother? How could he know? Whatever she thought about Holt’s overreaction to his mother’s possible motives, she knew full well he didn’t discuss her with others, which meant something had happened to either bring Eloisa into Teddy’s orbit or Teddy had done some less than savory digging into Holt’s past.

Holt’s features were stiff, but it was his voice—deadly quiet and full of frost—that had her dropping a hand to his knee. “She has nothing to do with this deal, Teddy.”

“She requested a meeting with me yesterday. Said she had some information I needed to hear.”

“And?”

“I’ve done some digging since talking to her.”

It was like a ping-pong match, each sending another round of volleys across the net. “Then you wasted your time.”

Mayson didn’t miss the fire that burned in Holt’s gaze. His gaze was bleak, but battle sparked clearly in the depths of his eyes.

“She’s suspected of fraud in three business deals. She’s also suspected of several high-profile thefts.”

“An unfortunate circumstance she brought on herself.”

“Circumstances you were well aware of.”

Mayson reached for his hand once more, prepared to give him support now and ask questions later, when he pulled his hand away. She struggled to ignore the hurt that welled quickly, but couldn’t shake the embarrassment of his rejection.

“My mother’s poor choices have nothing to do with me. They never have.”

“You can’t deny you keep in contact with her.”

“It’s long past time to deny anything, Teddy. It’s also long past time we end our discussion. I realize now I never should have pursued your business. My apologies for wasting your time.”

Mayson stood with Holt, their dinner coming to an abrupt end. She made her hasty good-byes to Sarah and sidestepped anything beyond a polite “thank you for dinner” to Teddy and followed Holt from the restaurant.

The ride to her apartment was quiet, the bright street lights streaming through the tinted windows turning Holt’s face into a garish mask of anger and what she could only believe was regret.

“Holt?”

“Not now.”

She wanted to reach out to him and touch him, but even that seemed forbidden. She wanted to ease the pain that was so clearly there, but each time she thought to reach for him, his