My Big Fat Fake Wedding - Lauren Landish Page 0,136

formula for this? Probably, but with everyone from presidents to corporate giants having to apologize for various things over the years, there’s actual science to back up the best way to save face when the shit hits the fan.

“I have spent my life as a representative of the Andrews name and this company. With that comes scrutiny and even lies. I’m sure you’ve all seen the headlines about my behavior, and certainly, the majority of those have been exaggerated, twisted, or flat-out made-up.” I pause, letting that sink in.

“Truthfully, I have always tried to do the right thing, act in what I felt was the best interest of the company, and I’ve never, ever intended to harm anyone else with my choices.” I swallow. “But the reality is, regardless of my good intentions, I have hurt the company and my family, and I will carry that burden with me for the rest of my life.”

I lean over the podium with practiced ease, making it seem like it’s only me and a small group of people speaking intimately. “May I speak frankly?”

There are a few raised eyebrows at my sudden change of tone and words, and down at the end of the front row, Dad tenses, looking like he’s about to jump up and cut me off if I push the line.

Thing is, I’m not going to push the line. I plan on obliterating the fucking thing.

“A few weeks ago, it was suggested to me by people in this room and in shareholder groups that I needed to settle down. They chose to believe the lies printed about me over the truth, and their worries about image and stock prices seemed more important than my own integrity. I ‘took one for the team’, as it’s said. I wanted to show that I was fit to run this company one day, willing to do whatever was needed to see that happen. I worried that without me, this company that my family built would suffer, that it would lose the path that it’s followed for decades now. Ironically, I see now that my plan was nothing more than the ultimate expression of my unfitness.”

I can see people looking to one another uncomfortably. They certainly didn’t push me to do what I did, exactly—that’s all on me—but they did put pressure on me.

“So that’s the ‘why’ from me about why I did this.” I intentionally don’t say that we got married as a farce because I’m doing my damnedest to be as honest as I can be. “As for Ms. Russo? She had much more honorable reasons. Again, the media is painting her as everything from a gold-digger to a scam artist. She is none of those things. She is a kind, beautiful soul who wanted only one thing out of all of this. She wanted to give her dying grandfather a final memory, a thank you for everything he sacrificed to raise her. She wanted to give him the opportunity to walk her down the aisle and give her away in a fairy tale wedding before he meets his maker.”

“That’s it. Nothing in her mind ever thought of money, or social climbing, or scamming anyone or anything. She did what she did because she loves her grandfather with all her heart.”

“And now, as Stefano Russo lies in a hospital bed, possibly dying due to our actions, I can only pray that he forgives us.”

“But as Violet’s scream pierced the chaos of our reception and I saw what we’d done to Stefano Russo, I realized the truth. Anyone who’s willing to engage in such a sham to appease a group of shareholders, who was willing to lie to his own family and more, is not ready to lead this company.”

There are gasps and murmurs through the room at the confession. This is something I’ve been groomed for since birth, and I’m admitting to an inadequacy in front of the whole world.

“So I’ve thought, and as I thought, I realized that there is an Andrews ready to lead this company when my father decides to step down many years from now. She stands at his shoulder every day at work and puts up with . . . well, more than I could. She’s smart, she’s capable, and she’s the true next generation of leadership for this company. Of course, I’m talking about my sister, Courtney Andrews.”

I look over to where she sits at Dad’s side. Her jaw drops open for a split second before she