Sweet Love - Mia Kayla Page 0,16

now.

I walked the room, making it around the table, speaking to the employees, “This type of branding will only appeal to those like Charlotte and myself, in their late twenties or our parents or grandparents. It won’t speak to the children currently. And who is buying chocolate or asking their parents to buy chocolate?” I walked right behind Casey, Charlie, and Alyssa. Everyone was staring at me, except for Charlie, who had her sights on something very interesting on the table as she planted her butt back on the chair. “Children.” I tapped her chair twice. “Right, Charlotte?”

She turned and shot me the meanest of looks, and I bit my lip to suppress laughter.

She cleared her throat, her voice firmer this time. “Not sure what the current children like or want, but yes, I can see your point.”

“Connor.” My father’s voice was stern, firm, and not one bit amused. Not surprising. “We’ll have to discuss this at a later time.” My father broke the staring contest I had been having with Charlie and dismissed the group. “We’ll be sending the company party details by the end of the day. Thank you all.”

Charlie was the first to stand. She moved past me and out the door, not waiting for Alyssa or Casey, who stood to follow her.

“Nice job in getting the new girl to turn fifty shades of red,” Alyssa commented.

Casey shoved a finger into my chest. “What’s the matter with you, Connor? I know it was just a question, but why did you have to put her on the spot? Sometimes …” She threw me one dissatisfied look. “Sometimes, you just don’t think, and you’re supposed to be the more sensible brother.” Then, she stormed off, followed by Alyssa, to go after Charlie.

All of my muscles tightened because that was exactly what I’d done, hadn’t I? I hadn’t been thinking; I had simply reacted.

I rubbed at my brow, frustrated. I owed someone an apology.

“Connor,” my father called out as everyone filed out of the room.

I turned to face him, his full head of pepper-gray hair, his brown eyes so similar to mine, his chin held high. His suit had been pressed to perfection, not a wrinkle in place. This was my father in his truest form—to the world, to his company, to me.

My mother patted my shoulder before walking out. Her little gestures indicated that she’d been trying since I’d been home. Trying to be the mother she never had been—because Nana had taken that spot.

Automatically, I straightened to meet my father’s stance.

“Rebranding?” One word heavy on his tongue.

I nodded. “It’s a way to give the company a new look while capturing new clients.”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ve seen this done time and time again with struggling companies. This was their one game changer to bring them back to the black.”

“So, you have a plan in place?”

“Yes. A solid plan,” I lied through my teeth, but this was where I was going to fake it till I made it.

“Okay. We’ll see what you come up with.” My father nodded. “When you’re ready, you can present it to the board, and we can go from there.”

I nodded. “Okay. Sounds good.”

He about-faced, and I almost saluted him as though he were a general.

When he was out of my vicinity, I rubbed at my temple, letting out a long sigh.

Shit, I had a plan, but it would only work if Charlie was on board.

Charlie

My ears burned unbelievably hot, the heat spreading to my forehead. My cheeks warmed, and I could imagine what my face had looked like at that meeting. I stormed out of the conference room and back to my desk. I fired up my computer and logged in, diving back into work because that was what I did.

Job. Job. Job. I need money, money, money.

“Hey, Charlie,” a mousy voice piped up behind me.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. It was Casey. I was sure Alyssa was right behind her.

“Connor is Connor Colby?” I gritted my teeth.

I didn’t know if I could forgive him for embarrassing me in front of all of management. My fingers tiptapped against the computer. Maybe I could call in sick—but for the rest of the month. I wanted to pretend that this didn’t bother me, but it did, especially after everything I’d said about his company, about his chocolates and the branding. And not only had I said these things multiple times in front of him, but today, I’d also said them in front