and pressure as the aching pain took over. She gripped her phone tightly and took a deep breath. “Stay away from me,” she instructed, still staring at her phone.
“No,” he said softly.
She peeked up to see him shaking his head. “Please,” she begged.
“No.”
“Don’t do this. I can’t be around you. For God’s sake, I was with your brother. This isn’t right,” she cried.
Julian stepped closer to her. She was tempted to take a step back, but the way he looked at her had her freezing. He held her left hand like it was a delicate lily.
“I’m not going anywhere. I know it’s selfish of me not to give you what you want, but I’ve found you again. And I don’t know what you’ve been through over the past four years, but I want to be something to you, Stephanie.”
All air fled her lungs.
“I’m not who you think I am,” she whispered.
Julian let her hand go and brushed her tears away. “You’re Stephanie. My Stephanie. Not my brother’s and not that Charles guy’s.”
That’s where you’re wrong.
“I’m not a good person, Julian. I never was. Just… please.”
He gave her a sad smile. “We both know that’s a lie. You’re a good person. No matter what mistakes or flaws you think you have or done. Give me the chance to be something to you.”
This is the biggest mistake you will ever make in your life, Julian.
Worse than Thailand.
Julian stepped back and let his arms fall to the side of his body. “I believe in the possibility of us. I just need you to do the same.”
Stevie shook her head and said, “You’d never forgive me,” before she walked past him, towards PJ’s.
“You left me and I still forgave you,” he called out, causing her to stop.
Positive.
Four positives.
She shook the image of the pregnancy tests away. Then Stevie reached the pub doors and turned to face him. “I don’t think I would ever forgive myself if I let anything happen between us. In time, you’ll realise just how right I am. I’m sorry, Julian,” Stevie said and walked into the pub.
Before the door closed, she swore she heard him say, “I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try.”
“What do you mean our management structure is wrong?” Rogers asked as he stared at the presentation slide.
Julian had made the rough presentation over the weekend. But he needed to show Rogers something. And last week Julian had observed the way management went about their tasks and the way they led their subordinates. There were too many managers and far too many supervisors for each department. What Rogers & Co. needed was to downsize how many leadership roles they had in place. It would avoid employee confusion and pave the way for a smoother communication transition from leader to worker.
“People pay you thousands of dollars to point out things that are so clear and simple?” Rogers asked, bewildered.
Julian smirked. “If it were so clear and simple, then you wouldn’t have sought my services. And no, clients don’t pay me to point out the issues. They pay me to solve them. The way you handle business is fine. You are good at advertising. What you’re not so good at is your business structure. You lack the personal connection with your employees. That’s why your casual turnover rate is so high. You only focus on the moneymakers. You’re afraid they’ll take their client lists away when they leave. You need to take a risk on the younger ones. They have the creativity that can land larger clients.”
Rogers hummed as he settled into his leather seat. Then he tapped his right index fingers against his lips. “You sure you want to go back to Sydney, Julian? I think you’d make a good VP here.”
Julian set the presentation remote on the table and then crossed his arms over his chest. “And why would you want some twenty-four-year-old as a VP?”
Surprise consumed Rogers’ eyes. “Because I was twenty-three when I became CEO and took over from my father. I see a little of me in you, kid. And in all honesty, I can’t let my competitors have you. It’s business.”
“And if I refuse?” Julian asked to relieve his curiosity.
Rogers’ lips tugged into a confident smile. “I’ll make sure every firm you consult for gets taken down. I’m a businessman, Mr Moors. And I don’t like to lose great assets. And you are Tara’s hidden gem that I want.”
“Well, old man, guess you’re going to have to show me you’re serious about making