all his anger and frustration. My arms hung limply at my sides, my expression as neutral as ever. I wouldn’t let them see, and I certainly wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
My eyes worked around the conference table, taking in each and every disapproving glare and smirk, each shake of the head and disdainful frown. I’d known most of the members of the board for the better part of ten years, but they were all strangers now. With a few choice words, Scott had destroyed my reputation, my connections. All my hard work.
“Regardless, no harm’s been done and I’m ready to take my place as CEO of this company.” His voice sounded firm, remorseless. “I’ve consolidated power, spoken to my mother and sister. Devyn has signed over her shares, giving me controlling interest in case any of you get ideas.” Heads turned left and right, some of them quietly murmuring to one another.
I gave it one last chance, but no matter how much I willed it Scott refused to look at me. So I took one last look at him, at the man I’d fallen in love with. Then I turned and quietly walked out. There was nothing left to say. Nothing left for me in that room period.
“You should sue his ass,” Miller announced from his seat in the armchair in my office. I glanced up from the stack of papers I was sifting through and met his disgruntled expression.
“Can you please hand me the blue file,” I said, motioning to a stack of files resting on the side table. Miller did as I asked and went back to sipping his latte like he was at Sunday brunch and not at work in the middle of the week.
If leaving was only as easy as walking out. There were too many important contracts and proposals I needed to personally go over with the new general counsel to simply quit. Besides, I could never do that to Frank.
In the break room, I’d overheard the whispers. Scott had hired someone from an outside firm, thus ensuring that person would be loyal to him and only him. Smart move I’d tell him if we were talking. Which we weren’t.
It had been five days since my public humiliation and there would be nine more. Nine more days of people watching me as if I were a reality TV show and whispering behind my back. Nine more days of seeing him day in and day out. Of him ignoring me––or worse, treating me with the same cordial indifference he reserved for strangers. He was a good actor, my soon-to-be ex-husband. He didn’t even look mad anymore. Just far away, remote…cold. The bright side was that it couldn’t get any worse.
It was time to throw in the towel, to admit that my Scott was gone and a younger, more ripped version of Frank had taken his place. The tailored suits. The groomed-to-death appearance. The dead careless stare. The party whore was long gone. This Scott was all ruthless efficiency. I wondered what Laurel and Ryan would think if they saw him now. I’d tried to explain it to Laurel the other day on the phone and failed.
“What do you mean he’s not coming back to Wyoming? He’s a rancher not a CEO.”
“Not anymore, Laurel. He fired me and announced to the board that he’ll be running Blackstone. And you should see him. He reminds me so much of Frank…his father would be proud of him.”
Ironically, the pain of losing my dream job had turned out to be no pain at all. It was Scott’s betrayal that cut to the bone. The job I would eventually get over. The man I was still very much in love with––not so much.
“Have you thought about staying?” I asked my soon-to-be ex-assistant while my attention remained on the piles of paperwork on my desk. “Hastings wants you on his team.”
Hastings had been a surprise, and I wasn’t used to good ones.
Miller sighed. “No. It’s time for a change. Paul wants me to work for him, on the business side of the restaurants, but I’d like to stay married…so I’m thinking about going back to law school.”
My head jerked up, hoping that I’d heard him correctly, and an uneasy smile grew on Miller’s face. “It’s about damn time. Anything you need from me––anything––”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he muttered.
“Miller…” I sighed. “…you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. Don’t be stupid about this.”