Page 81 of Rekindling Desire

“I like him. I’m worried about him. If he could co-CEO with you, he would feel redeemed.”

“It’s not my fucking problem if he feels redeemed.”

The phone in my suit coat pocket buzzed. I pulled it from inside the coat and brought the screen to life. I had two unread messages. Both made me smile. The first was from Ella.

“Oh, control freak, my love. I’m in my office at Corporate. Tell me you’re okay. I don’t want to have to bail you out of jail.”

The second was from Timothy.

“It is with great sadness that Mrs. Gloria Wilmott announces her resignation from the Sinclair Pharmaceutical executive board. She reflects fondly on her time with this company and is satisfied that through her tenure, Sinclair Pharmaceuticals has become a thriving competitor.”

I reacted to Ella’s message with a heart emoji and to Timothy’s with a thumbs up.

“Damien?” Amber asked.

“It’s over. Your mother has stepped down. Dani will call a meeting of the board and the no-confidence vote will be stricken from the minutes. If Darius brings it up again, I’ll press charges against both of you for breaking, entering, and planting recording devices without our consent. Timothy has begun the filing for the annulment. You won’t fight it.”

“If we stay married, you could get out of the probationary period.”

I shook my head. “I’m not worried. I have five more months. Even if Ella and I wed before that, I’m not bringing up the addendum. I’m fucking good at what I do. I’ll have the permanent title.”

She tilted her head. “I really wanted us to work. I thought you’d come back.”

“Ella is my someone. I’ve known that since the first time I saw her. I was wrong to encourage a relationship between the two of us, you and me. For that, Amber, I’m sorry. I should have been going after her.”

“I never thought you’d show up with her. I couldn’t believe it when you came to the hospital. I thought you two were over.”

I never gave up.

It was one fateful flight that brought us back together.

“Not over,” I said. “Just rekindling what we had and making it stronger.”

Gabriella

One month later

“Why is Mr. Welsh pulling out of the coalition?” I asked Julia through the phone.

“It isn’t because of the campaign. I believe he is still working with Beta Kappa Phi.”

“He is,” I said, “with another manager.” Thank goodness. “Did he give you a reason?”

“He told me something in confidence.”

“Then I won’t ask. I know what it’s like being put on the spot.”

Julia laughed. “Is that a Damien reference?”

“Oh, you know it.”

“I do know the pressure. Van can be very persuasive. Honestly, you’ll learn about Welsh’s reasoning soon enough.”

My curiosity was piqued. “I might say I won’t tell Damien, but I probably will.”

“That’s why I want to tell you. Dwain and Darius Sinclair are partnering with a new LLC, an offshoot of Moon Medical.”

“Really?”

---