Page 31 of Ruthless Wars

“I’m not the village idiot, Jaclyn. I know I fucked up. But I’ll clean up my own mess.”

The quick pop of her brow expresses way more enjoyment in the situation than I can stand.

“Really,” I say, already unnerved by her gloating.

“I didn’t say a thing.”

“I can read your mind through those big brown eyes. You always warned me that if you and Dad let me run unleashed with my ideas, I’d bet the company on a round of roulette.”

“And yet here we are.”

Jaclyn’s words could have come out any number of ways. Scolding. Angry. Disappointed. Oddly enough, she doesn’t seem pissed. Disturbingly, she’s on the verge of laughter.

I shake my head. “And why, pray tell, are you smiling at me like a lobotomized lunatic?”

“Because I can’t wait to see how you get out of it.”

I blink back the shock of Jaclyn’s statement. “You’re not here to jump in and save the day?”

“Nope.”

“Well, why the hell not?” I shout, throwing my hands up in stunned disbelief. “Jaclyn, I’ve lost control of ten percent of the company. It’s like I’m the worst babysitter ever. I could’ve just sat back, let the company ride the wave of autopilot until your return, and everything would’ve been fine. But nooo ... I let you come home to a neglected little baby gnawing on an adorable, chubby, little baby foot because I deprived him of ten percent of his food.”

“Aw ...” Jaclyn squeezes me tightly, and the gesture forces a huge sigh of relief from my chest. A second later, she asks, “Have you been drinking?”

Shrugging, I say, “Not today.”

“Well, let’s rectify that. We’ll hit Dad’s Four Roses and celebrate.”

“That might be a problem.” Not ready to explain away my booze binge, I cover myself by saying, “We need champagne to celebrate your engagement.”

“No, Margot. I’m not talking about my engagement. I’m talking about you. Taking the helm. Being the kick-ass boss lady we all knew you would be.”

“Ha! Hardly.” I pull away to gaze aimlessly around, then down to my feet.

Jaclyn weaves her fingers with mine, and the connection gives me the crystal-clear understanding of why she wanted this moment. Just the two of us. Alone.

Breaking out in a laugh, I say, “You’re bailing on me, aren't you?”

“Yup.” Jaclyn grins. “I’ll say a quick hello to Jean and Evie—”

“Who will insist you jump in.”

Nodding, Jaclyn releases our bond. “I know they will. Which is why I want to see them before I head out. They need to support you on this because your play isn’t good.”

My brow furls hard.

“It’s genius, a beyond brilliant move for rapid expansion. Yes, we lost control of ten percent of our company, but that ten percent was scattered across a dozen companies that Dad picked up on a whim. None of them were even profitable when he got them. It took years and millions to get them where they are today, and even so, their profitability is maxed. But the play you made will bring us five times their value in eighteen months, tops.”

Apparently, Jaclyn's been making herself busy studying my play. My sister sounds elated. Proud. But I can’t help cowering in the revelation.

“Jaclyn, I know all that. It’s why I did what I did. I didn’t want to drag Dad into this with his health, and you were relaxing for the first time in your life. Finally getting a taste of the life I’ve been luxuriating in since college. So, I jumped. With both feet. Without looking at all the contingencies. But I never imagined—”

“There’d be a blind spot? A seat on the board going up for dibs?” Again, she gives me that annoyingly knowing smirk.

Aghast, I stare back in disbelief. “Oh my God. You really have snapped if you think that’s good.”

Wrapping her arm around me, Jaclyn turns me to face the sea of buildings along the Dallas skyline.

---