Page 87 of The CEO Enemy

Jess immediately moves to retrieve the fax, studying it. She’s clutching it in her hand, reading it over and over. Then she holds it up to me. All color has drained from her face. “What is this?”

I walk over to take a look.

The fax is from Sanford & Partners.

In large handwritten letters on top of it, it says, “As discussed.”

I quickly read through it.

Blackwood Inc.’s lawyer, Samuel Drexler, is invoking the force majeure clause, which allows for the immediate termination of the contract, citing concerns about Ms. Jessica Summers’s management style and financial decisions, particularly budgeting, cost control related to group fees, and cancellation procedures.

My father’s lawyer is arguing that her management style and decisions put the entire operation at risk.

For fuck’s sake.

“I had no idea,” I tell her.

“As discussed? Sean, it says ‘as discussed.’ Did you or did you not know of this?”

“It’s not what it seems. It’s my father’s fucking handwriting. It’s his doing. Also, he’s the only human left on this planet who uses a damn fax machine. I had no idea he would take it to such extremes.”

“So you’ve had this discussion. Why didn’t you tell me? Warn me, at least? I trusted you, Sean. I trusted you.” Jess quietly sniffles, and I watch her discreetly try to wipe a tear away. “We’re done here.”

“Wait. No.”

Without looking at me again and without saying anything else, Jess grabs her purse and heads for the door. I want to reach out to try to catch her hand, tell her not to throw all that’s between us away, but she’s out of reach an instant later.

She leaves me standing in the middle of the room, coming to grips with the fact that my world has just imploded.

29

SEAN

The unopened pancake box and the ring lying next to it mock me—along with the trash bin right underneath it—as I reach for my cell. I call my father’s number to give him hell. Of course, his cell phone is turned off. True to his word, he refuses to use any modern technology unless he’s forced to. His villa’s landline goes unanswered. Jasmine tells me he’s out of the office and reminds me that I’m scheduled to meet with him tomorrow, during the quarterly board meeting. Good. Before I end the call, I tell her to let me know if my father shows up, if not, I’ll be in later today.

It was just one damn week. What the fuck was he thinking? That I’d happily nod and give my go-ahead to Drexler’s scheme? Over my dead body.

The persistent rumors have certainly made an impact on my father. Maybe I should have been more effective in de-escalating the situation, explaining that Rutherford posed no threat. Yeah, right—like my father would have taken my word for it.

Once I pocket my cell, I head to my motorcycle. Full throttle, I drive to my next two meetings, clearing my head.

A few hours later, I’ve made up my mind.

I’m more convinced than ever that Jess and I are meant to be together. I’m not going to let her throw away what we have. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass if Blackwood owns all of Westerlyn or not.

My mind is preoccupied with something else.

Something more important than selling a bunch of rooms.

All that matters is Jess, and how truly special she is. How everything pales in comparison to the depth of beauty she carries in her heart. How I find myself unable to get enough of her.

It’s addictive how she effortlessly lightens everything around her with her presence, her smile, her laughter, the bright energy she brings into my world with every step, reminding me to what truly matters in life. Pippin, her employees, people she holds dear. She ensures her guests leave the hotel uplifted, and ready to return next time. Despite the myriad challenges she’s faced along her journey, her past hasn’t brought her to her knees. Instead, it’s fueled her determination to fight for what she believes in, standing like a force against Goliath.

There are a lot of things about her I’m unwilling to live without. It’s unbelievable how easily she fit into my life without me realizing it, without me appreciating it until her presence was gone.

She may say she’s done, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel.

We’re in this together, and there’s no way I’m letting go.

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