Page 242 of By His Vow

I’ve mentioned job losses and changing roles in the hope of hooking her in, of making her concerned enough for the members of the team that she’d ask. But she hasn’t.

She’s completely shut down.

I’ve watched it happen as the days have passed. It started when I stupidly released those images of our engagement, and it’s only gotten worse since.

I hoped that the distraction of the wedding might have pulled her out of it. Hell, I’d prayed that I could have fucked it out of her on our wedding night. But despite it being fucking incredible, I wasn’t able to bring back the girl I spent the weekend with at the cabin.

I broke her trust, and I’m fucking terrified that I’m never going to get it back again.

In just a few short weeks, she’s become such a huge part of my life, but I fear I’m going to have to live the next year of my life with this closed-off version of her.

“Good morning.” Miles’s deep voice rumbles through the air, successfully halting any quiet conversations that were previously floating around the room.

All eyes turn on him as he stands beside me at the head of the massive conference table.

All Warner Group managers stare back at him, waiting with bated breath for what he’s about to say.

I scan the faces, taking in their expressions that range from mild curiosity to abject panic.

“Thank you all so much for being here.”

Officially, the workday hasn’t started yet, but we need to lay this out before our press release hits in a few hours.

Warner Group shares are already on shaky ground, and we’ve no doubt that in a few hours, they’re going to plummet.

It’s going to be a blip, though.

A blip we’re going to work through before coming back stronger.

“I’m sure you’re all concerned with the direction the company is going to take after the loss of—” Miles’s voice cracks and his eyes land on Tatum, who’s doing her very best to hide at the back of the group. “Our father,” he continues, making her chin drop in surprise.

She only lets her shock show for a second before she locks it down as if it never happened.

Her eyes very briefly shoot to mine before she looks down at her feet, refusing to be dragged into this.

“I wish I could stand up here and assure you all that everything is great. That we knew what was coming our way and that we had a plan. I’m also not going to lie to you all and pretend that is the case.

“The truth is, our father’s death was as much a shock to us as it was to you. But it appears that his failing health wasn’t the only thing that he was hiding.

“Right now, the future of Warner Group isn’t clear. As per our father’s will, Warner Group is to be taken over by Callahan Enterprises, and together, Kingston and I will take over as joint CEOs.”

Assessing eyes turn on me, but I hold strong, refusing to show an ounce of weakness.

Yes, the future of Warner might be unsure, and some of the people staring back at me may no longer be employed by us in the coming months, but that does not mean that we will fail.

Warner Group might be in trouble, but it will not fail.

There is no fucking way that is happening.

I might not be able to offer my wife much, but I will solidify her future, her legacy.

I will give her a reason to remember our time together—me—with fondness.

I refuse to allow all of this bullshit and stress to be for nothing.

“Mrs. Callahan, can you wait, please.” My demand rips through the air as the rest of the Warner Group management shuffles out the door.

We knew that what we had to tell them wouldn’t relieve any of the stress they felt walking into this meeting, but if anything, the expressions on their faces are now worse.

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