Page 117 of Sweet Wicked Vows

Something neither of us wanted any part of.

With no one else to turn to, the only person who made sense was the only other person I knew who cared as much about the business as my father.

Kerry lived and breathed for the company. She already owned the second most shares, making her the logical and most obvious choice.

“The job and a portion of the family shares are yours.” I opened my laptop bag and pulled out the papers confirming it. “All youhave to do is sign these, send them to legal, and the job is yours.”

“Is this some kind of joke?” Kerry eyed the papers with suspicion. “You know I don’t care for jokes. They mask the importance of situations, and I cannot abide that.”

“Oh, I’m aware.”

The woman was as serious as taxes. There was a reason she excelled exceptionally in the company but appeared to have next to no social life. She took everything she did in life seriously, including interactions with other people.

“Why are you doing this?” Realization sparked to life as she thumbed through the papers. “I don’t understand what sort of game you are playing here.”

“No game,” I assured her. “The year is almost up, meaning it’s nearly time for me to step down. This was always only temporary for me.”

“But your brother?”

“He doesn’t want the job,” I said matter-of-factly. “I understand my father always wanted this to remain a family business. However, the likelihood of the company succeeding under Flynn is highly unlikely. You said it yourself, we’d ruin what my father worked tirelessly to achieve.”

Kerry’s brows knitted together. “Perhaps I was too harsh with you in the beginning. In time, you would learn. Your husband, he can keep helping you.”

I shoved away the image of Jaxon standing outside, his shoulders slumped and the raindrops on his cheeks looking awfully like tears.

There were only so many times I could let him break my heart.

Everything he said outside was tainted by the words he shared with his brother. He said he was in love with me but all I could hear was how I was nothing more than a means to an end.

How was I supposed to believe him?

I shook my head. “Neither of us have the love for this place likemy father or like you. This world isyourworld, not mine. Not Flynn’s, either. I know that by entrusting you with this company, you will keep my father’s legacy alive.”

The cogs set into motion behind her eyes. “You’ll need a vote from the board to do this.”

“Well, it so happens that I only need the two biggest shareholders’ votes of approval to promote you to CEO.” I smiled. “Oh, and look, the two biggest shareholders are right here in this room. I’ve already wholeheartedly voted yes.”

“You’re completely serious, aren’t you?”

“Completely.” I nodded. “If you agree and sign the dotted line, you will get thirty percent of my shares. I’ll still hold onto the rest and am willing to vote on any future decisions as an acting board member, but otherwise, the job is yours. So, what do you say?”

For the first time working alongside Kerry, she truly smiled.

The rest of the afternoon was meetings with legal, human resources, and public relations. Thankfully, everyone was more than welcoming to the idea. Proving to me that Kerry was the natural and right choice. The company was in her safe and very capable hands.

By the end of the working day, it was publicly announced that Kerry Zhang was the new CEO ofReynolds Regality Jewels.

I could finally start to breathe a little easier, knowing that although my love life was in complete tatters, the other parts of my life were starting to fall into place.

Chapter ThirtySeven

No matter how much I tried to drown out thoughts of Evelyn with cheap bourbon, she was all I could think about. When I closed my eyes, she was all I saw. When I tried to refocus my thoughts on anything else, and I mean fucking anything else, she would come crashing to the forefront.

The time we spent together.

The moments we shared.

I missed her more than I thought humanly possible.

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