Page 86 of Sinclair Duet

“On the plane, you asked if I was married, engaged, or seeing anyone.”

A knot in my chest twisted. I sat taller, my eyes opening wide. “You are. You’re what…which one?”

Gabriella

Damien shook his head. “None. I’m not. In full disclosure, about a year after you left me, I started seeing someone.”

My mind was spinning. “And you’re telling me about her because you still love her? You’re not divorced. Oh, I know, you have a kid.”

“No, I’m telling you because the woman I was seeing is the daughter of a member of Sinclair’s executive board.”

Shaking my head, I said, “I’m lost, Damien. Why does this woman matter?”

“She doesn’t, the daughter doesn’t. Gloria, the board member does. Once Dad is off the high doses of painkillers, the doctors will be doing tests to determine if his heart attack affected his brain. Something about lack of oxygen. If it did—if he has cognitive damage, legally he can’t rewrite his will.”

“Is he okay?” I asked, genuinely concerned.

Damien sighed. “I spoke with him Thursday night for only a short time. He was still kind of out of it from the surgery and sedatives. His short-term memory was shit.”

“Why does he need to rewrite his will?”

“Do you remember when Darius nearly fucked up the entire company?”

“It was a little before I started working for you, but I remember the ramifications.”

“Yeah,” he said with a daunting tone. “Dad was pissed. He didn’t want that to happen with me or with Darius or Dani.”

“That’s why he made the probation period as long as he did.”

Damien swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Dad’s will states that if he dies before I or any CEO named during his life completes the probationary period?—”

“Die,” I interrupted, scooting closer. “Jeez, Damien, is he that ill? Why aren’t you with him?”

“No, he’s not—I don’t think he is. The point is if he would, Sinclair is to be sold. He wanted to know he was leaving Sinclair Pharmaceuticals with a solid reputation.”

My eyes opened wide. “Fight the will. Could the board vote to end your probation?”

“They could.”

“Ask for it. I mean if your father is that sick, they’d understand.”

Damien took another deep breath. “I’m not sure the board would approve me. Darius has been sowing shit. He thinks he wants back in.”

I rolled my eyes. “The man is incapable.” I turned to Damien. “I’m sorry. I love your sister, but your brother is…I’m not a fan.”

Damien’s cheeks lifted with a smile. “See, Ella, you don’t just know me. You also know my family.”

Yeah, three years will do that.

Damien went on, “When I was seeing Gloria’s daughter, I learned something that no one else had told me.”

I scrunched my nose. “If it’s about sex, don’t tell me.”

He shook his head. “Gloria is one of the oldest members of the executive board. She has been there since Dad took over. As you know, Sinclair was started generations ago. Times have changed. However, unbeknownst to most people, there is an old addendum in the company bylaws. There’s a clause that would allow the appointment of a CEO if the candidate were married.”

“But…you’re the CEO and you’re not married.” I sucked in a breath. “You married that woman? You’re divorced? No, you said you didn’t.”

He lifted his hand. “I didn’t marry her. The addendum is archaic. It was written by my great-grandfather in the instance that a woman would inherit Sinclair. He didn’t feel a woman could lead without a man at her side. Darius was the first unwed CEO.” Damien shrugged. “He was actually co-CEO with Dad. When I was appointed, my marital status wasn’t mentioned. Nevertheless, the addendum is still there. Gloria told me about it. She wanted Amber and me to marry. She said if we did, she’d show the addendum to the rest of the board, and I could forgo the rest of the probation. I would be CEO, set in stone.”

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