Page 76 of Inevitable Inheritance

“It represents something, you know.”

She was desperate to maintain some sort of composure. “Yes, that I am engaged. What’s your point, Todd?”

“All good things come to an end.”

“Stop fucking talking in riddles!”

“Testy,” Todd said calmly.

Taylor’s blood was boiling, but at least he hadn’t said she was …

“Tense, aren’t we Preston?”

And there it was. Taylor stood, planted her palms on the desk, and leaned forward. “What. Do. You. Want?”

Todd took a deep breath and stood. “Taylor, you need to just bite the bullet and get married.”

Taylor stilled and felt all the boiled blood drain to her feet.

“Sit.” Todd was at her side, moving her into her desk chair before she knew he had moved. “Breathe.”

“I, uh, I just need I—”

“Look, it’s not just about you.”

Taylor nodded as she continued to take in even and slow deep breaths. “Yes. I know, I know. The company and the people and legalities. I just—”

“It’s about Derrick too.”

Taylor could feel herself calming with the breaths. “I know. He needs a better rep. I get it—”

“It’s not just that.”

Taylor picked her head up, all sense of relaxation fleeing. “Oh fuck, what now? What the fuck do I have to contend with now?”

“It’s about Derrick,” Todd said, and Taylor felt panic.

“What’s wrong?” Had he been with someone else? Taylor felt sick at the thought.

“The meetings, the phone calls, the stress he has been under. It’s a business deal, but they are jerking his chain.”

Taylor had noticed tension in him but thought he was channeling through her. How selfish had she been? It had never occurred to her thathecould have anything on his plate. “Why are they jerking his chain?”

“Because they don’t think he is a reliable,” Todd explained. “They think he is just taking over Daddy’s business. But they called him there today because they said they would do it—finally sign the deal.”

“Well, great for them. I hope he … wait, he said the meeting was bullshit.”

“Yes, because he wouldn’t sign.”

“Why? You just said—”

“They said it was only a done deal if Preston Corp. would cosign.”

Taylor’s heart sank. “What was the company?”

“Sail-wind Productions.”

Oh crap. A production company. Directing. It was Derrick’s dream, and a huge production company.

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