Page 92 of Unexpected Kisses

Fuck!Fuck! Fuck!

I felt it. I felt her shut down on me. This is the worst possible scenario. The situation with Grandfather and his company is bad enough, but now I find out Sarah’s his assistant and I had no damn clue. And how would I? Grandfather never refers to her by name, it’s always ‘my assistant’ because he doesn’t deem her important. I’ve never called his office, so I’ve never spoken to his ‘assistant.’ Now I’m wishing I had because I wouldn’t have been blindsided. She let her last boyfriend go because she loved her job … and her family … so much that she couldn’t bear to leave.

What if she chooses her job over me?

Sarah steps into the room with a fake smile plastered on her face. I know it’s fake because her lips are too tight. Normally, she smiles so big her lips separate and she shows her perfectly straight teeth. Her hand shakes as she places a tray of cupcakes and drinks on Grandfather’s desk.

“I brought you both a drink and some cupcakes. Do you need anything else?” She looks at Eric, then glances at me. I can see the question in her eyes. She had to hear Grandfather’s outburst. I nod my head discreetly to let her know I’m okay, and she returns her attention to my grandfather.

He softens his posture and smiles at her, straightening his tie and returning to his seat. “That will be all for now. Thank you. I’ll let you know if we need you.” He’s different with her. Softer, kinder.

“No problem, Mr. Wainwright.” She tips her head and escapes without giving me a second glance, closing the door behind her.

Grandfather pushes the plate of cupcakes toward me. “Sarah makes these every Friday. She made these especially for you.” He nods to the plate and I blow out a breath, then take a cupcake. I love her cupcakes, so I’m not about to say no. I’ll take anything to make this situation more bearable.

“Thanks.”

Grandfather takes a sip of his tea, then places the cup on its saucer. “Women don’t belong in CEO roles, Adam. As much as you want to be progressive, it’s not appropriate. They don’t have the same level of success as men do.”

“Only because they’re not given the opportunity because of men like—”

“Watch your mouth, boy.” Spittle flies across the desk and I’m glad it’s as wide as it is or I’d be wiping it from my face.

I sit forward on the edge of my chair. “What about Diane Hendricks? Huh.” I raise my brows. “She took over sole ownership of the company she had with her husband and then went on to buy out her two biggest rivals. She made history.”

His face turns red. “One. One successful woman doesn’t mean that all women are cut out for this role, Adam.”

I pull the thumb drive from my pocket and hold it up. “I have an entire presentation I can show you, with all the facts and figures you could possibly need to be convinced to give the company to Mom.”

He scoffs, rolling his eyes. “This ismydamn company, and it’s my decision whom I hand it over to. A woman will run this company over my dead body.” His face is red and splotchy, his breaths becoming harsh.

I feel as though I’m going in circles and getting absolutely nowhere. This is the same conversation we’ve had since he got it into his head that I was the only suitable candidate to take over the company, our family legacy, so he could retire. He’s always treated me like a child, so I’m not sure why he’s so adamant I run things. Oh, that’s right, I’m the only direct relative with a penis instead of a vagina.

He presses a button on his phone. “Please join me in my office.” He lifts his finger, cutting off the call without waiting for a response. I sit back further into my seat, savoring the final bite of my cupcake while I wait for Sarah to join us.

The door opens and in strides a man I’ve never met. I peer behind him, hoping to spot Sarah, but he closes the door quickly and moves to take the seat next to mine. “Tony. This is my grandson, Adam. Adam. Tony, my Vice President.”

I hold my hand out to greet the man. “Nice to meet you, Tony.” He tips his head to me, with no move to take my proffered hand, so I drop it back to my lap. There’s a level of frostiness radiating from him that has my hackles rising.

“Adam here is still trying to convince me to give the company to his mother instead of him,” Grandfather scoffs at Tony as though I’m no longer in the room, making me feel small. Anger blooms inside me, and I know I’m going to struggle to keep it contained.

Tony studies me with clear disdain. “As I’ve said to you before, Eric. I’ll be happy to step in and run the company with you still at the helm. There’s no place for a woman in the leadership role here.”

Jesus! I glance around the office. Standing, I stride to the windows and peer down at the cars on the street. Finally, I check the date on my phone.

“What the hell are you doing, boy?”

“Just checking that I’m living in the twenty-first century and not the damn nineteen-fifties,” I snap. “No wonder you won’t budge. Your Vice President thinks exactly the way you do.” I turn to Tony. “I was hoping you would help me drag him into the current century, but you’re as entrenched in the old ways as he is.” I refuse to allow this idiot to have any more control in this company. I turn back to Grandfather. “I’ll take the damn positionandthe damn company.” I glance between the two men, frustration and anger filling my body. I’m surprised the top of my head hasn’t blown off. “But let me make this clear.” I move back in front of Grandfather’s desk and poke my finger angrily at the surface. “You will not interfere with how I run it. Once it’s in my hands, I’ll fill the leadership roles with whomever I see fit, whether that person is a man or a woman.” I rarely lose my cool, but as I stand here with these two dinosaurs, I can no longer contain my anger.

I spin on my heel, and storm out of the office, slamming the door behind me. Sarah’s head snaps up from her computer and frown lines form between her brows as she studies me closely. “Are you okay? That all sounded very intense in there.”

I step closer to her desk. “I don’t know how you’ve managed to work here as long as you have.”

She leans forward, glancing behind her at Grandfather’s door. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, my grandfather is a damn misogynist still living in the nineteen-fifties.” I blow out a breath.

She chuckles and waves her hand in the air like she’s dismissing my comment. “He’s not that bad. A little old-fashioned maybe.”

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