Page 53 of So Wrong It Must Be Right

“I’mdismissed?” Carter asked incredulously, and Dinah had a feeling it was only the way she squeezed his hands that kept him from saying something snarky back to her grandmother.

“Yes. You are,” Grandmother said regally, because she was a woman who never backed down from a perceived challenge.

Dinah could tell that Carter wanted to argue with her grandmother, and she could tell he really didn’t appreciate the way people were talking to him around here, but his gaze studied her and eventually he just nodded.

“Call if you need anything. Let me know how it goes. I’m not going far.” He gave her hands a squeeze before he released them.

She wanted to grab on and hug him. Hold on to Carter and insist he be allowed to come with her, but her grandmother’s wanting to talk to her alone was a frightening and confusing prospect. Usually Grandmother was happy to let whatever happened with the board happen. This was unorthodox and problematic.

Carter disappeared and Dinah looked at her grandmother, trying to discern some clue as to what was going on.

But her grandmother’s face was blank. Always the unreadable matriarch who held all the power, and Dinah suddenly felt as though she had absolutely none.

From the moment her father had disappeared with Aunt Linda, the power she thought she’d had growing up had been completely eradicated, which meant it was never hers in the first place. It had all been Dad’s, and she’d just foolishly thought she shared some of it.

She followed Grandmother up to the older woman’s chic, spacious office, feeling oddly beaten. All of her confidence and certainty deserted her.

“Have a seat,” Grandmother instructed as they entered.

Dinah took the uncomfortable chair opposite Grandmother’s desk while Grandmother sank into her plush leather armchair. Dinah clasped her hands in her lap, desperately trying to find some sense of strength and determination.

“The board has voted in your favor.”

Dinah let out a whoosh of breath. In her favor? In herfavor? That meant yes. Yes.

“As your grandmother and as the head of the Gallagher family, I was able to persuade the board to vote yes, despite your relationship with Mr. Trask. It’s a solid plan, Dinah, and I appreciated the detailed and professional way you went about putting this together.”

The board had voted yes and her grandmother was praising her. Had she fallen into an alternate universe?

“That being said, I think it’s important we discuss the matter of Mr. Trask.”

“The matter?”

“He’s beneath you, Dinah. I hope you know that.”

Dinah could only gape for a few buzzing seconds. “B-beneath me? That . . .that doesn’t even make sense. What do you me—”

“You’re a smart woman. You’re strong and you’re determined. You can make Gallagher’s into something better than Craig can. I believe that. I’m willing to tell him, and the board, my opinion the next time the director position comes up for discussion and vote.”

Dinah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Grandmother thought she’d dobetterthan Craig. Dinah believed that wholeheartedly, but she hadn’t considered Grandmother might agree with her.

“Grandmother. I don’t . . . I don’t know how to thank you. This is—”

“Thanks aren’t necessary, because this is best. But, there is one condition.”

All the elation, all the joy, all the pleased and touched parts of her came to a screeching halt. The glow of her grandmother’s praise wore off pretty damn quick. “A . . . condition?”

“I will only support you as director under the condition that you are not romantically involved with Carter Trask.”

It hit her like a blow. Hard and physical. She actually fell forward a little, as though someone had punched her straight in the back. She couldn’t breathe, and when she managed to finally suck in a breath, she looked at her grandmother’s shrewd hazel eyes and knew without a shadow of a doubt there was no arguing her way out of this.

This was Grandmother’s ultimatum. Her final decision. The only hope of being the director of operations of Gallagher’s, like she was supposed to be, was to lose Carter.

“I’m sure you think I’m being unfair, in the moment, but I saw the way that man stood up for you, and I see what you’re doing for that man. Quite honestly, this isn’t the lark Craig seems to think it is. You seem to care about each other.”

“I do. We do. Grandmother—”.

“Nevertheless, Carter Trask is not for you. If you’re going to be the head of Gallagher’s, if you’re going to be our director of operations and take my place as matriarch of this family when I’m gone, you need someone who understands this world. Someone who knows when to shut his mouth. Someone who knows how to lie. For heaven’s sake, that man did nothing but spout the truth in his proposal. It was god-awful.”

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