Page 51 of So Wrong It Must Be Right

“Then I move that we have one,” Dinah said to her grandmother.

“Very well. Simone, Mr. Trask, Dinah, please leave. Our vote is for board members only. You will be notified of the result at a later time.”

“Technically, I am part of the bo—”

“Technically, your vote is noted. Dinah, please step out of the room with your . . . group.”

“I have something to say before they leave the room,” Craig said with a smirk, standing and carefully buttoning his suit jacket.

Carter felt Dinah tense, almost as much as he did to keep himself from lunging at her bastard uncle.

“As we all know, Dinah comes from a certain kind of genetic material.”

“Yes, a Gallagher. Just like you, Craig,” Dinah shot back through gritted teeth.

Craig continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “We know how dependable her side of the family is. How much we can entrustthatside with members of the opposite sex.”

“I don’t know what this has to do with anything, Craig,” Dinah’s grandmother said sharply. “Sit down.”

“Then you must not know, Mother. Because Dinah Gallagher here and Carter Trask have been engaging in a sexual relationship for weeks.”

If it surprised Dinah’s grandmother, she didn’t show it. Based on the way she’d been analyzing him all meeting, Carter would be surprised if she didn’t know.

“My personal life has nothing to do with this proposition. You have the facts in front of you in the handouts, and from our presentation. If you want to make this a personal attack, Craig, I think we all know why.”

Though she was clearly vibrating with rage, Carter gave Dinah credit for the calm way she spoke.

“My boardroom will not be a soap opera,” Dinah’s grandmother said, a little bit of anger vibrating within her as well.

“It’s my boardroom. I am the director of operations.”

“And I gave birth to you, which makes me the only reason you are here. You will sit down and you will listen to me.”

Carter could only blink at the way everyone jumped to do Dinah’s grandmother’s bidding. He could see Dinah there in sixty years or so. In charge, even if she wasn’t supposed to be. A leader. The head of all this.

“If the three of you would now exit, we will send someone to give you the verdict once we’ve reached a conclusion.”

Carter was ready to do whatever Dinah asked of him. If she wanted to refuse to leave, if she wanted to confront her uncle, well, he would stand right here with her.

But she graciously and calmly got to her feet. “We’ll wait at the bar until you have an answer.” With that, she strode out of the office door with her head held high. Simone followed, and Carter walked after her.

“Worthless slut.”

Carter whirled around at the murmured words. “What the hell did you just say?”

Craig smirked. “I believe you were told to leave, farmer boy.”

“Carter.” He looked at Dinah, standing in the doorway and gesturing him toward her. Only that kept him from demanding Craig repeat his childish insult. So he could slam a fist in the smug asshole’s face.

“We cannot vote if you do not leave, Mr. Trask.”

Carter leveled Dinah’s grandmother a look, no longer intimidated by her, from the sheer force of his anger. “Yes, some business meeting.” He stalked out into the hallway.

“What in the hell are you doing?” Dinah demanded.

“I’m not going to let him say shit like that about you. Not on your damn life.”

“It’s just business. You have to let it go.”

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