Page 43 of The Breakup Broker

"Fair enough," my father conceded grudgingly, though his expression remained distant. "We’ll reconvene in an hour. That should be enough time to address these … issues."

The board members slowly rose from their seats, murmuring among themselves as they drifted out for the break. I caught Mason’s eye before he exited. This time, a trace of something—amusement, maybe approval—tugged at the corners of his mouth. It seemed I might have found an unexpected ally in this fight.

When the hour was up, the room filled again, the air heavy with unspoken decisions. The murmur of side conversations quieted as the board members settled into their seats, their focus shifting to the table. Deliberations resumed, the low hum of whispers threading an undercurrent of unease. I scanned their faces, searching for any hint of where they stood. Mrs. Hawthorne’s furrowed brow, Mr. Carlson’s incessant pen-tapping, and the way Ms. Rodriguez’s gaze moved between my father and me—each movement was a piece of a high-stakes puzzle waiting to be solved.

"This is ridiculous," my father muttered, loud enough for me to hear. "A waste of valuable time."

I held back a response, aware that my silence was the most potent weapon I possessed at that moment. Instead, I let my eyes wander to the window, where the distant cityscape twinkled with countless lights. New York City. Miles away from River Bend. The reason I was here, gambling it all.

After what seemed like an eternity, the chairman cleared his throat. "Considering the concerns raised, we’ve delayed the vote for two weeks. This will give us time to investigate the allegations thoroughly."

Relief flooded through me, but I kept my expression neutral. It wasn’t a victory, not yet. But it was a start.

As the boardroom emptied, my father’s gaze bore into me. He didn’t need to speak—the tight set of his jaw said it all. I’d thrown down the gauntlet, and it was only a matter of time before he crafted his counterattack.

I made my way out of the building, scrolling to Savvy’s name on my phone. My fingers hovered for a moment before I hitdial.

"Henry?"

“Yeah.” I replied. "The meeting has ended. There's a lot we need to discuss."

Without missing a beat, she told me, "I'm on my way to the Madison Center to see James." A warm ripple spread through me at her words.

"When you get there, stay put," I said. "I'm on my way."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Savvy

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, catching on the polished floors as I entered Madison Center. I stopped by the reception desk to sign in and pick up my visitor pass.

The nurse behind the counter looked up, her expression warm and welcoming. “Oh, you’re back! James was practically glowing after your visit yesterday. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him so energized.”

Her words sparked a touch of warmth, a reassurance that my visit had mattered. “Good to know,” I said, sliding the pass over my head. “I’ll do my best not to wear him out this time.”

I clutched my battered copy ofJane Eyretighter as I walked down the hall. Yesterday, when James asked me to return, I hadn’t promised anything. “Not for Henry,” he’d said, his sharp eyes piercing me. “For me.”

At the time, I’d nodded, unsure if I could face this place—or him—again.

But now I was here, my heart buzzing with nerves as I reached his door.

James was in his usual spot by the window, his face turned toward the golden autumn light filtering through the trees outside. His head tilted at the sound of my footsteps, and a smile spread across his weathered features when he saw me.

“Ah, Savannah,” he greeted, his voice warm but faintly strained. “I knew you’d come.”

I closed the door behind me and stepped toward the chair beside him. “Hi, James.”

His gaze flicked to the book in my hands, his lips twitching into a grin. “And withJane Eyre, no less. Fitting, don’t you think, considering the Honeysucker-Kingston saga?”

I let out a quiet laugh, despite myself. “It seemed appropriate.”

James chuckled and gestured for me to sit. “Good. Let’s argue about Rochester while I still have the energy.”

I took the seat beside him, setting the book on my lap. “I thought you might have more important things on your mind today.”

“Important things, yes.” He reached for my hand, his grip lighter than it had been yesterday. “Like reminding you how stubborn you are. Though I suppose that’s why you’ll succeed where I failed.”

His words pulled me up short. “James, you’ve never?—”

---