Page 92 of Conspiracies and Chemistry

I felt a phantom pat on my back, right in the spot Simon would grip my shoulder when he was proud of me. Warm peace washed through me. I glanced around the table at the other investors. Then I looked at Tessa. Her cheeks had pinked, and she flashed me a rare grin.

I’d done the right thing, assuming I survived this vote.

38

A Strategy to Increase Sobriety

From Barry Wright’s manifesto:

During Prohibition, the US government gave tax breaks to industrial alcohol manufacturers who added poison to their product. When people drank the alcohol, they died.

TESSA

Oliver’s grandfather was the last board member to file out. Although I’d met him at my first and only Discovery Diagnostics board meeting as COO, I didn’t know the exact size and weight of his grandson’s penis then. My cheeks went hot as I shook his hand.

“So you’re the one who made my grandson a leader.” His eyes were the same color as Oliver’s, and they sparkled with mischief.

“Respectfully, Mr. Bond, he was already a leader. I only shared my experience with him.”

His white eyebrows lifted, and I winced at whatever innuendo lurked in those intelligent eyes. But he simply turned to Oliver, who was frantically cleaning the mess he’d made of the conference table when he’d yanked his laptop out of the video cable, and the speakerphone had knocked into the coffee carafe.

“I’m proud of you, Oliver,” he said.

Oliver turned to face him, leaving Gemma to her much more effective cleanup efforts.

“Thank you,” he said. “And thanks for voting with me.”

“You presented a compelling argument. Now you need to deliver on those promises you made.”

“I will, sir.” He glanced at me.

“All right, all right.” Mr. Bond chuckled. “I know where I’m not wanted. Come on, Gemma. We’ll leave these two to…discuss next steps.”

Gemma threw the wad of soggy paper towels into the trash, snatched up the carafe as if to protect it from any further clumsiness, then walked out ahead of Mr. Bond, who shut the door.

I met Oliver at the head of the conference table. We didn’t touch, but we stood closer than was appropriate in a boardroom.

“Sorry I barged in on your meeting. I should’ve called to make sure you wanted to see me after I walked out on you.” I didn’t know what to do with my face, caught between my happiness for his victory and guilt over what I’d done.

“Sorry? I’m glad you’re here.” His fingertips teased mine like he wanted to grasp my hands but couldn’t forget the glass wall of the room. “I missed you. And I’m sorry about everything Dr. Perrell said about you.”

“Why? It was all true. Our relationshipwasinappropriate.”

“No, it wasn’t. West’s paperwork would’ve made it board-sanctioned.”

I snorted. “What I’ve always wanted, a board-sanctioned relationship.”

“When you say it, it sounds sexy.” He’d edged close enough that it wasdefinitelyimproper. I filled my nostrils with his aftershave and remembered burying my nose in his skin.

I glanced through glass wall. “Better step back before someone sees.”

“I’m not stepping back,” he growled. “Are you?”

I lifted my chin. “No.”

“Then I guess we’re doing this.” His lips crashed onto mine. I hesitated only briefly—my reputation was already in tatters—before I relaxed and let his tongue invade my mouth. He’d gone from mild-mannered scientist to corporate raider during the course of that hour-long meeting. Power tasted good on him.

After a few seconds, I reluctantly broke the kiss and stepped away.

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