Page 80 of Why Not Forever?

I allow myself the reaction of one slow blink. I’d rather close my eyes in exasperation. “When will it be listed?”

“Monday.”

I take a breath. “Richard, Vic and I have plans tonight and this weekend.”

He spreads his hands in the way he does when he’s about to give me a task I can’t refuse. “I thought you’d want to do everything you can to make this business more profitable for when you take over.”

There it is. The manipulation. The reason I can’t say no. Because even though I care less about this business every day, Vic cares, and he’s right. I do want it to be profitable when we take over.

“Okay, Richard. I’ll get the proposal done and have everything ready for a competitive offer first thing Monday morning. Where are the details on the hotel?”

“They’re in your inbox.” He grins and reaches across the desk to shake my hand, but I don’t take it.

Instead, I sit back in my seat. “In exchange for this proposal, you’re going to tell me when you’re going to sign over your shares and step down as CEO. I did what you said. I married your daughter. We have a contract and you’re running low on time.”

He draws back into his seat, assessing me.

“It’s been three months, Richard. You haven’t even brought it up.”

He sighs. “I admit, your wedding happened a lot faster than I had expected it to. When I told you to marry Victoria, I expected the wedding to take place closer to now. I’m not exactly prepared to hand over the business I spent forty years building in the blink of an eye.”

“There were no stipulations in the contract regarding when she and I marry. Only that you would sign over your shares to your son-in-law six months after the wedding. That’s February first. It’s the end of October.”

He takes a deep breath in, as though delaying the decision. Finally, on his breath out, he says, “I’ll have the paperwork drawn up next week. We can start the process.”

This time, I reach across the desk. Richard takes my hand and shakes it. “Excellent,” I say. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to call my wife and let her know I’ll be late tonight.”

Richard leaves my office, and I follow him to my door, stopping at my assistant’s desk.

“Hey, Carly,” I say, leaning against the frame. “I’m going to be working late tonight. I’ll get you a list of things I might need. Once you get that, you can take off for the weekend.”

“Absolutely, sir. Would you like me to organize dinner for you?” she asks.

I sigh. I had been looking forward to dinner with Vic, eating with her at Blue Vista, dancing, then taking her home to snuggle on the couch until we inevitably fall into bed together. “Yes, please. Whatever is easiest. Tell security what time you have it scheduled and to buzz me when it gets here.”

“Yes, sir. Have a good night. And happy Halloween.”

“You, too.” I go back into my office, closing the door behind me and pick up my phone to call Vic.

“Hey, what’s up?” she asks.

“Well, I have some good news, and I have some bad news.”

Chapter 29

Vic

Tannerdidn’tendupcoming home until very late last night. He came into bed, snuggling against my back. He’d said he would start really early in the morning so he can try to be finished and at the Blue Vista Halloween party by 10pm tonight.

The party started an hour ago, and everything is going well. People are having a good time, there’s dancing and laughter. The costumes are extravagant and there will be a contest at midnight. Snacks are being brought around on trays and the bar is open.

Now that everything is operating smoothly, I have my first drink and am searching the crowd for one of my friends when someone else makes their way toward me. Someone I hadn’t expected to see at all, let alone at my business.

“Emily?” I say, because I can’t really believe my ex-girlfriend is here.

She gives me a triumphant smile, looking me up and down. “Victoria. It’s so good to see you. What are you supposed to be?”

I raise my eyebrows because I hadn’t thought my costume would be difficult to figure out. I’m wearing a floor-length, fitted black dress with long, fitted sleeves that flare at the wrists. My black hair is loose, straightened for the night instead of being tied up for a change, and I painted my lips bright red.

---