Page 35 of If The Shoe Fits

Cade

The board meeting went as planned: Cade presented his findings, and concluded with a proposal.

"I want to raise our employees’ spending power by a hundred, to twenty-five dollars per week—we're talking about a raise of two to ten thousand per year per employee. The only employees affected will be those with a salary south of fifty thousand. That's fewer than fifty people. Overall, it's three hundred thousand per annum. Of course, that's money we won't need to pay taxes on. It'll lower our individual dividend by maybe a thousand bucks per quarter. For them, it could mean being able to dress properly, afford the occasional take-out meal, or more essential items. And for us, it'll mean happier employees, likely to work much harder and less likely to jump ship at the first temptation. As it's not a major issue, I propose we accept on majority. Votes?"

"Yes." James was the first to answer, as per usual.

He was live on video conference, feeding from Australia.

"Aye," Richelle said.

One vote to go. To Cade's surprise, Kendall, Penelope's PA, who generally voted against James, spoke up. "Yes. Penelope's all for that."

"The motion is approved. Next, we can discuss the Australian expansion. The purchase is going as planned. So far, there's only one major competitor…"

The rest of the meeting was more of a headache, but they managed to finish by seven.

"Drinks?" Archer proposed at the end.

Richelle declined, as she usually did. She and Archer had a history rather like James and Penelope's, though they didn't let it affect their professional relationships.

Cade glanced down at his phone out of habit and smiled, seeing a new email from the only VIP in his personal contact list.

Can we talk?

Just those three words.

That was all it took. Cade was already on his feet.

Where are you?

Damning himself for not asking for her phone number, he stared at the phone, frustration rising. Thankfully, she replied as quickly.

The park in ten?

Perfect, he rushed to shoot back. The bridge?

He meant their bridge.

“Can we talk”never, ever preceded good news. Maybe she was sick. Maybe she was just sick of him. Either way, it was serious, and he needed to know now.

He gotthere in less than five minutes, panting. Cade had the time to catch his breath before she appeared on the other side, a vision in the darkening sky. She wore a long red trench coat, her hair in disarray around her face. She must have rushed too, her cheeks, always quick to heat, were red and her eyes, bright.

She was so gorgeous, his Helene. Worth burning all of Greece for, just like the woman from the legends.

And she was just as sad, too.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

She just shook her head as she reached him.

Cade couldn't help himself, he just had to touch her. His hands went either side of her shoulders first, then he crushed her against him, holding her close. He felt her erratic heartbeat slowly settle as the seconds passed.

"Do you want to go for a drink?" he offered.

Impatient as he was to know what was going on, she clearly wasn't in a state to talk here and now. And it was getting cold.

But she shook her head against his chest. "I can't drink."

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