Page 34 of Flawless Foundations

Becca:

Me:I just don't understand what makes two months together so magical.

Becca:it's bad luck to move in with someone with less than two months of dating.

Me:I'm going to need scientific proof on this.

Becca:awesome. Research away, homie.

Me:

Becca:

I place my phone face down next to my Steno pad on the table in front of me. I try to focus on the presentation, but my mind is elsewhere. I sneak a peek behind me and catch my father's glare. Shit.

I feel like a fucking kid when he looks at me like that and not the 30-year-old that I am. With one glare, I feel like I've lost the progress that I've worked so hard to get. I mask my reaction like a fucking poker player and turn and give Charlie my undivided attention. Minutes later, the meeting comes to a close. I consider getting the hell out of Dodge, but my father stands and chats with someone at the door. Great. I pull up my phone and check emails.

I hear Charlie next to me and lift my head to see him slide into the seat next to me.

"What's up, man?" I say, setting my phone back down.

"Not much, you alright? You were really into this meeting today." He grins.

"Sorry, got a lot on my plate right now." I feel bad now, if he and my dad noticed, the whole room must have noticed I wasn't paying attention.

Charlie opens his mouth to say something, but my dad's booming voice cuts him off. "Levi. My office at four."

I nod, and he walks off. I look at my phone again, it's nearly three.

"So that doesn't sound promising," Charlie mutters.

"No, it doesn't."

"So, how's ‘Project Get Hitched’ going?" He's a douche for bringing it up.

"Not a thing, Charles." I use his real name to show my disdain for his question.

"It's totally a thing. Are you or are you not in need of a wife? And are you or are you not currently dating the perfect candidate for the job?" He leans back in the seat. Point to him.

"Have you told her yet?" He follows up with the question that always makes me the biggest tool.

I shake my head. "No, I was hoping I wasn't going to need too. I thought that this stupid 'must have a wife’ caveat to my taking over would end up not important once my father and the board saw how committed I was to the company by being committed to the company. Little by little, he's been impressed and less asshole-ish about the whole thing, hasn't even brought it up the past two weeks."

"So, I'm guessing you'll find out at four if your work has paid off," he says flatly.

"I guess we will see," I mumble.

"So, let's pretend that he still stands firm on you having a wife. Don't you think it's time to come clean with Becca? I mean, I've only met her once, but she seems cool. Do you think she would help you out? This is pretty serious, you're going to lose this company, Levi. Don't let that happen." He's always taken a lackadaisical approach to my predicament; this is the first time he's showed any kind of concern.

I rake my hand through my hair. "I'm going to have to tell her this weekend. I can't put it off anymore," I say it as if I just announced to the universe my decision. I need to rip the band-aid off and come clean.

He stands and slaps a hand on my shoulder. "Good luck, bro. I'll have Kathy send you the meeting notes before your meeting at four."

I chuckle. "Thanks, man." I follow him out of the conference room and head back to my office.

An hour later, I'm sitting in one of the two chairs in front of my father's large, ornate wood desk. My father is finishing up whatever bullshit he's doing that can't wait until we are done. This is his power move, one of many of course. He calls you into his office as if he's ready then tells you to wait while he finishes a phone call, or email, or fuck, he could be writing a list of things for Kitty to add to the grocery order. Point is, he makes whoever is in the hot seat wait. It's an asshole move, one that I've always been sure not to make.

"Levi, thank you for waiting," he says as he turns away from his computer screen. I nod. Internally, I'm rolling my eyes.

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