Page 93 of Love Overboard
Mr. Eliot dropped the paper in the folder. “He feels the stockholders will be more accepting of the change if there is an interim period when you both are at the company. This way, you can run things, but he’ll still be around until his official retirement.”
“And what if I don’t want to leave yet?”
“Surely the assistant cruise director can fill in for the last few days before the ship sails home. You can be replaced here but not at headquarters. You’re the heir to the Monarch legacy.”
Collins spit his gum in a nearby trash can and snagged another cookie from the open box. “Must be nice. You get a successful business served to you on a silver platter because you’re Jonathan McMillan.”
“Jonathan McMillan.” A quiet voice repeated the name.
Jon spotted Lacey frozen by the corner of the tent, her hands hanging limp at her sides.
She scanned the three men. “Eavesdropping is always a bad idea.”
“Lacey.” He stepped toward her and took her by the arm.
She made no move to stop him. On the contrary, she was stone-still. Was that a good or a bad sign?
“Please give me a chance to explain.”
She looked around him at the other men. “Does this explanation require three people?”
Jon kept a loose hold on her, afraid she’d run away. He nodded to Mr. Eliot and Collins. “Would you excuse us? I have something urgent to discuss with Miss Anderson.”
Collins stretched. “Prime time to check out one of those chocolate fountains.”
“Please pack your things,” Mr. Eliot said. “I have the company jet waiting at the airport in Cozumel. Your father expects us back by tomorrow evening.”
Jon ground out his words through clenched teeth. “We’ll discuss it later.”
“Yes.” The secretary stuffed his file folder into the briefcase. “I’ll … be going, then.” He skittered past them and disappeared around the corner of the tent.
Jon focused on Lacey.
She didn’t look angry.
She didn’t look happy.
She looked … like she was greeting passengers on the first day of a cruise. This was her customer-service face.
CHAPTER 41
THE EVENING BREEZE BLEW HERunraveling curls in front of her nose. Lacey pushed the hair from her vision. She smoothed it down and tried to slow her beating heart with several deep breaths. Monarch’s first official masquerade ball was building to a smashing fever pitch.
This was no place to make a scene.
Jon’s hand remained on her arm.
She brushed it away. “You said you wanted to explain.”
“Yes.” Jon unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Why did you call yourself Jonathan King?”
“King is my middle name—after my mother’s maiden name. She met Dad when he was a one-ship operation. He was so besotted he christened the cruise line after her.”
“King.” Lacey’s eyes closed as she processed everything. “MonarchCruises.”
“Exactly.” Jon pointed at the gold crown logo pin on his tuxedo lapel. “My father’s a mushy romantic.”
