Page 21 of Accidental Theirs
This is the fifth time we’ve had this conversation.
“And I’m telling you, we don’t have much of a choice. Your mother took a lot of risks before the end of her life, and we lost money.”
“Not that much money, right? We can last a bit longer on savings...”
We can’t. We don’t have any savings.
But I don’t want to stress her out.
“Not comfortably. Not without laying off employees or cutting salaries. Do you want to be the one to tell the receptionist we can’t afford her?”
“No! Brenda’smean.”
I laugh and step closer to her, coming around my desk toface her. I brace myself with my hands behind me, looking at her.
“We need this merger, Olivia. Sebastian runs a tight ship over there. It’s going to be all right.”
“But what if it’s not? What if this is a big mistake?”
“It’s not a mistake.” I lean in closer. “When have I ever led you wrong?”
She bites her lip, a sexy habit she has that makes my heart race. “You haven’t.”
“Damn straight. And I won’t. You may be the owner, but I’m the CEO, and I know what I’m doing. Okay?”
She smiles. “Yes, sir.” She gives me a sloppy salute, then she pauses. “Listen, Ford is coming by today?—”
I groan. “Not Ford.”
It’s not that I don’t like Ford Carter. Quite the opposite, we’re friends outside of work.
But he doesn’t takeanythingseriously, including work. He’s a barely-there board member, but when he comes into the office, he wants to nitpick everything, and it drives me crazy.
“I told him not to touch anything,” she says, deadpan, as if Ford is six years old instead of nearly thirty.
I can’t help but chuckle. “Fine. Now, tell me. How did your night end up?”
She stares at me blankly.
“You know. The other night? The party?”
“Oh.Oh. Not great. Ran into my ex and went home early.”
I wince. “So, you didn’t get to know the gossip about Sebastian?”
I’m asking because I’m curious. Not because I’m jealous that she was flirting with him. Or because I secretly want to have dinner with her.
She shakes her head. “He really doesn’t want to talk aboutit. Just makes me more curious. I’m going to find out, though.”
“I bet you will.”
She frowns. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Just that you have your womanly charms. He’s not immune to them.”
“Are you suggesting I flirt with Sebastian to find out about his marriage?” Her eyes are wide, and I swallow hard.
“No! I mean, no. Of course not. I’m just saying that was what you appeared to be doing the other night.”
