Page 43 of Hers to Love
Kori was silent for a moment, thinking. No, she hadn’t grieved. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she’d been way too busy to think about it. She’d heard Keke skipped the funeral, which didn’t surprise her. Keke was the angrier one of the three of them for what their father had done. Kat was more forgiving.
And her…
She at least could appreciate how hard her father was on her. Her personality took it as a challenge to be the gold standard for her sisters. And the two of them turned out really well. Not at all like their father had predicted. Kori couldn’t have been more proud of their accomplishments.
But she did need to let a few things go. “Maybe getting fired would be the best thing for me right now. I could go home and see Mom, and say goodbye.”
“What about money for your legal fund?”
“Marshall gave me an over-the-top increase in salary. And I’m sure the board will give me a compensation package to smooth things over, even though I would gladly leave with nothing if it meant Marshall kept his position.”
“Do you think it’ll be enough?”
“It has to be. Or I’m back to square one. In any case, I think I probably should change professions altogether. Maybe go into business for myself. Be a personal assistant.”
“Whatever you do, I’ll support you. We’re best friends, and nothing’s going to change that. Even if you do end up marrying Marshall,” she ended with exaggerated distaste.
Kori smiled through the tears. “Why do you keep saying that I’m going to marry your father? We haven’t even gone on a first date.”
“I know him,” she said like she was hiding a secret. “And I know you. Just promise to give me a cut of the fortune when you die.”
“Sabrina! We’ll probably die at the same time, you know. You’re only a couple of years younger than me.”
“Oh…right. I’m going to have to rethink this.”
Kori laughed. When she ended the call, she was crying happy tears. She’d lost so much and was about to lose much, much more. But her friendship was still intact.
And she was finally going home.
Chapter 18
Marshall entered the boardroom ready to do what he should’ve done a year ago: take charge.
Members of the board mingled around the table in conversation. Perry spotted him immediately, moving quickly to his side. “Jarod told us everything.”
Marshall eyed Perry with suspicion. He knew what he meant, but he wanted to be sure. “What do you mean, ‘everything’?”
Perry leaned in. “The kiss,” he hissed.
“Oh, you mean when the plane crashed and we realized we were still alive?” he asked smoothly.
Perry’s lips slanted down to one side. Marshall chuckled. He didn’t need to paint a picture that it was just two people caught up in the moment. Well, it was, but Marshall hadn’t cared who was looking. He wanted to kiss the woman he was in love with because they were both still alive and he had to show her how he felt about her.
“You know it wasn’t like that.”
“It kind of was, but does it matter? Anyway, how does Jarod know what it was like? He was busy screaming at the top of his lungs, if I recall correctly. Utterly useless.”
Perry peered at him, his expression skeptical. “Jarod said he thought the two of you were…close.”
“Did Jarod tell you he tried to muddy the waters by hitting on her before we even left the office?” Perry blinked and shook his head. “Exactly. Look, it doesn’t matter. We’re as close as an executive and his assistant should be but, yes, I did kiss her. That’s true.”
“You know the board is ready to vote you two out of here.”
Marshall scanned the board members, most of whom had ceased talking and watched him with interest. “Fine.”
Perry’s head snapped back. His eyes widened and his brows lifted. “Fine?”
Marshall pinned him with a hard stare. “That’s the goal, right? So who’s on tap to replace me? You, Perry? I’m sure you’re ready for it. At least, I hope you are.”
