Page 127 of Discretion
Stay calm.
I greeted a few of the board members as we entered, and then Jasper pulled out a chair for me. We were about to start when the door opened, and Graham strode into the room. I wasn’t surprised Graham had shown up. And while, yes, he’d come to show a united front to the board, I also knew he’d really come all this way to support his brother.
There was a rustle of interest through the room as Jasper went over to hug him. The CEO didn’t call a last-minute emergency meeting on a Sunday unless something big was going down. Graham’s presence was further proof of that.
“Thank you all for coming, especially on such short notice,” Jasper said, standing in the center of the room. He looked every bit the CEO that he was. And I knew he finally believed that.
Nervous energy coursed through me, though I tried to maintain a composed façade. This was it. There was no going back—not that I’d want to. We’d kept our relationship a secret for long enough. Too long.
“Taking over as CEO has not been an easy task, but I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made these past months. We are a family company, and that’s one of the things that’s always set us apart in the luxury hotel industry. Yes, we deliver excellent service and unparalleled luxury, but at our heart, we are family owned and operated.”
Jasper shifted on his feet. He’d spent all weekend working on his speech, wanting to get it just right. I observed the room, trying to gauge the temperature of everyone as Jasper continued speaking.
“My grandparents had a long and successful marriage and a thriving business. It’s something I’ve always admired. Something I’ve always wanted for myself—a partner who was as invested in the success of this company as I am. Someone who complemented my skills but was a strong leader in her own right.”
I inhaled slowly and let it out even more slowly. I knew what was coming next, and I was finally ready to face it.
Jasper turned to me, his smile warm. Encouraging. Full of love and trust. He was checking in with me. Giving me one last chance to back out, and I loved him even more for it.
I returned his smile, confident in our relationship but also in my own worth. I could see the pride radiating from him. It helped steady me, calm me.
“I’ve found that person,” Jasper said, returning his attention to the room. “A partner in every sense of the word. A woman who is resilient and intelligent and so incredible. She adds so much to my life and to this company. Which is why I hope you’ll continue to recognize her accomplishments just as you did when the board unanimously voted to temporarily promote her to SVP.” He turned and held out his hand. “Halle.”
There was a ripple of surprise at his announcement. I stood, my shoulders back, head lifted as I walked over to join Jasper. Standing by his side felt right, all the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place.
“Isn’t that a violation of company policy?” someone asked, and I tried not to react visibly.
“Technically speaking,” Leith said, “no. Though it is a potential conflict of interest. As the board, we will have to consider the implications for the brand and how it might reflect on the company.”
“Halle and I are very aware of the potential ramifications,” Jasper continued. “But we see this as an opportunity to remind the public of the fact that Huxley Grand is a family business. And we will always be a family business.”
“No disrespect to your relationship,” Leith said. “But, technically, Halle’s not family. Not legally speaking. You aren’t married.”
“Not yet,” Jasper said, smirking at the shock on his siblings’ faces. He slid his hand into mine, his touch warm and reassuring. “I don’t believe marriage or even blood makes a family, but Halle and I do want to marry in the future.”
There was a murmur of agreement from the room, and I tried not to let myself be too hopeful.
“How is this going to look to our employees? To the public?” someone else asked.
“It all depends on how we spin it,” Nate said. “You know that.”
I could feel Jasper’s excitement vibrating through him.What was that about?
“What if…” He looked at me when he spoke. “When we announced our relationship, we also announced a sweepstakes. One lucky couple would win the wedding of their dreams, hosted by the Huxley Grand. Second prize could be a honeymoon at one of our resorts. And third could be a night in the bridal suite.”
I nodded, loving the idea. It reminded me of the bachelorx auction, and if the sweepstakes went half as well as that, it would definitely distract from news of our relationship. And as an added bonus, it would garner a lot of positive press.
Everyone seemed to perk up, and when I looked at Sloan, she was grinning. Nate gave Jasper a thumbs-up. Graham surveyed the room with a cool, detached stare. That was nothing new. Even so, the fact that he was here said everything. It was the first board meeting he’d attended in person since moving to France. And he was showing everyone—Jasper included—that he had faith in his brother.
“It could generate a lot of positive buzz,” someone on the board said.
“While also downplaying the more problematic aspects of their relationship,” said someone else.
I squeezed Jasper’s hand, and I tried not to get too excited. Maybe this was actually going to work.
“It sounds like the board has a lot to consider,” Leith said, and everyone quieted down. “Jasper, you will have to recuseyourself from any vote relating to this matter.” We’d expected as much. “But before any decision is made, we will need more information.”
I braced myself. I didn’t want to answer questions about my personal life, about my relationship with Jasper. But I also wasn’t surprised. I certainly would’ve had questions if I were on the board.
