Page 51 of Beautiful Beast

“I’d be better if you did the political dance more skillfully,” Uncle Dennis returns dryly.

“I never liked dancing,” I reply. “Besides, he started it.”

Uncle Dennis rolls his eyes. “Really, Adam? This isn’t the fifth grade. And you’re the President and CEO of this company. Act like it.”

“I am. The first rule is no bullshit. I’m taking over and keeping the business in the family, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to change who I am and start being a pussy.”

“Tact, Adam. It’s an essential life skill in a myriad of situations. This isn’t the jungle.”

I let out a long breath just as the elevator doors open to the immaculate marble and stainless steel lobby. “Right. I’ll do better. Promise.”

It’s not that I want to or even that I care, but Uncle Dennis is a more experienced businessman than me – to say the least – and it’s important to him that I fit in at the company. So, I’ll leave my more caustic comments unsaid to make him proud.

Once I make sure that Uncle Dennis is settled at the hotel for a nap and has everything he needs for his trip to the hospital, I head back to the office to finish my meetings.

The harsh treatments that are extending his life to the small window of time that we have are taking their toll on my uncle. I’m sure there will be tons of speculation about both of us, and I’ll have to do my best to ensure he doesn’t see the coverage.

Hopefully, people assume he’s just tired and jetlagged because he isn’t ready to tell everyone the real reason he’s passing the helm to me.

They’ll know he’s dying soon enough, but for now, he wants to be treated normally.

Business is his escape from cancer, and I can understand that he doesn’t want the two intersecting until they have to. He needs a break from being asked about treatments, timeframes, and how he’s feeling, a loaded question these days.

Work gives him that solace – for now.

Everything in my world is such a shit show right now. But when I glance at my phone, I can’t help but smile. Messages from one person in particular never fail to raise my spirits no matter how heavy the day is.

Belle: How’s it going, Mr. Sexy?

Adam: I’m ready to come home. How are you and my boy, Buster?

Belle: We’re good, just snuggled up on the couch together. I’m sorry the trip has been so stressful for you.

Even though we’re still getting to know each other, Belle has a way of reading me better than people I’ve known my entire life. Not needing to explain myself and having someone just intuitively understand me is a blessing that I didn’t know I was looking for in my life.

Adam: You’re pretty good at relieving my stress.

Belle: Speaking of… well, I assume we’re speaking about blowjobs… I have a surprise for you later.

Adam: Tell me now.

Belle: Nope. The book I’m reading told me to draw it out.

Adam: Fuck your book. Tell me.

Belle: I’ll call you later.

We haven’t missed a day of speaking to each other since I left, and it’s been a surprisingly natural transition.

The girl is just a part of my day, and I shockingly don’t hate it or find it too much pressure.

In fact, I kind of love it.

She’s not an obligation. She may just be exactly what I was never looking to find.

But before I can get back to the hotel to chat with her, I have one-on-one meetings with four more executives to get through. I want to learn more about what they do and identify opportunities to improve and streamline.

I also want to gauge them and there’s nothing like an Adam Townsend stare-down to put on the pressure.

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