Page 78 of Boss Level

I hadn’t been talking about letting Oliver go, but now that we were talking about it, I had a hard time thinking of an argument against it. “If he was making these kinds of emotionally charged decisions and hurting the group, yes. I’d hate it, but I’d do it. Ignoring the issue will crash you and everyone around you, and it won’t do Oliver any good either.”

“Backing out of one game won’t crush me, just like none of the other sell offs did,” Wade said.

“Not financially and not instantly. What happens when a year from now you’re at twice as many? If you personally want out of AcesPlayed, if Oliver does, I’ll buy you out.” It would be a strain, but I’d do it. “Every other partner has said we stay, and we’re built on allowing those decisions.”

Did Wade just growl? “You’re lecturing me about not making this personal, but you’re pushing to keep Aces because of Judith.”

“It’s always personal, and we always invest in the person as much as the idea. But this isn’t about my friendship with her, it’s because she’s worth investing in. Her numbers are solid. Any other company doing what hers is right now? We’d be scrambling to keep them, and you know that. Anyone else with her numbers and you’d be kissing their asses.” There was no more direct way for me to put this.

Wade shook his head. “I don’t know that I agree with you. I do think you need to walk away for the rest of the day and think about whether or not this is a hill you want to die on.”

Excuse me? “I don’t have to think about it, I know. I’ve made my decision.”

“He’s not wrong about this, Wade.” Kandace’s support would help. The only stake she had in this was, well, her stake.

“Both of you, then, take an early weekend.” Wade pushed to his feet. “I have another meeting.”

My fury and disappointment soared as he walked from the room.

27

judith

Ididn’t know if I was in the mood to celebrate. Yes, we figured out a solid resolution, but it wasn’t the one I wanted. I hated that we’d been forced to choose from the lesser of two evils, rather than taking the path that made the most sense overall.

It was also weird that Xander picked a new place for us to all meet. A little bar on the other side of the valley. And that he’d had Dominic extend the offer.

When Dom called, he’d sounded as high strung as I felt, and it took a little nudging to get him to tell me he’d walked away from his firm, and Xander was close to doing the same.

Today was definitely not a win.

The men were waiting for me out front when I arrived, and none of us said much of anything as we headed inside and grabbed a table at the back of the room. Not that we’d hear each other if we did talk—the noise levels in here were off the charts for such a small space.

Xander flagged down a waitress and grabbed us three beers.

“Maybe we should call this a commiseration party instead of a celebration?” I tried to joke, but I wasn’t feeling it.

Dominic shrugged. “Sounds accurate.”

As long as the mood was already flat. “How about I break up with you?” Nope, that didn’t sound playful either. I unhooked the chain from around my neck. “This can be an anti-engagement party.” I handed Dominic the ring on the necklace.

I hated the pit that formed in my chest at the action, but what else was I supposed to do?

Dominic’s frown was impossible to miss, and so was the way Xander’s expression turned blank.

“I guess today is a day of endings,” Dominic said.

No. Really. Xander looked like he was carved from stone. “Or revived beginnings, depending on how you look at it.”

“I like the positive spin, but that’s not really you.” Okay, I was done trying to tease. It was all coming out flat.

“Why not?” Xander asked. “It’s not like I’m an eternal pessimist.”

Where did the edge in his voice come from? Same place as the rest of the mood in here, I supposed. “You’re a realist. Like all of us.”

Dominic held up the chain, the ring still dangling from it, and let it dance in the dim light. He took my hand, turned it up, and dropped both ring and necklace into my palm. “Here’s something positive. Hold onto this for a while longer.”

Oh. I loved the idea. I hated the idea. I hated that I loved the idea.

---