Page 27 of Hostile Takeover

He scoffs. “We closed that mail room over ten years ago. There’s nothing down there but rats and cobwebs.”

“And you’re going to go down there and supervise them.Now.”

My cousins and other siblings chuckle as he slams his hands on the desk and gets up like a sullen teenager who was just told to go to his room.

“This is bullshit,” he mutters as he shuffles out of the room with his shoulders slumped.

“Every family has a black sheep,” I say to our distinguished guest. “Please, don’t pay him any mind. We all know he’s an idiot.”

My sister Sadie laughs. “We actuallylovewhat you did with She’s The Sun,” she says as she leans over the table toward Kyra. “Iloveyour products. I use them all!”

“It was Sadie who introduced She’s The Sun to me in the first place,” I tell her.

Kyra smiles at her. “Thank you so much.”

“Thankyou,” she says. “After this meeting, I’d love to pick your brain over a coffee.”

“Definitely,” Kyra says, looking around at all of the smiling faces. “Does this mean that I’m not getting fired?”

“Fired?” I say, turning in my seat to face her. “You thought you were getting fired? All this time?”

She shrugs as those adorable cheeks blush a crimson color.

“You’re not here so we can fire you, Kyra,” I say. “You’re here so we can offer you a promotion.”

“A promotion? Really?!”

Everyone smiles at her from around the table. I told them my plan before the meeting (except for Oscar) and they were all on board with the new vision that Kyra is going to help bring to the beauty-related side of our portfolio. Well, that is, if she takes the job. That massive check her aunt gave her cleared, so she doesn’t need the money anymore.

But I know that my girl is driven by more than just money. This runs deeper for her. It’s her calling in life. That’s why she’s perfect for the job.

I love that she’s so driven. I adore her strength, resilience, and determination. She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met.

I take a deep breath and turn to her. “We would like you to become the new director of The Hammerhead Group’s beauty-related division. You would be in charge of all eighteen companies. We would like you to take the natural beauty vision you had for She’s The Sun and bring it to all eighteen companies.”

Her mouth opens as she stares at me in shock.

“What do you think?” Sadie asks.

“I think, hell yeah!” Kyra answers with a huge smile.

Fuck, yes!She’s going to be working here in the office with me every single day. We’ll be able to drive in together, go out for lunch every day, and I’ll be able to see her whenever I want. It will be perfect.

“But if I’m going to do it,” she says with determination in her voice. “I want to do itmyway.”

“No one will interfere with your vision,” I promise her. “It will be yours to run however you see fit. All of the CEOs will answer directly to you.”

She folds her hands onto her lap and leans into my ear. “Did you tell them?” she whispers.

“Tell us what?” Sadie asks.

“We’re together,” I tell them.

“What do you mean?” Sadie asks. “Liketogethertogether?”

I grab my girl’s hand, thread my fingers through hers, and put our clasped hands on the table. “I’m in love with this woman,” I tell them. “I’m marrying her one day.”

They all look to Kyra for confirmation. She’s smiling shyly as she shrugs her shoulders. “It’s true.”

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