Page 90 of The Billionaire Is Back

“What’s he up to this time?”

“Well, all was well and good. Your plan worked. But maybe a little too well. You know the financials on this deal were always very complicated. We were going to have to take on a lot of leverage to make the numbers work.”

“I am well aware of the numbers, Alice. Get to the point.”

“Yes, well, you being you and your consistent demonstration of how disciplined you are is what allowed us to make that sale. But now Lynch is telling the board you falling in love has made you a spendthrift. Extravagant gifts, very expensive unique experiences.”

“And a mega yacht,” I finish for her.

“And a super-duper yacht.”

I let out a billion-dollar sigh. “What’s his play?”

“Lynch has requested another meeting of the board, and he has been granted one. He’s going to make the case that the person they originally made the deal with isn’t focused on Relicteros and its employees anymore.”

I have to bite the inside of my cheek. This is the first time Lynch has really gotten too close for comfort. I am not sure I am the same man now that I was before Claire gave herself to me. I would give Claire the world. I didn’t mean to let the world I was trying to build for myself slip away because of it. I didn’t mean to give Lynch the winning hand. “When’s the board meeting?”

“August twenty-seventh.”

“That son of a bitch,” I murmur. I know my assistant well enough that I can sense her nodding on the other end of the line.

Lynch set the meeting for August twenty-seventh.

August twenty-seventh is the reopening of Claire’s bakery.

And we both know that is not a coincidence.

“Do you want me to try to move it?” Alice asks.

I shake my head even though she can’t see me. “That would just prove his point. Get them to make it as early in the morning as possible.”

“You got it. Do you know how you want to defend it?”

“I’m not going to. That would be accepting Lynch’s frame, which I’m not interested in doing. It’s go time, Alice. All the work that was on hold—the calls with every department head…I want to meet with them tomorrow morning. Late morning. In person. It’s time to show them what we would do when we take ownership of their company. It’s time to show them how we get things done.”

“You got it, boss. I’ll arrange for the private jet to leave from Portland at nine a.m. Does that work?”

“Yes. Thank you, Alice. Good night.”

“Good night.”

I turn off my phone and put it in my pocket, telling myself I won’t take it out again until Damien’s show is over. Another burst of live music pulls my attention to the Sea Dog’s entrance. Claire—my beautiful, wonderful,deserves-my-full-attention girlfriend—is coming toward me.

“Hey,” she says on an exhale. “I was just checking on you.” She’s hesitant, as if expecting me to wave her away because I have to make another call or leave.

“Hey.” I open my arms wide as an invitation for her to come to me. She does, and I wrap her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head.

This. It’s little things like this that I had flashes of when I’d imagine being with Claire. Moments of comfort and familiarity that I knew I could never have with the women I met in New York. I kiss the top of her head again because once is never enough.

“Everything okay?” she asks, her voice muffled by our embrace.

“Yeah. No. Sort of.”

She pulls back and looks up at me, concerned. “What’s going on?”

I contemplate not telling her. Dealing with all this later. But Claire knows me too well. She’s intensely scanning my face and reading me like I’m a recipe for chocolate fondant.

“Just tell me, Grady. This is only going to work if we’re up-front about everything. We don’t really have time to do it any other way.”

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