by Alison Aimes
“I’m sorry. I am. But—”
“No buts. They doubted you. Just like they do all the rest of us who don’t have some fancy degree, but you didn’t let that stop you.” Jessie backed toward the door, her cheeks bright with fury. “Now you’re giving it up. Because of some guy.”
Lily stilled. “You know.”
Jessie and Jim exchanged a look.
“About your thing with Kazankov? We’re not idiots.” The bitterness in her assistant’s voice was easy to hear. “The way you two stared at each other. The sudden disappearances. The bounce in your step.” She blew out a breath. “I thought it was a good thing. A way to let off some steam. You’d always looked so sad…so alone before.” She shook her head. “But this? It’s not smart.”
“It’s a lot more complicated than it seems.”
“Really? It seems pretty clear.” Jessie’s gaze narrowed. “I thought I’d finally found someone I could admire. Who scratched and clawed and did whatever it took to make something of herself. But now? Now I see it really was all just window dressing and flash. You should have just stayed wife number three.” With a sob, she whirled around and ran for the door.
Lily fought to stay standing. Each of Jessie’s blows had hit their mark.
Her gaze found Jim. “I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine how you feel. Like I’m failing you, too. As well as your dad. And you’re right, I—”
“I never really cared about the business,” he interrupted in a rush. “Truth be told, before you became head, I kind of hated it.”
“I…I didn’t know.”
“Even when we were kids, Dad used to go on and on about how it was our legacy. How we were lucky to have a family business that would sustain us always. But I never really saw the family part.” Walking to the small table, back to her, he fiddled with the index cards that held her resignation speech. “Dad was always away making deals, scheming to stay on top. All Paul and he ever did was fight.” He whirled around, his expression sad. “In the end, when I tried to help out my brother, the business meant I lost my dad’s respect as well.”
Her heart bled for him all over again.
“There was no real family to the enterprise,” he continued. “Until you came along. You”—he cleared his throat—“you made me feel like I was really part of this business. Like my opinion mattered. Like I mattered.”
His form blurred, and she had to blink hard to keep it together. “You do,” she managed to choke out.
He held out his hand.
She hurried forward and seized it like a lifeline.
“I could care less about the business part,” he said. “If this is what makes you happy, I’m fine with it.”
“I don’t know about happy,” she admitted, “but it is something I need to do.”
“Then don’t worry about me. Or Jessie. Or Dad. Or the damn business. Or what the hell anyone else thinks. Go for it.” His grip tightened. “Just don’t give up the family part, okay? Don’t give up on me.”
“Never.” She squeezed his hand and drew him in for a bear hug. “You’ve got me for life.” She’d lost a sister and the ache of that would always be with her, but somewhere along the way she’d gained another family member. It was a gift she’d never expected. One more precious than any company or contract.
She drew back, a little shy and a lot overwhelmed. “Thank you for sticking by me.”
The tips of his ears turned that familiar, endearing shade of red. “I’ve got your back, Lily. I think that’s the real business of family, after all.”
Shoulders back and straight, Lily marched into the main boardroom. She was determined not to resemble a soldier on her way to the firing squad. Along the way, Tyson tipped his cowboy hat. Mr. Nurasawa offered a polite bow.
Of course, not everyone had come around.
Andrew Foster cast a quick glance at her face before locking on her breasts, and that PR jerk Donald Jacobs, who was still sporting a mysterious black eye, glared at her with even more vehemence than before.
Still, she held her head high as she strode to the end of the long, rectangle oak table where the microphone and lectern waited. There was a gavel there as well. She didn’t bother with it. The minute she’d entered the room, absolute silence had descended.
Some might not know why she’d called the meeting, but most had to suspect—and they’d come in droves.
She could almost hear the thoughts of those who remained opposed. Couldn’t cut it in the end. Nothing more than the stupid bimbo wife we thought. Would have probably been a disaster CEO anyway.
Lord, how she would have loved to shove those thoughts right down their throats. Prove them wrong. Make them eat their words.
Because the truth of it was, though she’d once suffered the same doubts, she didn’t anymore.
Thanks to her weeks going head-to-head with Alexi she was more certain than ever she’d become the kind of CEO who could have transformed Winslow Industries into a company that would have made Lena, Russell, and herself proud.
But that wasn’t the kind of action required from her now.
“Thank you for coming today.” She stood straight and unashamed. She’d already said her apologies to those who mattered. Before the board, she planned to be pure steel. “I know you’re wondering why I called this meeting.” She drew a deep breath. Courage. Strength. That was who she was. What she’d become. “On the table, you’ll find a file. Inside is a series of reports and photos from a painful period in my life.” She pushed past the nerves, the words becoming easier with each breath. “I’ve included them at today’s meeting for you to peruse at your leisure. While they’re not the reason for the announcement I’m about to make, they’re important.”
Her gaze narrowed, locking on each of her memorable opponents. “They’re important because I’m done pretending that part of my life didn’t happen or worrying over what you’ll think.” She took a deep breath, relishing the first bit of lightness she’d felt since she told Alexi good-bye. “You want to judge me? Judge me. You want to see it as proof I would never have been a good CEO? Have at it.”
Even with the microphone, she had to raise her voice to be heard over the rising murmurs. Many were already flipping through the file. Some with shock. Others with expressions of pity. Still others with horror.
Having a one-time, beat-up attempted murderer for a CEO was probably a lot for some board members to digest.
She stifled a chuckle. Alexi was right. Not giving a damn what anyone thought was liberating.
Still, she needed to finish before she lost their attention altogether. Tapping the gavel three times, she waited until all eyes were on her before she continued, “But that period of my life is over and done and has nothing to do with the main reason I called this meeting. I’ve asked you here today to formally resig—”
“Wait.” A familiar, deep voice rumbled through the room.
All eyes, including hers, shifted to the door as Alexi plowed through, his expression as ruthless and hard as the first day she’d seen him—and so beautiful her heart gave a familiar twist. “I see you’re trying to steal my thunder as usual, Ms. Bennett.”
Confusion shot through her. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“I’m not sure you do, either.” He sauntered forward, a slight smile playing at his lips.
Her heart beat fast. She’d missed him terribly these last few days. Everything had been devoid of color, so boring, so sane.
She hadn’t lost control once. Hadn’t lost her temper, either. And work? Without him there to goad her on, it was just numbers and dollar signs. No life at all.
But now, as he strode toward her and the podium, looking every inch the shark she knew him to be, every cell inside her shivered to awareness.
“What are you doing here?”
“You wouldn’t return my phone calls. Or open my emails or texts. And you finally hired a worthwhile security team that can’t be bribed.” He shook his head. “Desperate times call for gran
d, desperate measures.”
He reached her, his eyes going dark as they roamed her face and he inhaled deep. “I missed you. Missed that scent, too.” His expression turned almost sad. “Haven’t eaten a damn bite of fruit since you stormed out.”
Her stomach gave a funny flip.
“Kazankov,” interrupted Tyson, his cowboy boots clattering on the floor as he stomped forward. “Are you going to keep talking about food or are you going to explain why you’ve interrupted our meeting?”
Lily startled.
Sugar biscuits. She’d forgotten there was anyone else in the room.
From the way Alexi whipped around and stared down at the man, she suspected he had, too.
“I will get to it when I get to it,” he growled.
“Do it now.” The exasperated shout came from the back of the room where Lily could just make out Alexi’s CFO Eaton and his security guard standing together. “You have a plan,” the Englishman continued, “for God’s sake, stick to it for once.”
She was pretty sure Alexi cursed under his breath, but by the time he turned back to her, his eyes were full of heat—the good kind.
“For you,” he whispered. “Only for you.”
Then he turned back around, leaned toward the microphone, and said, “Gentlemen, I’ll make this brief. I’m withdrawing my bid to take over Winslow Industries.”
Rumbles of distress broke out among the crowd.
The board had to be panicking, especially after her recent little revelation concerning her past.
“What are you doing?” She slammed a hand over the microphone to muffle her words. “You can’t. Lena—”
“Will never hurt you again.” Intense, arctic eyes stared back at her. “You should have told me, Lily.” His hand covered hers.
She shook her head, a sob lodging in her throat, her heart tearing all over again at the shadows in his gaze. She hadn’t been able to save him from the pain, after all. “I…I never meant for you to know.”
His lips wobbled upward into the semblance of a smile. “But I always do my research. You know that.”
“What…what will happen now?” She meant with Lena, but he answered a different question.
“You had my back. Now I’ve got yours.” He removed her hand from the microphone and spoke over the growing uproar. “Lily Bennett is a fighter and a scrapper and a brilliant strategist, and there is no one this company needs more.”
Her heart, sluggish and slow these past few days, shot to life.
“That file you have there is a part of her past—one that helped her to become the resourceful, strong person she is today—but it’s not all of who she is. Over the past few weeks, I’ve gone toe-to-toe with her, and she proved her strength, heart, courage, and intelligence time and again. There is no one I respect more.”
It was another extraordinary gift.
“She deserves this position,” he continued. “Not only because she’s a top-notch businesswoman, but because she’s the only one who can truly do justice to the legacy of this company. She knows more than anyone what it takes to never give up.”
He swallowed hard, his warm, proud stare locking with hers for a brief moment before he glared once more at the board. “Don’t let that file in front of you steer you from making the smart decision. Lily Bennett is the right one to give this company a new purpose. One that looks to the future, not the past.” Surveying the crowd, his familiar, menacing scowl returned. “Anyone who thinks otherwise will have to answer to me.” He cleared his throat, attempted a smile that only made him more frightening. “Thank you.”
Still a bull in the china shop, and she wouldn’t have him any other way.
The board was yelling over themselves as he stepped down, sauntering back toward the doorway as if he hadn’t just changed everything.
And he’d called her Armageddon.
“Gentlemen, please.” Hands raised to signal calm, Lily took control. “I am sure you have questions.” They were already shouting in her direction when she slammed the gavel down hard. Absolute silence descended. “But so do I. Meeting adjourned.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Alexi, wait.” Lily rushed after the man who never ceased to surprise her, the corridor empty except for the two of them. Her palm met hard, hot steel as she grabbed his shoulder. “I never expected…”
He turned toward her, lines at his eyes that hadn’t been there before, his body stiff. “I know, but it’s the right move.” He offered a tight smile. “I understand you don’t like my interference, but—”
“I will never forget it. What you said about me…how you defended me…it means everything.” Reaching up, she cradled his jaw in her palm. “But what about Lena? What about her legacy? What about Anastasia and everything you fought for?”
His eyes sunk shut. “Yeah.” His shoulders drooped and for the first time he looked almost broken. “It’s complicated, isn’t it?” His eyes flared open, boring into her. “But it doesn’t matter. I will choose you every time.”
Wonder spiraled through her. She moved until they were standing chest-to-chest, heart-to-heart. “I will choose you, too.”
His thumb whispered across her cheek. She seized his hand, pressing it to her lips, wanting the last of his hesitation gone. Needing to find the words that would take away the shadows in his eyes. “Alexi—”
“You’re more forgiving than Lena or I deserve.”
“I disagree. She did right by you when you were a child. She loves you. For that, I will forgive her anything. As for you,” she moved closer, “I will say it again. There is nothing to forgive.”
The shadows remained. “Promise me you won’t pull anything like this again. Kicking me to the curb to protect me. Hiding the truth to save me pain. If we’re going to do this, we do it together. No exceptions.”
Her breathing hitched. “No exceptions. I promise.” She hesitated. “But…you should know…I’m not as strong as you think. These last few days I waffled more than I care to admit.” She bit her lip. “I won’t always be strong. I won’t always be fierce.”
Soothing hands glided up and down her spine. “Lily, those bastards in the conference room, they’re businessmen. They come to you for decisive action. But me? I’m not coming to you as a businessman. I’m coming to you as a man.”
“Yes, but—”
“I started to fall for you the moment you picked up that phone and threatened to knock me out.” His wobbly smile matched her own. “But I reached the point of no return when I saw that file from your past.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
“I love all of you, Armageddon. The fierce, wild parts, for sure. But also the not-so-strong, damaged parts that need me.” He paused, swallowing hard. “Just like I need you.”
Eyes blurring, she raised on to her tiptoes. Kissed his jaw. His chin. She knew what an admission like that cost a man like him. “Oh, Alexi. Thank you for needing me, too.”
“I do, Lily.” His mouth found hers, his voice a low, reverent rasp as he spoke against her lips. “Strong or weak, I don’t care. Just be with me. Always.”
“Yes.” Desperate. Frantic. She squeezed him tight, pressing her lips to the corner of his mouth, then the other side. “I want that, too.” Closing her eyes, she sent a silent message upward. I promise, Anastasia, I’ll take good care of him. I’ll always make him feel like enough. I know you loved him, too, even if you couldn’t stay and fight for him. But I will. For both of us.
“Then maybe you should put me out of my misery and tell me you love me, too?” His demand, only half in jest, jerked her back to the present.
Had she not said it aloud? “Yes. Absolutely.” Grinning like a loon, she peppered his jaw and chin with more kisses. “I’m crazy, head over heels in love with every inch of you.”
“I know.” There might still be shadows in his eyes and a new hint of vulnerability, but his wide smile was arrogant as ever.
And I wouldn’t change a thing about him.
Strong hands gripped her backside, dragging her flush against him. “You are my home, family, compass, and heart.” He nipped at her nose, his tone once again solemn. “We’re going to be unbeatable.”
Every hard moment that came before was worth it, she realized, because it had led her here. To him.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I can’t wait to face whatever comes next together. We—” She stumbled forward, his strong body no longer pressed against hers. “What in the heck?”
“We have somewhere we have to go.”
“Now?” She’d been hoping to slip into one of the empty office rooms and re-create their first conference table make-out session, but with a far more satisfying ending. “Before we kiss some more? Maybe declare our love by talking dirty and getting it on?”
Nostrils flaring, he reached for her. “Hell, yes. We—” But he never finished, breaking off in midsentence, his expression shifting to one of pain. “No.” He shook his head and sucked down a fortifying breath. “No, has to be now.”
He tugged her toward the door.
And because she was crazy about the man, she let him. Even as they barreled past the shouting board members, bypassed the shocked stares of Jim and Jessie, and ignored the crazed media and their flashing cameras to slip into his Maserati and jet away.
They’d been driving in Alexi’s car for twenty minutes while he intermittently shot her hot, hungry looks and muttered about all the ways he’d be making up for lost time very soon when she realized where they were going.
Her heart squeezed. “Why are you driving to the cemetery?”
Alexi’s innocent look wasn’t very convincing, especially since his hold on the steering wheel had gone tight. “No reason.”
“Alexi,” she admonished.
“I need to ask someone’s permission for something.”
The organ inside her chest stuttered and then took flight. “Don’t you think you should get mine first?” she asked at last.
The look he shot her way was pure Kazankov and full of heat. “Babe, the minute you said you loved me, that was a done deal, but don’t worry.” He took her hand from her lap and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss on each knuckle. “I’m going to pretend to ask real nice when it’s time.”