Walking in behind her, I place my hand lightly on the back of her neck. I whisper in her ear, “You’ve got this, princess.”
My woman turns and gives me a bright smile, her emerald eyes sparkling, before heading to the other end of the room where Peter is waving her over. There’s an empty chair waiting for her.
If anyone thinks it’s strange that I’ve joined the meeting, they don’t say anything. When Arthur was alive, I was in and out of the building a lot, so I know many of the board members personally. I shake several hands as I find an empty chair across the room from Lily.
The low hum of conversation in the room ends as Peter stands up from his chair, on the right side of Lily, and addresses the room. “We’ve asked you all here this afternoon because it’s clear that MacKay International needs new leadership and a new direction.”
As I watch him take command of the meeting, I’m reminded of the internship we both had within the company the summer before our sophomore year. Arthur invited us to attend the quarterly board meeting. We sat in the corner and observed everything, soaking up everything he did and said.
I remember being awed by Arthur and his command of the room. He seemed to care about each person individually and what they had to contribute. He really listened to them. Peter is the same.
Peter quickly addresses the elephant in the room, Mayer’s arrest, without making my woman feel too uncomfortable or scrutinized. He also omits Lily’s kidnapping and captivity in Hong Kong.
The contents of Arthur’s real will have already been made public, and no one argues when Peter makes it clear that he’s assuming the role of interim CEO.
“While Lily has one more semester before she graduates, we’ve discussed at length how we can all move forward together in a new direction,” he says before going on to outline some proposed changes to the internal structure of the company. Peter then hands off the meeting to Lily.
I lean forward in my chair, silently encouraging her.
“As many of you know,” she begins shakily, before taking a deep breath, touching the scarf tied around her neck, and continuing, “Peter and Xavier Finch have been planning to create a manufacturing company with its own transportation and distribution system.”
My spine straightens at the mention of Peter and my plans.
“I suggest we retain Peter permanently as CEO and merge with Finch Distributing,” Lily states firmly, her focus fully on me at the other end of the table. “Using our manufacturing and their established transportation system to move MacKay International in a whole new direction.”
Her words completely floor me.
Peter and Lily planned this.
I gape at the two of them from across the room.
Chapter Fifteen
~ Lily ~
“I’m in favor of exploring the opportunity further,” one of the board members says, smiling at me.
“Yes,” another one chimes in. “Despite the recent setbacks, Finch Distributing is a solid company.”
Let’s be honest, I’m not well versed on how the company runs, and the rest of the meeting and discussion sounds as foreign as the Mandarin did when I was in Hong Kong. I let Peter takeover, as he was born to the job, and I know he has the company’s best interest at heart. It seems as if Mayer used his charm and cunning to seize control of the company, with a majority of the members believing it was what my father would’ve wanted. Even if they didn’t personally like him, he’d been my father’s best friend.
I don’t think anyone on the board realized how seriously Peter took his job, Mayer included, until he uncovered the blatant corruption and siphoning of funds. Peter moved to protect my father’s company, and he alerted the FBI.
As the meeting comes to a close, everyone files out of the room, all giving me warm embraces and encouragement. I’ve known many of these men and women my entire life, and some—Peter—are family. For the first time since my father’s death, I feel like I belong. Among his truly loyal friends and family. Even if I’m uncertain how I’ll be contributing to the company after graduation. I know I belong here.
Peter, Finn, and I are the last ones left in the room.
“Is this what you really want?” Peter asks me again for what feels like the trillionth time.
“I know Dad would’ve wanted to support your and Finn’s dream,” I tell him, grabbing hold of his hand. Glad that the two most important men in my life are finally getting what they’ve dreamed about—working together.
“But princess, this is your company,” Finn adds.
“We all know I’ve never had an interest in running it.” I remind them. “Not that I don’t care what happens to Dad’s legacy. You know I do. That’s why I can’t think of two better people to run the company. I know you’ll both make him proud.”
“Uncle Arthur would be proud of you too, sweetheart,” Peter says, pulling me into a warm hug. “So proud.”
“Thank you, Peep,” I mutter, my throat tightening.
One day, I will find my place within the company and truly make Dad proud. I’m not sure what I’ll be doing, but I know I’ve chosen men who both respect and love Dad and will honor his memory.
Letting me go, Peter kisses my cheek and says, “Later.”
“Later.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Peter addresses Finn, slapping his shoulder and moving to the door.
“I have a meeting with the insurance company about the warehouse in the morning, but I’ll swing by afterward.”
Peter leaves, clicking the door closed behind himself, leaving Finn and I alone together. He stalks toward me and plants himself in front of me.
“Are you really sure about this?” He hadn’t known that Peter and I had come up with the perfect solution to give them both exactly what they wanted—and MacKay International a new direction.
“Yes!” I exclaim. Then I teasingly remind him, “It’s still my company; I’m just handing it over to the two best people I know to run it and make it into something even better.”
“I love you,” Finn tells me earnestly, his golden eyes sparkling in the sunlight streaming through the window. “I just want you. Nothing else matters.”
“You have me, baby.” I grin, pushing myself up on my toes to press my lips against his.
“What did I tell you?” he growls, his hands moving down my back to cup my ass as he backs us up against the table.
“I don’t remember,” I giggle into his neck, kissing, biting, and leaving my mark behind his ear. “I think you’ll have to remind me.”
“You’ll be the death of me.” My man cups the back of my head and plunders my mouth with his own.
I jerk out of the kiss, my hands gripping the front of his shirt, and ask breathlessly, “Is the door locked?”
There’s no way I want anyone walking in on us, especially members of the board—members whom I want to take me seriously. But I’m not about to pass up the opportunity to take possession of what’s mine. And I don’t mean the company.
“Let me check,” Finn chuckles, pulling out of my hold. He kisses the tip of my nose before moving away to check that the door is secured. Clicking the lock, he drags a chair over and props it up under the handle before quickly returning to me.