Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Will you tell me what’s going on?” He sounds tired. “What part of your plan is this? You’re playing them, I get it. But what’s the endgame?”
“I’m not playing anyone. This plan—” I tap the prospectus. “Is going to put Magnolia Sugar back on top. From supplying large hotel chains and restaurants all the way to bags of sugar sitting on store shelves, we can streamline this company and get so much more from the market.”
“I’m lost.”
“I’m not trying to ruin anyone.” I finally look at him. “Not anymore.”
“First you dye your hair red—”
“It’s my natural color.”
“Okay, well, it’s a change. Then you change this. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on. Why the sudden flip?”
Lucius, Sin, and Stella walk into the office, each of them striking in their own way. Stella’s hair is red like mine, but also not like mine at all. I’m a strawberry blonde, but she’s got dark red locks and bright green eyes. Beautiful and fierce. Sin is the same tall, glowering wall I’ve always known. And Lucius—he makes my knees go weak when he turns to give me his signature half smile. No wonder my teen self was beyond obsessed with him. My adult self is, too.
“Hi.” I greet him as he walks through the door of the board room.
“Darling, you look utterly fuckable.” Lucius comes over and kisses me. He doesn’t care if the whole staff of Magnolia’s corporate office sees.
Linton clears his throat.
“Problem?” Sin asks.
Linton stutters out a ‘no.’
When Lucius finally pulls back, he stares down at me. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
Stella walks to my other side and peers down at the prospectus. “You’re certain this is what’s best for Magnolia?”
“I know some of the ideas in here might seem a little harsh or outlandish, but I promise you this is my best work. I’ve taken other companies far on their journeys toward large profit margins, but Magnolia is going to be the best one yet.”
Stella turns to me. “If you can convince the board and Sin—” She shoots Lucius a wry look. “You’ve already got this one in your pocket. I’m filling in for Teddy, so you’ll have to convince me as well.”
“I know, and I …” I meet her gaze. “I have a lot to make up for. For me …” God, this is so hard. “And for my brother.”
She blinks as if I’d slapped her.
Lucius and Sin share a look and leave the room, followed by an openly confused Linton.
“What your brother did isn’t your fault.” She says it through tight lips.
“I know, but I also know that the things he did to you, well, I’ll never be able to understand it all. I just want you to know that I know he was vicious and cruel to you. And I’m sorry, even if I’m not to blame for it.”
She stays silent for long moments that seem to stretch on at an agonizingly slow pace. “Red was a horrible person,” she says carefully. “There’s no doubt about that in my mind. But I have experience there. My father—he was horrible, too. I saw it, but I refused to believe it until the Acquisition. Then I couldn’t deny it any longer. I loved him anyway. Despite everything he’d done, I think he cared about me in that horrible, self-aggrandizing way that narcissists do.” She keeps peering at me, her gaze searching mine. “I understand the conflict in you. And Lucius trusts you. He and I have had our differences—plenty of them—but if he has faith in you, then I’m willing to give you a chance. A real one.” She nods, as if to herself. “Do you know how to shoot?”
“I’m not too bad, as long as the target is pretty close.”
Her lips turn up in a devious smile. “Well, yes I suppose you can. Lucius is a testament to it. So, can you fight?”
“A little. I took self-defense courses, but I’ve learned I need work.”
She finally smiles, and I realize she’s being honest with me—she really is going to give me a chance. “All right. Once we’re done with the show here and you’re rolling on the restructure—if that’s what we choose—I’m going to start your bootcamp.”
“Coming from you, that sounds terrifying,” I admit.
She laughs. “I promise, when I first met Sin and Lucius, I was soft. Like a cute little kitten with no idea how to run with the wolves.”
I vaguely know her history from catching snippets here and there from Red, but I’m still impressed by her. She’s overcome everything to be who she is.
“Next Saturday. Six o’clock. I want you at my place ready to work.” She sticks her hand out, the vining tattoos crossing the back of her hand and circling her ring finger.
“I’m scared but also excited.” I shake, her grip firm.
“Perfect.” She smiles and strides out to have a word with Sin in the hall. Lucius is waiting at the door to the boardroom, his eyes on me.