Naked (14 page)

She cleared her throat.

Not the time, Violet.

“We just assumed you were busy, had a lot of things on your mind,” Clive said, concern written all over his face. In fact, concern was visible on everyone’s face now. These men really did respect her father. She had no idea how she was going to fill his shoes.

But you don’t have to fill his shoes. All you have to do is hold your own. Make this company yours.

She wasn’t here to make friends. These men would never be her friends and over the coming years, they’d all be replaced with younger individuals, and maybe even women.

“That’s what I thought at first.” Her father took a deep breath. “But one day I couldn’t remember where I lived.”

She remembered that day. She had been the one he’d called. His disorientation had only lasted a few minutes, but it was scary enough for her father that the next day he’d made an appointment with his doctor. Two specialists, a zillion tests, and many more episodes later, he was diagnosed.

“And you’re just telling us now?” Paul’s question was accusatory, but she could see the concern in his sympathetic eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Ward hesitated, he took a deep breath, rubbing his hands over his forehead. “I needed to come to terms with this myself first. I didn’t actually believe it.”

“What can we do?” Clive asked. In the last ten minutes, it looked as if his hair had gotten whiter.

“I don’t want any of you to worry.” Her father assured them with a wave of his hand and straightening of his shoulders. “Violet will be taking over as the CEO of Walker Industries.”

Silence again. This time it was a tense silence. A few looks were exchanged. Her stomach dropped.

“We knew this day was coming. It’s just a little sooner than I had anticipated,” her father reassured the room.

“You’ll be staying on, surely. At least for a transition period.” Paul. That traitor. He of all people knew how hard she worked, how involved she was in the day-to-day operations of this company. If she was going to have anyone’s support, it should be his.

“I’ll be advising Violet whenever she needs it, but I think it’s best for everyone, and the company, if I’m not anywhere near the premises.”

“Ward, surely it’s not that bad.” Evan was eyeing Jonathon beside him. It was beginning. They were already unhappy at the alternative to her father’s retirement.

“I assure you. I want nothing more than to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. But I’ll be damned if I show up here one day and look at your faces not remembering who you are, how we met, or why we’re here.”

She reached out and grabbed her father’s hand.

“Please…allow me some dignity to walk out of here today with my head high.”

She was glad she had the instinct to comfort him. His hand shook in hers as he spoke.

“The papers have been signed. Violet is now the majority shareholder. She’ll run the day-to-day operations of the company as CEO; all major corporate decisions and project development will have to be approved by the board.”

Her father slipped his hand out from under hers. “With the majority shares, she’ll get a seat on the board, but won’t automatically take my seat as chair. You’ll have to vote a new person into the seat.”

She knew there was no way these men would vote her in. Even though she had the majority of shares, they could still keep her on the sidelines. She needed to plead her case. Should she plead her case?

“I have no—”

Her father squeezed her hand and she stopped talking immediately.

“I have every confidence that she will do what’s best for the company.” Her father looked over and smiled with pride. “In fact, she already has her first project lined up.”

She was terrified of presenting her residential project. But if Walker Industries wanted to remain solvent twenty years from now, they needed to diversify. And building residential was much cheaper with a bigger return.

Her father gestured for her to address the table. With a deep breath, she made her pitch.

“Take a drive east or west of the city. Subdivisions are being built in areas that were farmland ten years ago. It’s time we put our hat in the ring and secured a piece of that pie.”

It didn’t matter what she looked like; if she went after what she wanted with confidence, it would be hers. Just like Harper had said. She had to channel a different part of her psyche. Maybe if she pretended to be a high-powered executive, she could get these men to side with her.

“I propose building west. It’s still close enough to commute to the city. And my government contact tells me that public transit will be expanding all the way to Stillbride. They won’t be announcing until the fall so we need to get in now, before prices go up or before someone else beats us to the punch.”

“How reliable is your source?” Evan asked.

“Very reliable.” Her source was a guy she’d gone to school with, and for the last five years, he’d been feeding her top-secret information.

“Now is the time to scoop up the land. Even above market value, the profit projections indicate that we’ll make four times the amount if all units sell, and where there’s new housing…”

“There are commercial opportunities,” Evan said. She knew he’d be the first to get it. The first to get on board.

“Our labor force doesn’t know how to build houses,” Jonathon said.

“The skills are transferrable and—”

Her father piped up. “We’ll just have to hire a foreman who can get the job done. Lewis will remain on the commercial side and I’ve got a prospect in mind that I’ll discuss with Violet. Obviously it’s her call.”

“Who’s the prospect?” she asked. This was the first she was hearing of it. Was this her father’s underhanded way of getting his hands on her project?

“He mentored under Lewis. I’m happy with the job he’s done. I’ve asked Lewis to set up a meeting for the two of you your first day back. Apparently, he can build a house from the ground up.” That sounded like someone they could use, but she’d have to give it some thought.

“If you’ll take a look at the packages in front of you, it includes financials, profit projections, time lines, communications campaign details, and necessary resources. Take it home and let me know if you have any questions. It’s my hope that when I return we can put the project to a vote and get things in motion. “

Her father believed in her project. She knew that simply by allowing her to proceed. Although, he didn’t have to
allow
her to do anything anymore.

The room was silent. She knew her father believed in her, trusted her, but she fully expected to have to make a compelling argument her first day back.

“I know this is sudden,” she addressed the members. “I know this isn’t how it was supposed to happen. I’m sure you all expected to be long gone from the board before my time ever came, but it’s here. I’ve been raised for this role. I’m ready. And I hope that you can at least give me a chance to prove myself.”

Her father gave her a sympathetic smile, as if knowing that she wasn’t making the strong impression she’d hoped.

She walked out of that room with even more worry than when she’d walked in. Because now it was real. Now it was a done deal.

“How are you feeling?” her father asked.

Like she wanted to puke. Of all days not to bring a plastic bag.

“I should be asking you that question.”

“Whatever for?” He pulled her to a stop, away from the group of men heading to the elevators.

“Because you just resigned. From your own company. From the company you built from the ground up.”

“Sweetheart…” He pulled her into a hug and just like he always did, ran his hand down the back of her head, the warmth, as always, settling her nerves. And now that they were out of view from others, he dropped his guard and turned into the man who attended every recital. The man who’d consoled her with every scrape and scratch on her skin.

“You’re my legacy, Violet Walker. This is what you were groomed for. I have every confidence that Walker Industries will live on long after I’m gone.”

“You’re not going to—”

“Violet.” His face softened and he stepped back, wrapping both hands around her biceps. “We both know that my life has been reduced significantly as a result of this illness.”

It had. She’d done the research. He had maybe ten years left. Out of those ten years, how many of them would he be coherent? How many days would he remember who he was, who
she
was? Would he remember just how much she loved him, needed him?

She willed away her tears. She couldn’t do this without him.

“Your project is solid. I wouldn’t have let you present it if it wasn’t.”

“I just wish you…”

His hand came up and he wiped away a tear that had snuck its way past her barrier. “There is no room for emotion in this business. There might be a day when a crane bends and injures, or even kills, one of your men. You do what needs to be done to clean up, carry on, and minimize the amount of time without production.”

“But someone died.”

“Yes.” He gripped her arm and walked her down the hall. “And you call their family and offer your condolences. But business carries on. Production continues.”

The reality of her future came crashing in, suffocating her. The building was suddenly small. Her eyes blurred and her heart raced. She needed to escape. She needed to do something that was so far from her comfort zone.

There was only one thing so out of her comfort zone that it would make it right. She walked her father to the elevator and watched as he stepped inside and disappeared behind the door.

She dug out her phone and opened her text messages. Noah’s name was at the top of her active chats.

Noah. Sex. Channeling her inner sex kitten.

Those were the only things she wanted to think about until she had to step foot in this building again in three weeks.

I’ll be naked at my place. 7:30.

Brazen. Uncharacteristic.

When her phone buzzed, her stomach flip-flopped with excitement.

But when she read his response that excitement disappeared.

Helping my sister move. Tomorrow. I’ll remove your clothes myself.

Disappointment washed over her. She wasn’t going to be having any sex tonight. At least not with another person.

Tonight, her schedule included another how-to-crochet video on YouTube.

Chapter 11

As he lifted the end table off the moving truck and placed it on the sidewalk, Noah had no idea what had possessed him to agree to help Charlotte move. As if his days and nights weren’t busy enough. Not to mention how was he supposed to concentrate on lifting with his legs when all he could think about was Violet’s text message?

He was already distracted enough remembering the sight of his cock disappearing into her—

“You know, Charlie. You could have professional movers to do this for you and in the long run save me a herniated disk.” Luke carried two boxes of books off the truck.

They’d been going for a few hours now and it was half empty. Noah was definitely feeling it all over his body. He knew Luke was feeling the same way. At least she’d decided to move before the weather got too hot. Adding sweat and heat exhaustion wouldn’t have made the day any better.

“Why would I do that when you’re here right now, risking a disk and all?” Charlotte kissed Luke on the cheek as he passed, heading into the lobby of the low-rise apartment building.

“Are you sure you don’t want to live with me?” Noah asked.

This neighborhood wasn’t bad. In fact, Charlotte had moved into a cluster of low-rise apartment buildings set in the middle of an affluent area in the suburbs.

“I won’t be living in the house much longer and then I have to find a place to live. You know I wouldn’t charge you rent,” he continued.

She’d lived on ramen noodles and celery for the last year, working hard to start her own business. He hated seeing her have to go without.

She sidestepped the end table that was waiting for its new home. “I love you, but I’m doing this on my own.” She wrapped her arms around him.

“It’s all right to ask for help. To take someone’s help.”

Ever determined, Charlotte was intent on living her own life, on her own terms, with her own money. She’d never allow a man to be her source of income or survival. Not that their mother had relied on their father. They both had worked full-time and were partners in every sense of the word. But after his death, supporting three children on one salary was hard, and she had to make a tough decision to move them in with their grandparents. Charlotte had been the most affected by the move, being the youngest. She obviously still held some scars.

“I know, but I don’t need it. I have my savings and I have a plan. And when my contract is done, I am putting that plan into action.”

Charlotte didn’t waver in her determination to start her own business. Noah, on the other hand, was scared to death. There was safety in working for someone else.

He couldn’t get over the needle of insecurity that plagued him whenever he thought about going into business for himself. He hadn’t always felt that way. He loved working outdoors and with his hands, creating something from nothing. But Megan had torn through his confidence and somehow his job at Walker Industries made him feel less like a blue-collar worker. There was a certain prestige in being able to call yourself an associate foreman for one of the biggest construction firms in the city.

But his hesitance meant he was shitting on the hopes and dreams his father had had for his children.

“Am I the only one working here?” Luke yelled from the door to the lobby, a beer steady in his hand.

Charlotte rushed over and grabbed it, hiding it in the corner. “I have to live here. I don’t want people thinking I’m the party girl with rowdy friends.”

Luke tapped her nose. “Sweetheart, within one minute of meeting you, no one would ever think that.”

“Ass,” she yelled over her shoulder as she walked back to Noah and the truck.