Page 89

He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Noted.” He smiled. “Fuck. I’d better start preparing myself for six weeks of no sex.”
“Longer if I have to have a C-section. You better start preparing yourself for more than six weeks because with two kids under two and building an empire, I’ll be too exhausted for you even to touch me.”
“Now you’re just being dramatic. Stop talking like that. We’ve—” he paused.
“Good boy.” I patted his chest and walked out of the bedroom.
* * *
Damien
Grant, Charlie, and I stepped into the all-glass lobby of the empty five-story office building in the Flatiron District and looked around.
“It’s perfect,” I said, hands on my hips. “It’s modern and right in the heart of everything. What do you think?” I glanced at Charlie.
“I like it. As you said, it’s a great location, and my favorite coffee shop is right down the street.” He grinned.
“Where do we sign, Grant?”
“Don’t you want Willa to see the building first?” Charlie asked.
“She told me she trusts me. Besides, I know my wife, and she’ll love it.”
After we left the building, we headed back to Blackwood Holdings, where I had called an emergency board meeting for later this afternoon.
“I can’t believe we’re really doing this,” Charlie said, sitting in the chair across from my desk.
“I know.” I walked over to the bar in the corner and poured us a glass of scotch. “I never thought in a million years I’d walk away from my father’s company.”
“Technically, you’re not walking away. You’re just not going to run it anymore. You’re still the majority shareholder.”
“True. To new beginnings.” I smiled, holding my glass up.
“To new beginnings.” Charlie clanked his glass against mine.
We threw back our drinks and headed to the boardroom.
“You ready for this?” I asked, buttoning my suit coat.”
“More than ready.” Charlie grinned.
I took my place at the head of the table, staring at Uncle Kroy and the other board members, sitting there with their hands folded on the table, unaware of what was coming their way.
“Let’s get on with it,” Uncle Kroy said. “Why did you call this emergency meeting? We’re all very busy people, Damien.”
I set my hands on the table, fully calm and in control, and stared down each of the board members.
“I called this meeting to inform all of you that as of today, I’m resigning as CEO of Blackwood Holdings.”
The room gasped. Oliver, one of the members, dropped his pen on the table in shock.
“Excuse me?” Uncle Kroy said.
“You heard me.” I smiled. “I’m done. Effective immediately.”
“You can’t just walk away?—”
“I can. I am. And Charlie is, too,” I said, glancing at Charlie.