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Dear Jacob,
If you could’ve seen the stares they were giving me today, I bet you would’ve whisked me right out of this place. Maybe you would’ve thrown a few punches on our way out.
It’s official. I was named the CEO of Hessler Group today, and one thing is abundantly clear: nobody wants me here.
I’m in over my head. My responsibilities are manageable enough. I’ve been carrying the load for Harrison behind the scenes for so long, not much with this business is a surprise. But winning over Harrison’s team is a different story. They didn’t even want to give me the keys to my new office at first.
Maintenance was convinced I showed up at the office to spy on my husband, wanting access to his personal space behind his back. I don’t know how to explain that Harrison’s drinking has officially consumed him. He can barely peel himself out of that armchair of his. His drinking was alwaysexcessive, but lately, it’s clear he is incapable of running his own company.
We can’t trust anyone else to take on this responsibility. It took me decades to earn Harrison’s parents’ trust. I suppose naming me as their successor should feel like some sort of accomplishment, but sitting here in this big, grim office, I feel like a shell of myself.
I daydream about the gazebo. Daisies in my hair. The very first time you told me you loved me. And the day you left and told me you were letting us go so Melody could be raised by a man capable of giving her all the things you couldn’t.
In my daydreams, I rewrite the story. You kiss me on the forehead and tell me this rich suitor is my chance at a happily ever after. Instead of agreeing, I plant my feet, grip your arm, and scream until you promise to stay. Maybe we’d never own a home. We’d just be nomads, port to port, as you scramble up odd jobs here and there on the boats. One day, you teach us to swim…
And right now, instead of me being alone in this empty office, we’d be together.
I clutch the letter tightly to my chest. Perhaps I should feel guilty that Dottie’s bad first day brings me comfort. But it’s nice to know I’m not alone. I have no idea what I was expecting in that board meeting. How would I feel if I was in their shoes? Maybe I’d be doubting my own competency as well. But the leadership team is missing the big picture. My only role is loyalty…to Dex. I’ll be stellar at that.
There’s a firm knock on my office door. Based on the tall silhouette visible through the frosted glass door, I know it’s my husband.
“Come in,” I call out.
The door handle jiggles. “It’s locked,” Dex says back.
Oh, right. I uncross my legs and pick myself up from the floor by the coffee table. Once I open the door, Dex’s eyes drop to my bare feet. “Is this office now shoes optional?” He smiles his sweetest, sheepish smile. It almost looks apologetic. But what the hell would Dex have to apologize for?
“Only for my friends,” I reply.
Moving past me, he makes a big deal out of stepping out of his nice business loafers and kicking them to the side. “No shoes it is.” Dex makes a beeline to the cupboard behind the desk. He retrieves a crystal decanter of amber liquid and two matching glasses. Looking over his shoulder, he raises an eyebrow. “No protests? This is brandy.”
“After today, I think I’ll try a stiff drink.”
He sighs heavily as he fills both glasses, one more full than the other. After joining me on the small sofa, he hands me the smaller one. “Take a little swig and let it sit on your tongue for a moment. Once you swallow, immediately exhale.”
I follow his instructions, taking a generous sip. As I breathe out, the bitter burn of the liquid seems to dissipate with my breath. “I’d give you crap about mansplaining how to drink bourbon, but that actually helped.”
Dex undoes the top two buttons of his shirt and drapes his arm over my shoulder. Tucking in my knees, making myself as small as possible, I curl up against his side. “I’ve never had somebody hate me like that for simply existing. That sucked.”
“I’m so sorry. I…what they asked for…” His jaw tenses. “Inexcusable.”
“I mean, it kind of makes sense, though?—”
“Lennox,” Dex scolds. “Absolutely not.”
“Just hear me out… What are you going to do? Fire everyone who is uncomfortable with me as the CEO? Hell, Dex.I’muncomfortable with me as the CEO. What if your team quits on you?”
Dex shrugs. “Let them quit. Or I’ll fire them one by one until I have a team who respects where my priorities lie.”
Glancing up at his hazel eyes, I ask, “Being?”
“Everything else in my life can break and shatter…except us. You’re my priority, Lennox. It’s as simple as that. I’ll get rid of anyone who threatens my happily ever after.”
“Are you thinking with your heart or head?” I ask him, trailing my thumb along his tense jaw. “Because one of us has to be reasonable, and when it comes to you, I’m all heart, Dex.”
“Glad to hear it,” he says. “Forget about today. Let me handle the board. After I made an example out of Jensen, they are all walking around on eggshells. Clearly, they all would like to keep their jobs.”
“Yeah, and it’s fantastic to know that the people who report to me hate me.” I scoff and take another swig of my drink, but this time, I forget to breathe, and the bitter burn catches me in the back of my throat.