Page 35 of Bargain With The Boss (Crescent Cove: The Moguls #2)

Xavier turned and leaned his shoulder on the window, all graceful ease. Unless you looked a little closer. Anger simmered under the surface. “He was very interested in your merger. His father was great friends with old man Frances.”

“Max Chapel has nothing to do with our business details.”

“No, but he’s become a very good friend of mine. Sydney’s too as I’ve learned. Jude no longer wants to have anything to do with A Home You Love. He’s quite content in his new role as father and real estate mogul in Crescent Cove. He sold his shares to Max this morning.”

My mouth dropped open. “He did what?”

Xavier gave me a wicked smile as he pushed off the window. “So Max has a vested interest in this merger.”

My mother straightened, her hands fisted at her sides. “He can’t sell his shares without board approval.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Considering Max is one of the most elite businessmen in Seattle they were quick to agree. Maybe you should check your messages. Max would like to discuss your London project as well. He has thoughts.”

Rage flooded my mother’s eyes. “This is my company!”

“True. You do own 51 percent, but your board of directors still has quite the say in the merger. Now, we aren’t looking to ruin the merger. In fact, Max and Frances had a lovely conversation about these so-called family values you said that were such an important piece of the merger.”

My mother’s skin paled and she practically shook with anger. “It’s important to me.”

“But not contingent on the merger.”

I stalked forward. “So you made me think I was sinking everything we’d worked for just because you wanted Jude here.”

“ I worked for. Me .” My mother’s face flushed as the anger overrode everything now that she was caught in her lie. “You’re barely a speck in this creation of mine.”

“Barely a—” Shock and hurt flooded my bloodstream until the room went dark with it.

“I do everything for this company. I was gone less than a month and you nearly destroyed the holiday line because you don’t know anything about the backend of this company.

The distribution and manufacturing is in a constant state of flux, and you need to talk to these companies we work with, not just make demands.

We nearly lost our Malaysian manufacturing contract because of your changes. ”

She quietly sat behind her desk. “They just aren’t used to a strong woman in power.”

“Good business is making solid relationships with your partners. You’re too worried about your awards, and interviews, and photo ops to understand how the business works anymore.”

“I earned every one of those awards.” Her voice was shrill.

“I earned them,” I said with a rising pride. “I’m the one that has turned this place into a thriving business. And I would have been the one who brought us to another level with my garden idea.”

“Pathetic idea,” my mother sneered.

“Not such a pathetic idea.” Xavier said as he walked to my side. “In fact, her proposal will be rescinded as part of the merger. We’ll be taking that with us when we return to Crescent Cove.”

She popped up from her chair. “She’s going nowhere.”

“I believe Max will have some ideas about that.” He turned to me. “The garden center idea deserves the space to thrive without your so-called changes.” He ignored my mother, his gaze focused on mine—unwavering.

“How did you know about that?” My voice cracked.

He took my hand. “I had a long talk with Jude.”

I had to swallow down a lump. “You really came here for me.”

“I did. And I’ll keep doing it for the rest of our lives.”

I dragged in a sharp breath.

“I love you, Duchess. I wanted you free of her—no strings.” He glanced at my mother. “That is unless you want the merger to fall apart.”

My mother sat down again. Her silence all I needed to know.

She would never choose me over her precious company. Her fame and power.

“I thought not. There’s going to be some restructuring going on here.” He pulled me into his side, his strong arm around my back. Supportive in a way I’d never known in my life. “And until you get your company off the ground, we’ll see if your team wants to relocate to the Cove.”

“Xavier…” At a loss, I had to lock my knees before I fell in a heap.

“We need more help with FHK and if you trained them, I know we can put them to work. And it will give you time to make your own plans.”

Overwhelmed, I lifted a hand to his cheek. “Thank you.” I lifted on my toes and brushed a kiss along his cheek before I stepped back and faced my mother. “How fortunate for you that you’ve had people shadowing my team.”

At her stony expression, I knew that was just one more lie she’d told me.

She had one—Robert. And he didn’t know shit about running the creative end of the company.

I pushed down the hurt.

I shouldn’t be surprised. She’d never treated me as anything other than her employee anyway.

“The holiday line is locked. You’ll have to figure out the rest, Mother.”

“I started this business alone. I don’t need you.”

Xavier gripped my hip, standing behind me stiffly. I reached back and found his hand. “The funny thing is that’s just one more lie. You do, but I don’t need you anymore and that’s the difference.”

“You’re nothing without me and the Keller name, Sydney.”

“I guess we’ll see about that.” I turned to leave, my hand locked with Xavier’s.

“You’ll come crawling back to me,” she called after us.

“Think Max wants my shares too?” I asked as we got to the outer office. “Pretty sure she’d go apoplectic if he owned 20 percent of her company.”

Xavier laughed. “He just might.”

Judy stood and came around her desk to hug me. “I heard everything.”

Startled, I dropped Xavier’s hand to hug her back. “Good thing no one else is on this floor.”

Judy laughed and pitched her voice low. “I’m so proud of you.”

My eyes stung. “Thanks. I’ll miss you.”

“Me too.”

“Judy!” my mother bellowed.

She stiffened in my arms, holding on for another moment before easing back. “Go on. I’ll deal with her.”

I let her go and rushed out of the room to the elevators. I pulled him in after me and threw my arms around him. “I can’t believe you.”

“You were majestic,” he said against my lips. Then he was kissing me.

My head spun and my heart tried to catch up.

“Wait,” I said and pushed him back.

“What?” He drew me back in and I didn’t mean to fall back into kissing him, but his scent and the loneliness of the last few days made me greedy.

He tasted so damn good. And he was here.

He’d flown all the way to Seattle to see me. To help me.

“Too much thinking, not enough kissing.”

“Sorry. I’m still reeling.” I pressed my forehead to his chin. “You came. I thought you hated me.”

“I don’t hate you, Syd. Far from it.”

“Did you really go to Max?” I eased back so I could pull myself together. “And were you serious about my team?”

“Yes to both. Jude gave me the idea when he mentioned that he offered to give you his shares.”

“He didn’t mean it.”

“He did. It may sound harsh, but he’s more than ready to leave Seattle behind.”

“And me,” I said quietly.

“No. God, no. Even if you stayed here, it wouldn’t be about you. It’s about what makes him happy, and he wants you to have the same thing.” He laughed as he lowered his mouth to mine again. This time the kiss was sweeter and softer. “He even mostly gave his blessing. In between a few threats.”

“My brother?”

“Yes. So many threats. And I am definitely not good enough for you, Duchess. But I am willing to make every effort to get there.”

The elevator opened and the sound of a clearing throat made me jump away from him. I whirled around to see Pete grinning. “One of the people I wanted to see.”

“Pretty sure you only had eyes for one person.”

Xavier laughed and held a hand out. “Xavier.”

“Pete.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “I’ve never seen the boss with such a smile. Very pleased to meet you.”

I could feel my face flushing. “Is everyone here today?”

He nodded. “Yes. Why?”

“I’d like to talk to everyone at the same time. Do you need to go upstairs for something?”

He shook his head. “It can wait.”

The three of us headed back into the workshop area. Lynn had been hard at work on more decorations. She made up our kitchen with the entire Charlotte line along with some of our silk plants, mini Christmas trees, and an ungodly amount of warm twinkle lights.

I glanced at Pete. “Can you call Leah down here?”

He nodded and ran over to a worktable with one of our landlines.

“Lynn and Jared can you come over here?”

Lynn was behind her triple screens and Jared was working at one of the worktops with ribbon, scissors, and a half decorated wreath.

“What’s going on?” Lynn glanced at me, then to Xavier with interest.

I waved her over. She frowned, but got up from her desk and met us in the faux kitchenette.

Jared came over with his ever present can of Coke Zero. “Hey, Boss. What’s up?”

“Everyone, this is Xavier.”

Lynn’s eyebrows shot up. “Jude’s Xavier?”

“Actually, I’m her Xavier.” He winked at Lynn.

I felt the flush rising up my neck. Damn my fair skin. “We’re just waiting on Leah. I wanted to talk to all of you about something.”

Pete came over with a bottle of water. “Got us all buzzing, kid.”

I laughed. “It’s been a day.”

“And then some.” Xavier lightly stroked my lower back.

Lynn and Jared shot each other glances and I had the strongest urge to move away from him. It wasn’t professional. But his big hand held me still. His reassuring warmth and solid nature overrode any need for space.

The next few minutes were a little awkward. I gave them updates from my earlier phone calls, but everyone was distracted by Xavier. I couldn’t blame them, so was I.

And I still didn’t know what the hell was actually going on.

I glanced up at Xavier. I was going to try something novel.

I was going to trust someone other than me.