Page 118 of Bargain With the Boss

“I think we have a few things to discuss, Mrs. Keller. All three of us.”

“I doubt that.”

“Unless you’d like me to make a phone call to my new friend, Frances LeMott, maybe you’d like to reconsider.”

My mother’s ice blue eyes flashed. “Excuse me?”

I glanced at Xavier. How did he know the president of Sophisticated Spaces?

“Maybe now we can have a little meeting.” Xavier tightened his grip on mine.

My mother twirled and stalked back into her domain. I hurried after her, still shocked that Xavier’s hand was in mine.When we got to Judy’s desk her face was slack with distress. She glanced at our linked hands, and a quick smile lit her face before she put her professional mask back on.

“Hold all my calls,” my mother said imperiously from her office.

Judy mouthed, “Are you okay?”

I nodded and Xavier and I followed.

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but the weight of doing everything on my own was suddenly just a little bit lighter.

In my mother’s office she stood behind her desk, her fingers splayed on the glass. “What is the meaning of this? The only reason I haven’t thrown you out of here is?—”

“Cut the act, Mrs. Keller. I’m well aware what you’ve been putting Sydney through. Jude sends his regards, but he won’t be moving back to Seattle.”

My mother’s sharp gaze swung to me. “You can’t do anything right.”

“That’s enough.” Xavier’s voice was ice cold.

Mother’s lips thinned. “You can’t talk to me like that.”

He lifted my fingers to his mouth and brushed a kiss at my palm before letting me go. He walked to the window looking out at the view of the Space Needle. “I had an interesting conversation with Max Chapel this afternoon.”

My eyes widened. What did Max have to do with this?

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 fatherand 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.”