Page 6 of Broken Headboards

What I have, I earned.

DominaDesigns is one of the most important boutique furnishing companies in the state because of my hard work, not because I inherited a shitload of money. To be fair, my father taught me the ropes—but he did it out of the cramped carpentry he worked in for most of his life. If anything, I inherited his knowledge; the rest, I conquered with my own sweat.

“Ma’am,” my secretary buzzes me from the outside. “Your lawyer has just called. Told me to say it was urgent.”

“Thank you!” I say as I grab the phone and dial Ashley’s number. She picks up on the first tone. “Please, Ashley, tell me this is really important and that you’re not calling to talk about Taylor.”

“C’mon, girl,” she laughs, and the way she does makes me picture her twirling her hair around one finger, just like she always does. “I’m not that obsessed.”

“Uh-uh,” I say, not convinced.

“Listen,” she says to me. “Are you working late today?”

“No, I don’t think so. Just finished closing a deal and—” but she doesn’t let me finish.

“Another asshole you kicked in the balls then?” She laughs, and I can’t help but laugh back. Girls will be girls.

“Maybe. Aside from that, there’s not much going on. I’ll just spend the rest of the day with Accounting; they want to make sure our books are in order. You know how it goes.”

“I do. And I also know that you need to get your ass to Clarendon Tower tonight. There’s a board meeting scheduled for tonight, and I think you’ll like what’s on the agenda.”

“A board meeting? But aren’t we’re out of board presidents after Jeremiah Hoody?”

“I know, right? Just make sure you’re there. This is big.”

“What do you mean by—?” I start to ask, but she cuts me off before I have the chance to finish my sentence.

“Tess, just know this one thing…” She hesitates for a moment, her words hanging in the air, and then I can almost feel her smile from the other side of the line. “Your life’s about to change, girl. Trust me.”