“Sorry, Scar. You’ve got dinner at eight with Chadwick and your father.”
Whoops.Chadwick just reminded me last night, and I already forgot. I shore up my happy smile.
“No, no. That’s okay. It’ll be good. Dad and Chadwick get along like two preppy dude-bros at a golf course. It’ll be fun. After all, when else do I really get to see Dad?”
Having already lost one parent much too soon, I’m painfully aware that every minute I get to spend with my dad matters because he won’t always be around. Whether he and I connect isn’t the point. It’s the fact that he’s my father, and I’m not going to avoid him because he’s still not sure what to make of me, since I don’t fit into his corporate-ladder-climbing ideal.
I am, however, a CEO, which you’d think would make him happy, but not so much. But tonight ... tonight I’m going to make him smile. Maybe he’ll even say he’s proud of me. That would make it all worthwhile.
With an awkward grin, Amy continues. “Do you want Kelsey to come back and touch you up beforehand? I can check with her and see if it works with her schedule.”
“No, that’s fine. It’s a family thing. I don’t have to be perfect.” As I say it, I can’t help but wish I had a massive family with rowdy siblings who would put me in a headlock and mess up my hair as a matter of course. Being an only child has been tough sometimes.
“Okay, then. That’s it. Is there anything you need me to add to my list for the day?”
Amy keeps a running list of every single project that’s in process, and somehow manages to keep track of everything like she was born for this role.
“First, you are amazing. Second, what do you think about us designing and selling our own line of stationery products?”
Amy’s eyes light up. “I was thinking the same thing. Journals, especially.”
“And fun pencils!” I add with a smile. “It’s like you’re in my brain. I’ll shoot you some notes I made yesterday morning so we can start searching for suppliers to get quotes. I also made a few terrible sketches of ideas I had to show graphic design so they could work on some mockup artwork.”
“You got it, Scar. I think those would be a great addition to the gift shop area. People are seriously crazy for anything Curated. You’re building an empire. Just like your mom.”
My smile stretches wider, and I swallow the emotions Amy’s words evoke. “It wasn’t my intention, but I’ll take it. I’ll touch base with you after the appointments on three and before I leave to scout. Sound good?”
“Deal. I hope you have an awesome day.” Amy gives me a beaming grin as she backs out of my apartment. “And don’t forget to tell Christine I did what she wanted so I don’t get in trouble.”
“No problem.”
Just before Amy shuts the door behind her beautifully curly red head, I remember the other important task I have this week. Perhapsthemost important task.Getting a plan and a crew together to show up at Legend on Saturday night.
“Hey, Ames?” I call out.
“Yeah?”
“What do I have going on Saturday?”
She swipes across the screen of the phone in her hand, silent for a beat, before she looks up. “You have a dinner with Chadwick and some pharmaceutical-industry lobbyists at eight thirty.”
“Shit.”
Amy’s shoulders shoot back, like she’s ready to go to battle. “You want me to cancel it?”
I shake my head. “No, I’ll take care of it. But ... make sure nothing gets added to my calendar from seven o’clock on.”
“Consider it all blocked out. Anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Thanks again. Talk to you later.”
She gives me another smile, but this one a bit less radiant. I get the sense that my employees aren’t really fans of Chadwick, but they don’t see the whole picture. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. Probably because I’m not ready to take a hard look at the situation and do anything about it right now. Besides, it’s not like I want to date someone else or need to be single.
As soon as the thought appears in my head, it’s accompanied by blue eyes, dark blond hair, a craggy jaw, sharp cheekbones—and a body carved from granite that can perform amazing feats, like making grown men beg for mercy.
A flash of heat ignites low in my belly, and an intense need tears through me.
What in the ever-loving hell was that?