I regretted lying to him, but I wouldn’t regret anything else. It had been years in the making, and damn him if he denied his feelings after all of that.
Harry
“And, with the sponsorship of the Foundation, we will build eighteen more centres around the world, as well as train and employ hundreds of nurses, technicians, doctors and surgeons, and provide free healthcare for anyone in the surrounding areas.”
I stared numbly at Darcy Hastings as he lifted the remote up to the screen in the glass-walled conference room and clicked to the next image.
A group of happy doctors appeared, all grinning at the camera outside the new medical research facility – the first of many, if Darcy got his way.
“We’re asking for five hundred million to launch the project, with a five-year time frame, and two-hundred-and-fifty million each following year until the entire project comes to fruition. We hope to use any extra funds to assist local general practices based around the hospitals and research facilities.”
Darcy had on his plastic smile, but he was so good at it by now that it reached his eyes as he stood before the ten of us gathered around the boardroom table.
I could see why Dom slept with him.
Perfect curls, a perfect veneer, and a gorgeous body hidden under an expensive suit that he always flaunted in the summer. He even had dimples, for God’s sake.
Dom might not have slept with him during the Summer Gala on the boat, but they had known each other long enough that they must have fucked at least once.
Bastards.
“I’ve supplied folders that lay out a specific plan of expansion for the first two years, as well as predicted costs, labour, and other necessary requirements. There are several organisations and collectives already interested in participating in the project.”
I didn’t touch my folder, even though the members of the Board had been rifling through theirs as Darcy spoke.
“We have also presented this proposal to several other organisations, but my grandfather and I wanted to give you the chance to bid first, given that he’s on the board.” We’d excluded Lord Hastings from the presentation for that very reason.
“The bidding will begin in two weeks.” Darcy continued. “Do you have any questions?”
“No, thank you,” I replied, pushing my folder away from me. “That will be all.”
I didn’t want to drag this out any further. It had only been two days since I ran from Dom’s flat, and I could barely cope with anything happening around me, let alone the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside me.
Darcy’s mask flickered for a second, the tiniest hint of annoyance crossing his face before that beaming smile returned.
“Well, thank you all so much for this opportunity. It has been wonderful meeting you again.” Like he hadn’t snuck onto the yacht a fortnight ago.
“You’ll be hearing from us soon,” I said. My voice was flat, almost dead, as I dismissed him.
Darcy gathered up his folder and briefcase, flashing me a knowing smirk as he sailed past and left through the door behind me.
I briefly wondered if he was planning to blackmail me after seeing Dom and me almost kissing, but at this point, I really didn’t care. The drama would be a good distraction from everything else.
There was silence around the conference table, until Mr Collin’s cleared his throat, beginning with his usual advance. “Well, I would say that was a very interesting project indeed.” He clasped his hands together, leaning forwards, preparing for the discussion.
He was one of the Board members who had voted against me taking leadership, and had protested strongly when I dismissed Mum from her role on the Board. Along with Lord Hastings, the younger Ms Deveroux’s and Madame Lavigne, as well as Mum, naturally. But thankfully, they only made up five out of the eleven votes.
After a presentation, our routine was to spend an hour discussing both the pros and the cons of a project. But I didn’t have the patience to wrangle with them today. I refused to sit for an hour listening to them discuss the benefits as if it didn’t matter that people’s lives were at stake.
“I believe it’s obvious that we will go ahead with this project,” I said before any chatter could start.
A number of Board members opened their mouths to protest, but I cut them off. “Five hundred million is a small price to pay to set up free health centres in third-world and war-torn countries. We will put in a bid for seven-hundred-and-fifty to cover overruns and future costs. This requires no further discussion.” I rose from my chair, and nausea hit me deep in my stomach as stars burst behind my eyes. I disguised the head rush by placing my hand firmly on the back of the chair.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I said, hoping that the other members didn’t catch my moment of weakness. I had let myself show far too much recently. It was why I was in this situation in the first place.
Tucking the folder under my arm, I kept my pace neutral as I left them to it. They could discuss it all they wanted; my decision was final. I focused solely on keeping myself upright as I weaved through corridors to reach my office.
The moment I stepped inside, I slammed the door behind me, my back falling against it, gasping furiously as bile rose to the back of my throat. I threw the folder on the sofa near thedoor, clutching my chest at the brutal, raw ache that pounded through it.