Vanilla On Top(67)
“Incredible.” Tony holds me close, a drip of sweat running from his face to mine. “I can’t think of a better way to wake.”
I blink back the wetness gathering in my eyes and breathe in his musky male scent. Seventeen glorious days, and it could be over. Will it be my last morning with the man I love? Surely what we’re feeling is strong enough to get past anything, right?
The boardroom at Apollo feels stifling the moment I step inside. It’s not the temperature; the air conditioning is working, if the goose bumps on my arms are a good judge. It’s the emotional tension. This deal means a lot to both parties gathered around the conference room table.
Them versus us.
I see Marcus, and a new guy I’ve never met, with two other men who were at the first meeting. The woman who took minutes at our initial gathering isn’t here. But a younger lady sits at a small console behind the conference table, her laptop open and ready.
On our side of the proceedings, we’re missing Harvey, whose early retirement was the only visible major change at Parkerson the past week. Under the surface, gliding below the radar of Apollo, the board has been working hard to hire good salesmen, move money around, and generally shore up our financial standing.
It worked. We’re about to drop the bomb on Apollo. They have no idea. A fluttering of pride in my accomplishments warms my heart. Unfortunately, a flashy title and higher salary might be the only things warming me when winter rolls around. I scan the boardroom for Tony, wondering if he’s in a connecting bathroom or something.
My stomach lurches. God, I feel like I’m going to puke from the stress.
Everyone takes their seats and the new man with slick black hair and a dark blue suit stands. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
My eyes dart to the conference room door. “Where’s Ton—I mean, Mr. Carmine?”
A twisted grin turns up the edges of the new man’s lips. “He was removed from the deal last week. I’m Brian Logan. I’ll be handling the buyout from here.”
What? Who the hell is this guy? I want to scream and shout questions, but it’s not my place to ask. What could have happened that Tony was taken off the deal?
A blush warms my face as I look toward Marcus. Did he tell the owner about what took place last week in Tony’s office? Oh my God, I’d die from mortification if it comes out.
I snatch my cell off the table and angle it under the edge, out of view, before discreetly texting Tony. Why aren’t you here? What happened?
My new boss, Oliver Sayers, rests his briefcase on the table and with great ceremony withdraws five identical folders. The Apollo men look on stoically, oblivious to the world of hurt we’re about to rain on them with our successful plotting.
My screen flashes with Tony’s response. I’m no longer with Apollo. Focus on your meeting. We’ll talk later.
Holy crap! Was Tony fired? How the hell are we going to work past this if I’m responsible for him losing his job? Why didn’t he tell me? Was this morning a “good-bye” lay and I didn’t know it?
The frantic thoughts whirl in my head while a throat clearing from Oliver acts as a gentle reminder to put down my phone. I scramble to apply myself, torn between the drama unfolding inside of me and in front of me. My boss stands and hands a large packet to Brian, then leaves the duplicates on the table, gesturing for the other men to retrieve their copy. “This was prepared by our lawyers. Please take time to read through it.”
Brian’s face freezes as he reaches inside to draw out a thick sheaf of papers.
“As you’ll find, it outlines a cease and desist on the proposed buyout.” Oliver can’t hold back his smug look of satisfaction any longer. “We’ve restructured and won’t be agreeing to the merger.”
The elation flowing from our side of the table feels almost palpable. I want nothing more than to pump my fist in the air and yell, “In your face!” but I manage to hold my professional self in check. Worry over Tony and his job loss weighs on me, helping to keep my mouth shut.
Oliver chooses Brian’s shell-shocked moment to collect his things, signaling we should follow suit. The rest of the Parkerson board members, including me, pack up and move toward the exit.
“Now wait just a damn minute,” Brian calls out, an edge of hysteria creeping into his tone. “If it’s about money, we can talk.”
Marcus meets my eyes, a glow of respect gleaming in his gaze. The pride I’m experiencing in this moment over my part in saving the company warms me from my head to my toes. I get the feeling Marcus didn’t say anything about Tony and me, and he probably won’t. He winks at me, the only sign in his stoic expression that he’s not as righteously angry as his co-worker Brian.