Page 13 of I Think They Love You

“Me?”

“You’ve been around the offices since you could crawl,” Eva says, undeterred by Denz’s wide eyes. She turns to Cheryl. “You can’t deny what he’s done for the company with social media.”

Warmth fills Denz’s chest. Eva rarely gives out compliments.

“Posting cute photos of tablescapes online is very different from running a business,” Cheryl counters. Of course. Always the other side of Eva’s coin.

“He contributes more than that,” Eva argues.

“My point is,” Cheryl says, “we need leadership. Someone who takes life seriously—”

“Whoa,” Denz interjects. “I’m a very serious person.”

Cheryl guffaws. “Nephew, be honest. You don’t even take your personal life seriously. I get it. You’re young. Life is fun now. Why commit to anything or anyone, right?”

Denz tries not to squirm. A hush spreads through the room. No one comes to his defense. He’s not sure he has the words to defend himself.

“CEO is a significant commitment,” Cheryl carries on. “A marriage. You can’t just log off. Avoid it when things get tough. Are you up for that?”

Denz’s jaw clenches. Leena, his mom, has one unbreakable rule:Respect your elders. She’s old-school Southern. He loves her for that. So, as much as he wants to tell his auntie—Jordan, forgive him—to “fuck off in traffic,” he doesn’t.

Kenneth’s heavy stare lands on him. “Denzel?” He’s waiting for a response.

Everyone is.

“No,” he whispers, to Eva’s obvious dismay.

Expression unreadable, Kenneth adds another note in his phone. “It’s settled, then. The final decision on whether I promote from within or open the position to a wider candidate pool will be decided by each nominee’s performance. I’ll email details later.” He pushes back from the table. “Let’s get to work.”

After the meeting, Denz is halfway to his office, staring downat his phone rather than meeting anyone’s eyes—Jordan’soof I’m glad that wasn’t melook was enough—when he remembers the muffins. He hates leaving a mess for interns to clean up. He turns back to the conference room.

The door is cracked. Soft voices escape. His dad and the aunties.

“Why would you do that in front ofmystaff?”

A sigh from Eva. “You’re really thinking of bringing someone new in, Kenny?”

“I’m doing what’s best for them.”

Denz leans in closer, listening.

“Are you?” Eva challenges. “Is this about you and—”

“My company, my decision,” Kenneth interrupts.

“Wrong,” Cheryl chides. “You own the majority of the shares, but our voice matters. You can’t bring in an outsider.”

Denz hears his dad’s frustrated exhale. Then, Eva again: “You should’ve told them my idea about—”

“We’renotdiscussing that again,” Kenneth says, tone clipped. “No weddings. I’m not going back.”

“You,” Cheryl counters, “need to consider what will keep the company alive.”

“Or the next CEO will,” Eva says.

Denz’s shoulders sink.What the fuck is happening?

“We’re done,” Kenneth commands, voice getting closer.

---