Page 38 of Secrets, Scandals and Baby Shoes

“There’s a mess with Keype.” Frustration oozed from Elliot, mostly because he knew this was his fault. It was too much to run two companies in two different cities at the same time, so of course he’d dropped the ball on something. “I need to go to Chicago.”

“I heard that. When are you leaving?”

“Now.” Elliot bit his lip. “I’m sorry, Lucy, but I have to go. It’s my company.”

“I understand.” She tugged a strand of hair. “I can run things here.”

“Of course you can.” Elliot gave her a quick kiss, but his mind was already back in Chicago with Keype. “I need to go.”

“Call me when you land,” Lucy said, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice. Elliot wanted to reassure her, but he needed to leave. Now. He needed to fix this. Now.

“I will.”

He grabbed a couple things from the desk, along with his backpack, and called a rideshare that would take him straight to JFK. On the way, he booked a last-minute plane ticket, wishing, not for the first time, that he had his own jet as many CEOs did. As it was, he’d be traveling in a middle seat in economy for an exorbitant fee, but it couldn’t be helped. He needed to get back tonight.

On the flight, Elliot paid for a Wi-Fi package and spent the whole journey working. His assistant sent a car to pick him up at O’Hare on the other end, and Elliot kept working right through the ride. He went straight to the office, where Jennifer and a few other important employees were waiting for him in the conference room. They jumped straight into work.

It became immediately clear that, as much as Elliot thought he’d been coping with remote work, he hadn’t been. Things at Keype had spiraled out of control in his absence, and it wasn’t just about the new product. That product had only been the first thing to fall apart. There were dozens of other small fires burning that only he could put out.

Elliot stayed at the Keype offices half the night, making a plan of action for firefighting. It was only in the cab on the way back to his apartment, which he hadn’t seen in almost a month, that Elliot realized he’d never called Lucy to tell her that he’d arrived safely. He sent her a quick message letting her know that he was here and that he’d need to stay for a few days to sort everything out. Then he put his phone away, his mind already drifting back to work.

The next few days were spent in hectic activity. Elliot had to catch up on everything he’d missed while he’d been in New York, figure out a strategy for dealing with the flaws in the new product, and address dozens of small issues that could easily escalate. He had little time to keep in touch with Lucy or work on Borderless business. He had little time even to rest.

The more Elliot worked on Keype, the more it became clear that he couldn’t run two businesses and be a good boyfriend to Lucy. Something would have to give, and it couldn’t be the company he’d spent years of his life building. So, once everything was sorted out with Keype for the moment, Elliot flew back to New York and called a private meeting with Borderless’s board members. He didn’t tell Lucy.

“I’ve enjoyed being one of the CEOs,” Elliot explained to the gathered board members on an unseasonably cool Saturday morning they’d chosen for the meeting. “But the co-CEO position was only meant to be a temporary measure. Clearly, Lucy is able to run Borderless well, and I’m not. Not when I also need to run Keype.”

“So, that’s why you’d like to sell your shares and resign your position?” one of the board members asked.

Elliot nodded. “Exactly. Ideally, I’d retain a presence in some way, but in an advisory role, not as a CEO.”

“Have you spoken to Ms. Winter about this?” another board member inquired.

“Not yet.” Elliot sighed. He knew Lucy would be sad that they wouldn’t be working together anymore, but hopefully, she’d understand that his stepping back was a vote of confidence in her work. He still wanted to be with Lucy, even if it was hard to imagine how to make that happen. He still wanted Borderless to be all it could be. He also wanted to keep Keype afloat. He just couldn’t do everything at once. “But I’d like to be the one to talk to her.”

“All right. I believe we can now take a vote.”

The board members voted for Elliot to be allowed to sell his shares and step down in two weeks’ time. Elliot left the meeting with a heavy heart at the changes that would come but feeling lighter than he had in a while. Finally, he could focus on Keype and on Lucy without worrying about another whole company in addition. It would be hard to walk away from Borderless or even to take a step back, but Elliot knew it was the right thing to do. It was the only choice.

He returned to his New York apartment that afternoon. He’d have to tell Lucy what he’d decided sooner or later but later felt better. He wanted to tell her in the right way so as not to jeopardize their relationship.

A part of Elliot asked if he could keep his relationship with Lucy strong while working in Chicago most of the time, but he kept that part quiet. They would make it work. Somehow. She wouldunderstand that most of his energy needed to go into Keype right now. Wouldn’t she?

CHAPTER 19

LUCY

Lucy was worried.

Elliot had run off to Chicago without a backward glance, which she’d understood. Obviously, he needed to do what it took to keep his company afloat, and she’d suggested herself that he should go back and check on things. No, her worries sprung from the fact that, since he’d left for Chicago almost a week ago, she’d barely heard from Elliot beyond brief texts letting her know that he was all right and that work was piling up. He was still in Chicago now.

Lucy spent her weekend doing a little work in her apartment and catching up with her roommates, who she hadn’t spent a lot of time with over the last few weeks. She watched a movie on Sunday night and went to bed early. Carrying Borderless herself the past week had been a struggle, though she felt she’d risen to the challenge.

Monday morning, Lucy was in the office bright and early as usual after a brisk swim session in the local pool. She rode the elevator up with Gabriel, her friend and colleague in the HR department.

“You’re in early today.” She smiled at him as she pressed the button for their floor.

“There’s lots to do today.” Gabriel smiled at her. “Congratulations, by the way.”

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