Page 7 of Executive Decision

“Is everything okay?” He read my expression.

“Sure,” I said.

“Oh, you thought I was dragging you to the woodshed?” David chuckled. “I feel like Daphne did that better than I could. I assume you will?—”

“I’ve already told my team it’s top priority, David.”

“Great, great. Don’t let her scare you. She’s Danna’s daughter. She doesn’t give anyone a pass.”

Lady Danna, David’s wife was a perfectionist and no doormat.

“It’s a good quality,” I said. “She holds her own. She was right.”

“Good. Then I don’t have any reason to think you two aren’t going to make this bit work?”

“No, sir. We just discussed it. We’re fine.”

“Great. Then, let’s talk about a new project. This doesn’t leave these four walls,” David brimmed.

“Oh?” I sat before his desk.

“I have an opportunity to buy a property and start up a venture. I cannot manage it all. It’s too much to add to my portfolio without a steward.”

My heart leapt. I hoped like hell he was saying what I thought he was.

“I’d like you to manage it.”

My face erupted into a wide smile. Reading it, David chuckled, “Yeah, yeah. I knew you’d be excited. It’s not done yet. We won’t count our chickens.”

“Of course not. How can I help?”

“When I tie it all up, I’ll bring you in. Until then, keep your head down and focus on helping Daphne with the merger.”

“Will do,” I agreed. “Thank you, David.”

“Now, let’s get into the specifics of it,” David continued. “You are going to love this mixed retail plan. It’s a boutique feel. The branding needs to beperfect.”

David regaled me with the details for my hopeful new project. I stared out the window at the city and thought about whatcouldbe. Any concerns about Daphne faded as I mentally wrote my next chapter.

3THE LAYOVER

Daphne

While preparingfor takeoff in my father’s corporate jet, I couldn’t shake my feelings of inadequacy. This week, I traded the beautiful skyline of Chicago and my office facing Michigan Avenue for quiet in a tropical paradise. While my official reason for this pleasure trip was my cousin’s wedding, I needed a vacation and a sign that I was on the right track.

I spied other executive jets at O’Hare through the window, waiting for their owners to arrive. Where weretheyheaded? What were we waiting for? At this rate, I’d miss my connection to Hawaii.We needed to get to LA. Why weren’t we already in the air?

“Excuse me,” I asked the passing flight attendant. “Can you tell me what the holdup is? Is there something wrong?”

“We’re waiting for one more, Miss Delphine,” she replied. “We will leave very soon.”

It wasn’t uncommon for someone else to hitch a ride on the company plane, but it was unusual when the entire family was already far from the mainland. Who else remained? A man’s head popped into the cabin, and I put it together.

Cal Markham arrived, dressed casually in jeans.Fuck!

“Daphne, how are you?” Cal asked. “Sorry. Traffic was a nightmare.”

“I’m fine,” I said, curt.

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