Page 83 of Executive Decision

“I’m happy for you.”

I was in the process of setting a chemise aside when my worst nightmare arrived. A man cleared his throat, expecting something. I ignored him, assuming he was rude and expected me to move. He could go around.

My baby sister excitedly announced, “Davey! What are you doing here?”

“Mum said you were up here,” Davey answered. “I saw your names on the schedule. I get a bit of a tip off.”

I ignored my brother.

“Daphne, can we… chat?”

I kept ahold of the lacy garment, hoping to mortify him and sighed, “Last time we chatted, things went tits up quickly.”

Dora giggled. “Tits up! I’m dying! Given…”

Davey’s steely gaze at me quieted her exuberance.

“David, whatever you need to say, you can say with Dora here.”

Davey shook his head, looked down, and scratched the back of his neck. “Daph, I wanted to apologize to you.”

“Oh, really?”

Davey sighed, “Daph, I was out of line?—”

“Again.”

“Yes, again. I will find you something. Give me time. We can talk about the discussion we had earlier. I am… working on it. But you need to give me this quarter?—”

I played it cool, but deep down I guessed I’d won. He may have needed another few weeks to fire the president, but Davey would come around eventually. I’d give him a few more weeks to make progress while lining up my ducks. I still needed the votes to secure a spot as president or a place in the c-suite. And, unlike my brother, I wasn’t keen to be caught with my pants down burning bridges.

“I can do that,” I was firm but fair. “But you need to be kind to me in the interim. We want the same thing. We both want everything to work.”

“In the meantime,” Davey said. “Come up with your plans. No matter what happens, you need to show me—and everyone—how serious you are about this. Nepotism isn’t enough.”

I nodded, my heart leaping. I had plans—loads of them. “I can do that. I am a team player.”

“I know,” he agreed. “I will… leave you to… this.”

He blushed and fled.

“God forbid we buy frilly things!” Dora snickered. “What is going on with you two?”

“We fought. He was an ass,” I answered. “And I suspect Mum harangued him over it. But let’s hope things improve now.”

“A fight about what?”

“Handling the estate,” I answered. “Boring business stuff. You’re not missing anything.”

“Just all the fun,” Dora sighed. “Is it silly if I just buy that ridiculous red thong just for me?”

“Why else would you buy it?” I asked.

“For a man?”

“Dora, a man will not care if you are wearing panties—more than likely. If it makes you feel beautiful, buy it. Make yourself happy first. Don’t rely on a man to do it for you, okay? That’s where I got lost with Chandler and now, I get to spend another ten years playing catch up.”

Dora grinned. “I think you’ll make up for lost time much faster with whomever this dude is. Seriously. Whoishe?”

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