Page 96 of Executive Decision

Mum glared at Cal. “You know better!”

“I, I’m sorry?—”

“You better be. If David were here, he’d still knock you down. Daphne? You could haveanywoman—a grown woman your age?—”

“With all due respect, Lady Danna, Daphne is—and has been—a full-grown woman. I’ve never done anything to hurt her—nor would I!”

“And you’d just risk everything with this scandal following her?” Mum groaned. “I love her. She’s my daughter. I know her heart is good, and Chandler is a twat.”

Where did that come from? My mother’s colorful language surprised me.

“But the press… your supporters? Would they be so kind?”

“I don’t know. I also… I don’t care.”

They wouldn’t. Cal could deny it. He lied to himself that this would be fine, but he already had enough public scrutiny to sink him. Perhaps if he wasn’t so charming and good at rhetoric, it would have. Until my divorce was settled, and he was further into his term, we weren’t going public. It wasn’t to protect me. It was for his own good.

“You should. You gave up a very lucrative position as David’s first choice replacement?—”

“He what?”

I stared past my mother, spying Davey. Fists balled, he strode in.

“Nothing.” Mum shook her head, trying to cover her tracks.

“No, you said Dad asked Cal to be his replacement. His first choice! Did you or did you not?”

“I… that is the past, Davey?—”

“I wasn’t his first choice,” Cal said.

“So, I was? Then why ask. I accepted.” Davey didn’t buy it.

“Your sister was,” Cal sighed. “Then me. Then you.”

Davey flew forward, knocking me down in an attempt to punch Cal. I ignored the scowl, sobbing in pain. The cold marble was a cruel reminder of my fragility. I could barely breathe.

Suddenly, everyone turned. The idiot men stopped.

Mum bent to comfort me. “See what you did? See what everyone’s childish behavior did!?”

The men stood silent, afraid to say or do anything. Finally, Cal dropped and helped me sit.

“Are you alright?” He glared at Davey.

“Can everyone just fucking stop?” I demanded. “I’m in tatters. Cal has done nothing wrong, and Davey has the fragile ego I’ve come to expect.”

“Says Dad’s favorite child!”

“Yeah, well, maybe he had a fucking point since you are running the thing into the ground!”

I didn’t know where I found my voice, but I didn’t expect to see it on my mother’s foyer while in great pain.

“Davey, your head isanywherebut with the retail side. You’re focused on the football team, e-commerce, and anythingbutthe store.”

“You can say that, but at least I’m willing to try with it! Dad wasn’t. He was about to sell the damn thing!”

“What… is that true?” Cal asked, bewildered.

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