Page 17 of Matrimonial Merger

“It is technically a merger, is it not? Because I swear if you call this an acquisition?—”

Cal shook his head. “It never would be. This is far from a hostile takeover, princess.”

PART II

THE PLAN

6.ONE LAST GLANCE

Daphne

I was perchedover my desk side trash can when I heard the sound of my brother’s voice.

“Daph? You in here?”

He couldn’t see me from where he was. I was physicallybelowthe desk. I hoped maybe he’d leave me to this indignity and go elsewhere, but Davey was as perceptive as a brick. So, he called out once more, “Daph, if you’re hiding?—”

I raised my left hand and waved it, choking out, “I’m not feeling well, but I’m here.”

Davey rushed over, concerned, then backed away realizing what was going on. I expected him to run—even gag—but he just ran into the bathroom and returned with a cool, wet hand towel.

“In case you like… need it,” Davey said.

I slowly sat back up in my chair and put it on my forehead. “I’m sorry. What do you need?”

His eyes remained on the trash.

“It’s just a bin.”

“With… puke…”

“I didn’t puke. I dry heaved. IthoughtI would puke.”

“That sounds awful.”

“It is,” I said, tired of talking about it. “What do you need?”

Davey sat on the edge of my desk. “Are you going to do the Chicago Business Week luncheon? They need a response and have been relentlessly bothering Melinda. And Anna says she knows nothing.”

I groaned. “Because I never responded to your email. Must I? No one wants to see me. Can’t you do it?”

“Daph, theyaskedfor you. You are supposed to be their fucking keynote.”

“I doubt they will care if you do it.”

“The never have a woman keynote. The quarterly luncheon is always a dude. If they are asking for you, they want you. It’s a sausage fest. You’d know if you ever went, sister.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, anotherveryinclusive space.”

“Look, I am not going to claim it is. However, they wantyouand I think you should go.”

I was drowning. I wanted so badly to say no.

Davey’s face softened. “Daph, I know it’s a lot. It’ssomuch. You just survived the holidays. You’re pregnant. You feel like shit. And tomorrow, you’ll have to face something worse. I am here to support you no matter what, but the Daphne I know would want me to tell her to do it because she’ll regret it if she doesn’t.”

His tone was earnest beyond measure, sweet even! Normally, all Davey did was become immediately frustrated and bark at me when he got whipped up.

“Are you getting soft, David?” I joked.

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