Page 9 of The Tempo of Truth
I shoved my hair out of my face and forced myself to slip back into collected CEO mode.I was young, but I’d been born into this role and ruthlessly trained for this inevitable takeover since before I could walk.My Aunt Channing always assured me I didn’t have to run the business if I didn’t want to.She watched this company and the greed it bred kill my mother.She told me over and over again that I was allowed to forge my future in whatever way I saw fit.No one who loved me was going to make me walk in the steps that came before me.
For a short while, when I was studying abroad, I thought I might want to walk away from everything I inherited.I liked art and design far more than being trapped in a glass prison all day long.I enjoyed jumping around the globe, chasing the one thing I wanted but could never have—Kyser Kent.It was fun being a fangirl and pretending that I was like anyone else with an unrequited love for a superstar athlete.I followed him through his triumphs and caught him when he collapsed in disgrace.I didn’t take much of anything seriously since it was the first time in my life I wasn’t living with the stigma of being the Halliday heiress.No one really knew who I was or what family I came from when I was playing pretend.They treated me the same as all the other international students, and I thrived living with zero expectations placed on me.I honestly thought I was going to leave the privileged life I’d always had behind for something much simpler and less high-profile.
Everything changed after that night with Ky in Lisbon.
It didn’t take long after I left him there before I realized I was pregnant.Once I decided to keep the baby and tell my family I planned to raise the child on my own, my priorities shifted.Even if I didn’t want all the responsibility that came with being a Halliday, or the massive conglomerate that cast a shadow across the entire world, I had to preserve everything for my son.I wanted him to have the option of taking over the family legacy, the same way my uncles protected that opportunity for me.Once I knew I was going to be a mother, my wanderlust vanished, and I craved stability.And Ky.He was nevernotpart of the reason I made the choices I did.Coming back to the city was inevitable because he was there.
I knew I had to tell him that he was a father.The longer I waited, the more he and Lowe were going to resent me for not telling them the truth and delaying their inevitable meeting.
Part of me fully expected Ky to walk away.I ignored the small corner of my heart that always wanted to believe the best of him.The part that still viewed him as a savior.That tiny piece of me hoped Ky wanted some sort of relationship with his son and prayed he could forgive me for keeping him a secret for so long.
“Look at my schedule and set meetings with all the department heads individually.Tell the media department to find me a podcast with high ratings and a primarily female audience and host to interview me.I’m not going to make myself available through the methods my uncles have always used.I want to set myself apart right away.I plan to use my youth to my advantage.Tell anyone on the board worried aboutopticsthat it’s time to get a new eyeglass prescription.I’m not justifying or explaining anything in my private life to them.Ever.Make sure they know my kid and anything to do with him is off limits.I won’t make idle threats like Uncle Win and Uncle Alistair.As the majority shareholder, I will remove them from their position without a second thought.”I rubbed my temples and looked at my assistant, who was rapidly tapping on the tablet.“I need you to clear a couple of hours for me on Friday for a personal matter.Have Helio come and find me so I can go over the details with him.”
“I will take care of everything.”Jeremiah lifted his head and reminded me, “You’re supposed to meet with Oliver Byrd about the merger between our company and his.Your Uncle Alistair started the acquisition.He said to remind you that you can call him if you have any questions or if any complications arise.”
I pushed away from the desk and picked up my own tablet.I briefly ran through everything I knew about Oliver and the Byrd Hotel and Resort chain acquisition.The Byrd hospitality brand had been around for quite a while.Not as long as the Halliday name, but it was a company that could hold its own on the trading room floor.Oliver was the oldest grandson of the founder.He wanted to expand the business overseas and invest in large, commercial convention properties.The best way to achieve that goal was to sell to Halliday Inc.and take advantage of all the opportunities and open doors that the name provided.If I remembered correctly, the former CEO was aghast at the idea of selling, and there was some serious family division over the decision.
I instantly sympathized with the new executive and the position he found himself in.Family legacies were extremely hard to maintain.It was a struggle that often felt less than rewarding.I hoped the merger would be simple and not cutthroat since the negotiations started with both of us in similar situations.
When I entered the meeting room, I was immediately taken aback by how youthful and attractive Oliver Byrd happened to be.I’d grown up around suave and sophisticated men.Polished and proper gentlemen were a dime a dozen at the different prep schools I attended, which is why I was so drawn to Ky when we first met.He was the opposite of everything I’d ever known and been exposed to.
I was surprised that my new business partner reminded me that there was something special about a man so well put together.Confidence and arrogance sat comfortably upon his broad shoulders as he introduced himself and became acquainted with everyone in the room.His manners were also predictably flawless.He shook my hand and pulled out a seat at the table for me before Jeremiah had the opportunity to.Oliver Byrd was the type of man my psychotic grandmother would crawl out of her grave to force me into marrying.
The uncomfortable thought made me shiver.Jeremiah caught the small action and moved to adjust the temperature.Not wanting to delve into my childhood trauma, I didn’t stop him.
“I wondered if you were going to take over the merger when my team told me that you were back in the city.I’m honored to be your first project.”When he smiled at me, I noticed there was a deep dimple on his left cheek.It made him appear even more charming.
It would take more than an attractive man with a killer smile to fluster me.If I wilted because of a few kind words, I was never going to make it as the head honcho of Halliday Inc.I channeled my Aunt Bellamy, who everyone swore was colder than an iceberg, and kept my expression neutral.
“Things should proceed smoothly, leading to a solid deal that benefits both companies.My specialty is in hotel and resort development, making this collaboration a perfect starting point.”I returned his smile.“I’m fairly familiar with the Byrd brand.Global expansion is clearly the next step, and Halliday Inc.is happy to help you take it.”
Heads nodded in agreement, and things quickly shifted to contract terms and negotiation.A deal this large and lucrative had a lot of moving parts.The back and forth proceeded smoothly, but there was no way to finalize our cooperation in a single afternoon.
I noticed the handsome man across the teak table kept watching me.The corner of his mouth was hitched up in a permanent grin, and all of his responses were thoughtful and low-pressure.It was more like a pleasant chat between friends than a cold, business-only meeting.
About an hour and a half in, my assistant tapped the tablet and pointed to the time in the corner.I blinked, not realizing how quickly the minutes passed by.I tried to draw things to a close tactfully as I motioned for Jeremiah to see everyone off and schedule the next steps.I grabbed my things and went to leave but got stopped at the door by a hand on my elbow.
I looked back and met a pair of bright, smiling eyes.“Are you busy?If you don’t have plans for lunch, I would love to take you out for something to eat.I rarely encounter someone I have so much in common with.Since we’re going to be business partners, I’d like the chance to get to know you better, Winnie.”
I discreetly pulled my arm free and offered a placating smile.I’d been hit on enough to know if someone was approaching me with an eye on what benefits they might receive for being with me.There was genuine curiosity in his greenish-blue eyes when Oliver looked at me, but I saw an underlying urgency he couldn’t quite hide in his gaze.
“Sorry.I’m picking up my son for lunch.”I kept the refusal firm.I couldn’t care less if spending time with my son disrupted my working hours.I planned to pick him up every single day once school started and be home for dinner whenever possible.
“So heisyour son.I didn’t want to assume since you haven’t made a public statement about the little boy’s identity.You’ve done a great job staying off the radar for the last several years.You sure know how to make an entrance, Winnie.You and the kid are all anyone is talking about in exclusive, and not-so-exclusive, social circles these days.”
I hummed in acknowledgment.“I’m a popular topic across the board.”As a member of my family, I grew numb to seeing our name in the headlines and became immune to false information flooding the internet about me.“I’ve really got to get going.It was nice to put a face to the name finally.I look forward to our future cooperation.”
I reached for the door again and paused when he said, “Maybe we can get together outside of work at another time.One can never have enough powerful allies when they’re in the position we find ourselves in.”Oliver’s tone shifted to outright flirty and lost the sharp edge it held during negotiations.
I didn’t agree or disagree.I politely muttered, “We can revisit the offer at a more opportune time,” and slipped out of the meeting room.My grandmother would be disgustingly proud of the haughty, untouchable tone of voice I used.All the brutal lessons she’d forced upon me in my childhood were finally finding some use.
I nodded to several employees on my way to the executive elevator.I rode it down to the private garage under the building where Helio was waiting with the blacked-out Bentley the company provided for my use upon my return.He was standing by the back door, and I could hear Lowe laughing from within the darkened interior.
I couldn’t hold back a smile, as Helio reached for the door handle.“How did he do at my father’s?”
My dad suffered severe burns in the house fire that killed my mother.He’d spent years going through both physical and emotional therapy and had suffered through various reconstructive surgeries.He looked much better now than when I was a teenager, but I worried Lowe might be startled by his appearance now that he was old enough to process that his grandfather looked different from everyone else.
“He did great.Spent the entire day playing with the new puppy your dad got for your siblings.Your stepmother promised to take him out on their boat the next time he visits.I think he’s going to be incredibly spoiled by the time school starts.”
