Page 75 of My Book Boyfriend
Rowena and I stand and leave.
Rowena smiles when we’re out the door. “Percy’s presentation was good, but I expected it to be better. There’s no way Dad is going to vote against me. I think he’ll be able to convince Grandpa.” She punches my arm fondly. “And Grandpa likes Lily. She’s a formidable enemy.” Rowena laughs. “I think it may have helped her cause—and ours.”
“I thought we might have a chance when I saw the photo of our horrible family dinner on Grandpa’s desk,” I say.
“I gave Grandpa that photo,” Rowena says.
“You did?” I never suspected.
“When I told him that we wanted to be co-CEOs. As a reminder that his approach last time had serious familial consequences.”
“I think it worked.”
Rowena smiles. “I’m off to my office.”
“I’ll check on Lily.” Lily is actuallyinmy building.
I take the elevator to the kitchen and peek in. Lily is there, rolling out dough as she asks the chef some question about consistency. Her face is scrubbed clean of makeup, her hair up in a ponytail, the wig sitting on top of an upside-down vase.
My heart beats faster. We are back together.
She and smiles at me.
“They’re conferring.” I walk into the kitchen.
She looks up at me. “I hope we win. And I think your dad is right, that playing with dough is a good way to relieve stress.”
Our chef smiles. “We’ve finished this batch, or I’d offer you a chance too.”
Lily washes her hands and says, “I’ve got to deliver lunch to one of the small conference rooms. I’ll go get the cart from the back.”
I follow her through the connecting doors to the storage room behind the kitchen. As the kitchen door swings closed behind us, I lean against the second door archway, backing her up against the frame. “I didn’t get a chance to really kiss you earlier.”
She tilts her head up.
Mmm. She tastes of cookie dough and tea. I pull her tight against me. It feels like it’s been much longer than a week.
My phone alarm goes off.
“Time to get back.” I reluctantly release her. “Would you withdraw the lawsuit and agree to maintain the garden and plan the roof garden if we approve Option A, where we keep two-thirds of the garden?”
“Are you trying to kiss me into submission?” she asks.
“I’m willing to throw the kissing in for free,” I say.
“Mrs. Potter has to approve it, and we have to run it by our board, but I think yes. We’d be thrilled.”
I walk back into the conference room. Rowena is already seated, but she looks the most relaxed I’ve seen her in weeks. She’s very good at reading her dad. And Percy Anderson is not there.
Grandfather clears his throat. “We’ve decided to appoint you both as co-CEOs. The decision about the building is yours.” The general counsel hands him a resolution to sign.
As Uncle Tom co-signs it, he says, “I look forward to your stewardship. And my own retirement.”
I turn to Rowena. Her huge smile must mirror mine. We did it.
I gesture to Rowena to take the floor.
“I motion to approve Option A as our proposed architectural design for West 84thStreet,” she says.
