Page 70 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal
But something else told me he was only being kind now because the other board members weren't around. If they thought for a second that he supported Lucian in this, they'd turn on him just as quickly.
"I did, actually, because it’s my job as CFO. But as a friend, I'm telling you, Cross has a target on his back. If you want to keep your job here, stay out of the blast radius. Viktoria is toxic, and she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone and anything in her path." He frowned and sighed. "I believe Lucian when he says he was just mentoring you, but other board members feed off Viktoria's venom. Just watch your back."
My tight nod was all I could manage as he walked away, and I glanced at Lucian through the windows to his office. He was on a call, looked up, and met my gaze as he spoke.
For a split second, I saw recognition like he realized I was upset about something, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
It didn't matter how careful we were or where we secreted away to. Lucian's ex-wife was going to use me to destroy him, and I didn't know how I felt about that.
Because I wanted him bad enough to keep sneaking around, even if I got caught.
I just hated that it could come back to bite him.
I prayed that wouldn’t happen.
20
LUCIAN
I knew I was walking into an execution the moment I stepped into that boardroom.
The table that had once felt like my throne now loomed in front of me like a guillotine, and I was the condemned man adjusting his own collar.
I knew my world was crumbling.
Three board members sat across from me like judges at a tribunal, and I could feel the noose tightening with every breath I took. This was an ambush.
Robert Vaughn led the charge without even attempting to make this meeting appear anything other than the attack it was. "Lucian, we need to examine these travel expenses from the past few months. Your travel arrangements have come into question."
He was cutting right to the chase and I hadn't prepared for this.
I adjusted my tie and leaned forward as I folded my hands together over the table. "I've never had a problem with any of my travel arrangements before, Bob. Why are they coming into question now?" If they weren't going to just come right out andtell me what I was being accused of directly, I was going to make them squirm too.
"There have been rumors of misappropriation of discretionary?—"
"Bob," I snipped, cutting him off, "I am the CEO. I am the one who approves discretionary spending." Every muscle in my body was tight as I sat straighter and looked each of them in the eye, Daniel, James, and Robert.
The entire board wasn't present, which meant not all of them were coming against me.
Daniel especially surprised me.
He was closer to me than the rest, and he knew how hard I fought to build this company.
If I chose to mentor one of my staff members, it should’ve been my choice. The only reason they were raising concerns was because of my ex-wife causing a ruckus in the background.
They shifted through their papers while avoiding eye contact and not one of them answered my question.
But James leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "And the rationale for bringing executive assistants to client meetings?" When he raised his eyes to meet mine, I felt the jab of accusation.
I forced myself to think of Tessa's capabilities—her brilliant mind, her ability to read clients better than analysts with decades of experience, her uncanny talent for spotting opportunities others missed.
Then I thought of her smile in the morning when she first woke up and the way the pet name she gave me sounded when she purred it in my ear while I was buried in her, and it made me feel unhinged.
These men had no right to question my authority. Legally, they could bring into question my duties as CEO, challengemy ability to lead, but this meeting was nothing other than an attempt to drag my good name through the mud for no reason.
"Tessa Wynn brings unique analytical skills to our negotiations," I said, biting back the defensive edge that threatened to creep into my voice. "Her insights have directly contributed to successful closures, including the Morrison acquisition in Boston and the Henderson account."
The truth was, however, that she'd also become essential to my mental health.
