Page 15 of Keep Me Never
“Mr. Randolph, I know this is supposed to be a nice evening off work, but can I run my thoughts on the Carlson merger by you since we’re here?”
I look to Prescott, who sits across from me.
He offers me a subtle wink, and I silently thank him for taking the attention away. The last forty minutes the spotlight has been on me, and I’m starting to get a little twitchy.
If there is one thing I have learned about Grant, it’s that not a second should be wasted, so he, of course, is eager to jump right into that conversation.
Letting out a long, low breath, I focus on finishing off my risotto.
The staff comes out a few minutes later, swapping our dishes to a small, elegant dessert, and the moment I taste the zesty key lime treat, I instantly know I’d like to try to replicate it.
It’s delicate and airy, and if this were a buffet, I’d definitely go for another.
“Lost in thought or a good food coma?”
My head snaps left to find Prescott lowering into the seat beside me. With a quick flick of my gaze around the table, I realize everyone has stood and is making their way into the massive sitting room, where it looks like the staff is serving steaming cups of coffee.
My nose scrunches and I give him a sheepish look. “Bit of both?”
He chuckles, settling back in the seat, and starts to loosen his tie. “Yeah, I think I overate, too, but there’s just something about Danny’s cooking.”
“Is that the chef’s name?”
“You haven’t met him yet? I could introduce you. He’s around your age, in fact.” He grins.
“Oh no, I am happy to meet him some other time.” I laugh lightly.
Prescott joins in, reaching for his glass of water. “Yeah, I imagine you have enough on your plate at the moment. If it’s any consolation, your grandfather is the best man I know.” When I meet his gaze, he continues. “He took a chance on me when no one else would. Well, not without having to hear an earful from my father anyway.”
“Your dad didn’t want you to be in the protect-the-trust-fund-babies business?”
His lips spread into a full smile, and he laughs. “That’s a pretty good one, and no, he definitely wanted me in the financial world.” He winks again. “But only if it was his company I was working for.”
“And you didn’t want that?”
“I wanted to earn what came my way, not have it handed to me. I’ve been here since the moment I was allowed to intern, and I have no plans on leaving.”
My expression softens. “That’s honorable.”
“Or foolish. See, I have to win over the future owner now, or she might just fire me.”
I shake my head, a tentative smile playing on my lips. “I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
His face relaxes into genuine curiosity. “But you will?”
“I’m not so sure. His terms are…”
“Steep?”
“I was thinking more like ridiculous, but yes.”
Prescott laughs loudly, and Grant looks over at us from across the room. His lips twitch and he holds up his glass before turning back to his conversation.
“Well, if there is one thing I can tell you, it is that that man holds loyalty and family above everything else. Sometimes he can be a little aggressive about it, but it always comes from a good place. At heart, he is a softy; he just doesn’t always know how to show it. With you though, he’s different. I think you’re good forthe old man,” he says, slowly climbing to his feet. He holds a hand out. “Come on, let’s get in there before Eloise starts making plans for me without my input.”
I accept his offer and let him lead me into the room. Thankfully, the attention doesn’t fall back on me for the remainder of the night, and for once, I get to sit back and listen in on the workings of their lives instead of divulging mine.
“Did you have a nice time the other evening?” Grant asks me as we step out of the patio doors into his massive gardens out back.
