Page 90 of My Ex-Fiance's Best Men
“Only what’s in front of us,” she retorts.
Crystal rolls her eyes and sets her coffee down. “For God’s sake, Phoebe, just sign the damn papers. It’s not over until you do.”
“It will be a lot harder for you if you don’t,” Mr. Harding tells me. “Trust me, Miss Baldwin, this will allow you to live your life however you see fit, without any interference from the company or from your family going forward.”
“As long as I give up my rightful place at this table.”
“I’ll always do what’s in the company’s best interest,” Mom says.
I don’t believe a damn word. But I’m alone up here. They won’t let me call the guys. They’re putting pressure on me, and I’m too tired, too worn out to keep fighting them on my own. Lack of sleep, too much stress… it’s all doing a heavy number on me. Not to mention my newly discovered pregnancy.
How am I going to survive a legal war and carry a baby to term? In this moment, it feels like an impossible choice that I still have to make.
Mr. Harding speaks up. “With your knowledge and expertise, you could start your own company. Build it from the ground up, away from all of this. Let your mother and sister handle Baldwin Enterprises. This legal document gives you absolute freedom. Complete separation from the Baldwins, if you so choose. Surely, it sounds enticing.”
“But I’m a Baldwin, too. Dad wanted me to be a part of it. I love this company just as much as he did. That’s why I settled for a job in the marketing department, if only to be close, to be a part of it, like Dad wanted.” My voice breaks.
I notice a glimmer of emotion in Crystal’s eyes. I don’t know if it’s our father’s memory that touches her, or if she’s having second thoughts, but I dare not get my hopes up again. She’s done just as much damage to me and the company as our mother. She’s just as guilty.
“Just sign it,” Mr. Harding insists, growing impatient. “Sign it and then it will all be over. You will have your peace.”
Peace. It does sound nice. Peace and quiet. Away from all this chaos and animosity. What if I do take over somehow, by some twist of fate, and find myself steering a ship determined to sail off the cliff anyway? What if I can’t undo any of it? What if I just end up going down with the ship in the end?
Maybe I am better off signing this.
Getting it over with.
Getting on with my life.
My hand trembles as I pick up the pen. It doesn’t feel right at all.
“STOP!” Penny’s voice booms across the room as she storms in, accompanied by Dominic, August, and Theo. “Phoebe! Don’t do something you’ll regret!”
My hand lets go of the pen long before her words reach me.
And the mirage breaks.
29
PHOEBE
“Excuse me, this is a private meeting!” Mr. Harding tries to stop my guys and Penny from crashing my mother’s sinister party.
“How dare you? Get out!” Mom snaps as she jumps out of her seat, furiously pointing at the door they just walked through. “This doesn’t concern any of you!”
Penny squares her shoulders as she walks over to the table, dropping a thick, leather-bound folder on top. “Excuseme, but that isn’t accurate at all. I represent Phoebe Baldwin in this case, and that includes any conversation pertaining to Baldwin Enterprises and Mr. Baldwin’s last will and testament,” she declares with a confident smile. “As her attorney.”
“What?” Crystal croaks, damn near choking on her coffee.
“She’s entitled to having her legal counsel present at any and all discussions pertaining to the business,” Penny replies.
Dominic, August, and Theo stand beside me. Their large frames and imposing stature cause Mr. Harding to take a few stepsback. He’s clearly intimidated. Good. I need this weasel to get as far away from me as possible.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.
“Did you really think we’d let your mother pull the rug out from under your feet again?” Theo chuckles softly as he cups my cheek. “God, it’s so good to see you.”
“This is beyond unacceptable,” Mom snarls. “You brought the sex circus here, Phoebe? Seriously?”
