One person laughed a bit nervously.
“Of course we do,” Lara agreed.“Which is why you’ve got the last year’s financials in your packet.”She opened the manila folder that was in front of her and she had Helene distribute a new set of papers.“But since it can be difficult to make sense of it, I brought this.”The page showed the last five years’ profit and loss statements converted to a chart, by division.Out of six divisions, one was wildly profitable.Another had respectable earnings.One was hemorrhaging cash.“Of course, I’m more than happy to consider suggestions from the board.But I will tell you this much, while the communications division has some real value, we need to divest it.The longer we wait, the more employees we lose, the longer the patents sit unused, the less it will be worth.And that affects everyone’s value.Even yours, Mary.”
“So where does Pernell stand on all of this?”another man asked.
“You’re welcome to ask him,” she said.“The bylaws grant us the authority to act without the chairman if he’s not in attendance.”
Lara continued, “To be clear and reiterate a point, I’m not asking anyone to make any decisions today.That would be unfair.I wanted you to see and hear the Donovan Worldwide proposal, and I wanted you to have a chance to meet Connor.As of Friday afternoon, he will be my husband, and therefore entitled to a seat on the board.”
Around the table, a few glances were exchanged, and one person nodded.
“We’ll convene again in two weeks.”
After Lara and Helene fielded a few more questions, Lara adjourned the meeting.As he’d suspected, there were numerous questions about the upcoming wedding.
A couple of times, he glanced across at Lara.He saw her talk to each person.She focused intently on them, actively listening.
She was a hell of a skilled communicator.
At first, the advantages of marrying her had been obvious.And now he saw the way she’d be an asset to Donovan Worldwide.She’d be an excellent hostess, as well as an adept partner.If he’d been looking to make a strategic move for Donovan, he couldn’t have planned it better.
His musings were interrupted when Mary approached him.“I don’t like surprises, Connor.And I don’t know what the hell you’ve done to move Pernell out of the way, but I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
“Understood.”
“I’m telling you, I don’t like underhanded moves.”
He offered his business card, but she ignored it.
Other than that, and Pernell’s absence, the meeting had gone as well as any of them had dared hope.
The other members filtered out, leaving him alone with Helene and Lara.
“You’ve got my vote,” Helene told them.
“Mary’s going to be tricky,” Lara warned.
“There’s always one,” Helene said.“I’ll have lunch with her.Maybe invite her to be part of the Friday Afternoon Soirée.”She promised to follow up with the other members of the board as well, then left them alone.
“You did well, Lara.”
“As did you, Mr.Donovan.”
“Quite the team.”He opened his arms and she went into them.Nothing felt more right or seemed more natural.
Unable to keep his hands off her for one more minute, he put one hand on her ass cheeks and drew her closer.
She looped her hands around his neck.
Chemistry throbbed, demanding consummation.“I want to get you home,” he said.
“What did you have in mind?”
“Something to make you forget, entirely, about today.”
“That’s a hell of a tall order.”
“I’m sure you’ll let me know how I do.”
