I raised one eyebrow, the only sign of irritation I’d give him. “My ex-stepmother and I are in the middle of a complicated legal battle, as I know you’re aware. I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to discuss it here.”
“I understand, of course.” He peered around the room, searching for a reason to make his exit. “I must excuse myself, I see…” He trailed off as he scurried away.
Arch’s hazel eyes were bewildered. “What’s his problem?”
“I’m certain he’s the one trying to turn the board against me.” If looks could kill, Scott would’ve had a dagger in his back.
“Do you think Raquel is buying him off?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s my guess. I hope so, at least. If she is, there will be a trail. That’s one thing my lawyers are looking into.”
“Time is beginning to run short. Your next meeting with the judge is in a few weeks isn’t it?” I didn’t see any more board members yet. I led Arch toward our table.
“Yes.” I sighed and studied Arch’s face. His hazel eyes turned green under the twinkling Christmas lights. “I wish I could at least discuss the case with you.”
“Have faith. Something will turn up. No judge in their right mind will give this place to her.” He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s focus on fun tonight. Maybe we can sneak away for a little tour,” he said with a roguish wink.
I pushed his shoulder playfully. “You wish.”
“He wishes what?” asked Wes.
“None of your business, Wesley Earl Lawson,” Arch chided.
“WesleyEarlLawson?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Your names are Archibald Duke, Gray Baron, and Wesley Earl?”
Three sets of cheeks turned pink. Wes and Gray nodded their heads reluctantly, and Arch replied, “Unfortunately.”
I clapped my hands delightedly. “You guys are my little posse of royalty? Like my charming princes or knights in shining armor?” What an excellent secret. I was sort of dating royalty.
“I tried to tell you our parents are strange. When they found out they were all pregnant at the same time, they wanted to put a theme to our names,” said Wes.
“We actively try to keep people from discovering that little tidbit,” added Gray.
“Delightful. Absolutely delightful. I have to start calling you by your royal names, of course. Come along, Earl. I’ll start teaching you to dance. Todd and Rick are already out there.” I scanned the room again. “I still don’t see the rest of the board. Maybe they’ll come in while we dance.”
“As you wish, my lady,” my Earl replied.
I didn’t try to teach him anything. We stood close to one another and shuffled side to side like a couple of kids at their high school prom. It gave us a chance to talk. “I want to know more about your families. We’ve talked about everything under the sun but them.” Wes’s back stiffened, and I pulled my head away from his chest. “What’s wrong?”
“Ellie, our families are a sensitive topic for us. We don’t like talking about them. I promise, though, we will, soon.” My curiosity burned, but I let the matter rest. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
“What do you dream of, Ellie? What’d make you happy in life?”
I sighed and contemplated all the opportunities given to me in life. “I want to run this company until I retire. And I want to raise my children here, the way I was raised. I spent more time here than home as a child.”
“I have every confidence in you.” Wes led me into a little spin and pulled me closer.
“She doesn’t deserve this company. It was built by my family, and one of us should always be at the helm.”
“What’ll you do when you win?” His surety of the trial outcome made me chuckle.
“First, I want to finish college. I want to appoint my own interim CEO to manage things in my absence.” I put my head on Wes’s chest. “There are women here that have been shunted to the side since my father died. Long term, dedicated employees who could take this place and run with it. Dad had specific goals, you know?”
“Did he leave any of them in writing?”
“I couldn’t find them. I searched high and low for weeks after he died, but she must’ve found and destroyed them.” Another reason to hate the horrid woman.
“What was his vision?” The song ended and a quicker tempo started up. Wes led me off the dance floor and toward the bar. I nodded a hello to the young, lanky bartender. “You’re Thomas Elmore’s son aren’t you? Tom from accounting?”
