But I have no intention of thinking about it whatsoever.
Chapter 15
ZACH
I don’t sleep much.Again.
I kept seeing Dex’s smirk and hearing Jett’s accusation.The way he said Maya’s name like it was filth.
The housekeeper’s daughter.
I hope he was just irritated and grouchy.Not because he’s turning into a jerk.And Dex, no better.Saying I wanted Maya for …other reasons.
I don’t.Well, not entirely.Getting my teeth into something I know I can make a difference in is what’s driving me.I can turn things around in Stella.I’m confident that I can do a better job of it than Cecil.I need this win.I need something that’s mine, something I’ve earned, something I’ve chased by myself and plan to fix with no help from anyone.
I head to the Stella offices way too early, because tossing and turning in bed isn’t getting me anywhere.
It’s deathly quiet at this hour, and the sharp and bitter tang of coffee lingers in the air.I’m about to walk into my office, the one on the same floor as where Maya sits, when I see her.
Maya is already here.
It shouldn’t hit me like a shock, even though it does, seeing her unexpectedly at this ungodly hour of the morning.She stands at her desk, wearing a glossy emerald-green satin blouse that is impossible to miss.She bends over, pulling something at the back of her PC.Then she disappears.
Curious, I walk over to her desk, and see her little slingbacks peeking out.She’s under the desk.I try not to grin.What is it with her and her love of being on the floor?She crawls out, lifting back on her haunches before standing up.
“Why are you always crawling around on the floor?”I ask.
If she’s surprised at my sudden appearance, she hides it well.She sits down, and rolls her chair closer to her desk, fingers on the keyboard, flying away.“It works,” she whispers to herself.Then, glancing at me.“A hazard of the job.”
I try not to let my gaze rove too slowly all over her.She looks elegant, and gorgeous.This is who my brothers think I acquired the majority stake for.I can still hear Dex’s voice from last night.You moved fast.
Jett’s, sharper one.You didn’t think with your brain.
I hate that they reduced her to an object.A reason.Maya isn’t a reason at all.She’s a complication; a constant presence I didn’t plan for and can’t seem to factor out.
I know my brothers are waiting for me to fall flat on my face but I won’t give them the satisfaction.Maybe they also assume that I’ve overpaid for the shares, and that I’ll coast.That I’ll just sit here and leave this mess to middle management while I play house with the housekeeper’s daughter.
They’re so dead wrong.
“My keyboard cable was loose.”Her eyes meet mine.“I wasn’t aware you’d be in today.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” I say, and immediately regret how honest that sounds.
“Don’t you haveotherbusinesses to tend to?”
“I do, but Stella is going to be my main focus for a few months.Is it a problem, me being here?”
Her gaze sharpens.“It depends.Are you going to start micromanaging?”
I almost smile.Almost.I like that she doesn’t beat around the bush.I like that she’s so direct and asks it to my face.
That’s my girl.
The one who used to look at me with her chin lifted, daring me to say something stupid, before collapsing into laughter.
I only plan to be here for a quarter.I’ll still have a majority stake in the company, but after three months I don’t plan to come into work much.I’ll move onto other projects.But right now, to get the ball rolling at Stella, what I need is a client profitability audit.Some sort of repricing initiative.
“Stella’s biggest issue isn’t sales,” I say, propping myself up on the edge of her desk.Her eyes widen as if I’m invading her territory.She slides her chair back, then turns it to face me, so I stay put.“They’re strong,” I continue, “but they’re undercharging the wrong clients.They have legacy clients draining resources, and no one’s had the nerve to touch pricing with those people.People get a Stella bag every year because they can.”
