“Managing director is an ambitious undertaking for someone so young,” Stan said, his fork pointed in Grant’s general direction, like he was daring her brother to disagree.
Tripp was quick with a response, cutting any retort Grant could possibly have off at the knees. “Promoted last year, but the business is in his blood. I have no doubt he’ll make a fine president of The Devereux Group one day.”
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks,” Sydney whispered, leaning in close before she gave Reese’s thigh an affectionate squeeze.
“Understatement of the year,” Reese whispered back before Sydney returned to sitting fully in her own chair, taking another bite of her poke bowl as she tried to hide her smile.
“Around the time Brynn and Grant were engaged, if I remember correctly.” Stan polished off his lobster role in an impressive last bite.
Reese knew that tone, and she knew that Stan knew that he was remembering correctly. It was impossible to rise to his level of success without a decent bullshit detector. Reese was starting to get the sense that maybe Stan still had some questions about the pending nuptials and his upcoming union with the Devereux family.
There was a decent chance that Tripp was playing checkers while Stan was playing chess.
God, she hoped so.
“We finalized it in the middle of last year, but the plans werewell underway already,” Tripp deflected. “With our mid-Atlantic expansion goal, it made sense to have someone of Grant’s caliber leading our existing operations, keeping the ship on course while I focus on the future of the business.”
“I thought you’d mentioned working on the expansion, Grant?” Brynn asked from her seat next to him.
Instead of answering immediately, Grant cut forcefully into his yellowfin tuna steak, practically mashing it into pieces. “I’m helping out wherever I can be of assistance.”
Reese had never loved an awkward silence so much.
Stan, still intent on being a good host, stepped in. “And Reese, when we met last, your father had mentioned you wanted to chart your own path. Never considered going into the family business?”
She could feel her father’s eyes boring into her.
Telling Stan that she could have had a role at The Devereux Group if she wanted to be her brother’s assistant would likely cause Tripp to flip a table, which is why shedidconsider saying it, however briefly.
“I saw a need that wasn’t being met in the boutique hotel and inn space, and I felt like I could do something positive. So I did,” she finished with a minimizing shrug.
“Reese is being modest,” Sydney chimed in next to her, taking her hand on top of the table. “She grew her company into the most successful hotel management software for small businesses in the market. It’s no wonder Checked was made an offer they couldn’t refuse.”
Reese’s eyebrow lifted as she turned toward Sydney in surprise. She wasn’t aware that her fake girlfriend had done additional research into her company.
But the true story, the one that would never appear online, painted the acquisition in a much dimmer light.
Reese worked to not let it cloud her mood—at least, anymore than it already was.
Stan nodded emphatically. “You obviously love the hotelspace, given the company you started, but you’re a free agent now? No plans to join the family business?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her father stiffen.
“No, not at the moment,” she said diplomatically, mostly to keep the peace during what was becoming a decently enjoyable lunch. After all, her fingers were still entangled with Sydney’s.
Stan slapped his hand down on the table. “I can’t believe it. Tripp, you’re going to let her get away? You’re a veritable gold mine of information and talent, Reese. The whole package. Business knowledge. Technical prowess. Persistence,” he said, looking at her with true appreciation for what she’d accomplished.
The praise felt good, and she allowed that feeling to percolate for a few seconds, at least until her father joined back in. “Well, we were trying to keep things close to the vest, but there have been conversations. Now that Reese is open to new roles, it may make sense for her to join us at The Devereux Group.”
Tripp nodded solemnly in her direction, like he was giving her the opportunity of a lifetime. Like perhaps now she was ready to ascend to a meaningful role that he’d finally deemed appropriate for her.
Reese blanched.
Sydney choked on her water.
Grant’s jaw went slack.
She didn’t have the energy to look at anyone else; loathing caused bile to rise in the back of her throat.
