I try to imagine Carly acting this way, and I simply can’t. The comparison alone makes my teeth clench.
“I see you’re still going to be a problem, Silvie,” my mother says, cooly glancing between Cal and me.
I stare at her for a long moment. Long enough for the men behind her to shift uncomfortably.
Then I slowly smile.
“Mom,” I say evenly. “I’m about to be thewholeproblem if you keep running your mouth at my work. Why are you here?”
Her lips thin, and her hands go to her hips. “I’m a part of this company.”
I don’t laugh. I just feel so unbothered by her right now. “No, you’re not. You’re married to the VP. And you can be removed from the premises if you want to disrespect anyone in this building, including me, the CEO.”
I don’t add daughter. Because she hasn’t been acting like a mother to me. She doesn’t deserve that title.
I step closer, lowering my voice. “Don’t make me do that. Because I will.”
Her eyes flash, but she turns on her heels and storms toward the other end of the lobby, looking furious.
I move toward the hallway to my office, and Cal follows, Wilby behind us. We pass my dad’s office, now labeled “VP” on the door.
My dad steps out when he sees us. “Good morning,” he says evenly, eyeing Cal.
I let go of Cal and hug him tight. “Morning, Dad.”
“I’m proud of you, Silverlyn. You’ve worked hard to get here,” he says as he pats my back.
Then it’s time for the meeting. We head toward the boardroom when Tyler appears in the hallway. He stops short, an enraged expression twisting his features when his eyes land on Cal.
“Oh, hell no,” he practically spits. His eyes rake up and down Cal. Which is comical because Cal is massive compared to Tyler.
“You brought your bartender here, Silvie? That’s so embarrassing,” Tyler says, looking at me with disgust. “You have ruined everything. You won’t get away with this.”
I don’t let go of Cal’s hand. I just stare at Tyler as if he’s a bug in the hallway we might need to step around.
Cal looks down at Tyler and says without missing a beat, “You’re not tall enough to talk to me like that.”
Wilby laughs and then coughs behind me, unable to stop himself.
We step around Tyler, who is gaping at us, not even sure what to say to Cal, checking him like that. Because it was hilarious and true.
I ignore Tyler, smile sweetly, and tell Wilby, “We’re about to turn it up a notch. All gas, no brake.”
“I can’t wait,” he mutters as we continue past a confused-looking Tyler the Turd, who is still glaring at us.
“Let’s get to work,” I tell them as we head into the boardroom, and I saunter up to my place at the head of the table. Cal and Wilby take theirs at the other end.
It’s a beautiful day to fuck around and find out.
24
Cal
The boardroom isall glass and polished wood and screams expensive and money. It’s not a cozy room, but more of a room where dick-measuring contests happen. I remember those rooms when I worked in finance right out of college. I didn’t like them then, and I don’t like them now. A long table that seats a couple dozen with leather chairs. Everyone’s in suits that probably cost more than my truck back home. I stand near the wall at first, hands loose at my sides, watching. Wilby is next to me, his eyes on Silvie, serious and watching to see if she needs something. One thing I’ve noticed is that he doesn’t play when it comes to Silvie. He’s dedicated to her and his job. I like Wilby a lot.
The rest of the men in the room, though? They look at Silvie like she’s a novelty. Like it’s bring-your-daughter-to-work day, and she’s here to entertain them. Assholes. I fucking hate all of them.
Most of them are not openly disrespecting her. Nothing they could be called out on easily. It’s the little things. The bored glances passed between two men at the end of the table. The way one of them checks his phone while she speaks. The low comments muttered just under their breaths. Smirks that say they think they know how this is going to go.
