I glanced over my shoulder at Luca. He caught my eye and smiled. I turned back to my father. “Luca made a video of you one night. He thought I should see your face when I scored.” I took a deep breath. “It’s why I’m standing here, and not over there ignoring you.”
Pain filled his eyes, but he didn’t respond.
“It all comes down to trust, and I don’t know how to do that yet.”
“Maybe in time I can fix that.”
Luca walked up with a beer and slipped his arm around me. “Thanks, love. Want to get some food?”
“Yes.” He held out his hand to my father. “Hello, Mr. Kennerly. I’m Luca Vaughn. It’s nice to meet you.”
I watched as my father gave him what appeared to be a genuine smile and shook his hand. “You too, Luca. Please call me Davis. And thank you.”
Luca glanced up at me. “Video,” I murmured in his ear.
His smile split his face. “I’m glad I could help.”
We’d see how tomorrow went when I rained hell down on his family.
I couldn’t sleep. Luca had gone back to his apartment after the game, leaving me time for dinner with Mason and Thomas before they returned home. I’d explained what I planned and promised to keep them both updated. Mason hated confrontation, so I would spare him the agony.
When I got home, I called my sisters to apprise them of what I was going to do and what I had planned for the future. I expected it to be the last time they spoke to me, but I was surprised.
“We were there, Axel,” Maddie said. “Do what you need to do.”
Makenna chimed in. “I love the direction you want to take the business into. I’m excited.”
Since listening to Luca rehearse the presentation of his capstone project, it got me to thinking about how to put his plan into action. The resources of the Covington could definitely help more than the elite of New York. I still had a lot of work to do, but for now, it was an option.
Tossing and turning wasn’t helping, so I got up early and went for a run. We had the morning off since we were flying outlater this afternoon, which meant I wouldn’t see Luca again until later in the week.
When I arrived for the 9 AM board meeting, I took the elevator to the fifth floor of the building that housed the corporate office. Straightening my tie, the tailored Italian suit I wore fit me like a glove and was perfect for the image of the new chairman of the board. When the doors opened, I fixed my jaw and headed to the conference room.
I’d instructed Harlan to start the board meeting, and I would intentionally arrive a few minutes late. As far as they knew, the investment group that had purchased the majority of their stock was on board for a major facelift for the chain. I wanted to make an entrance. Running a hand over my tie and buttoning my jacket, I pulled on the handle and entered the room.
“There you are,” he said, extending his hand. “Perfect timing. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the CEO of HBC Corporation and new Chairman of the Board of Covington Hotels, Axel Hughes.”
One look was all it took to suck the air out of the boardroom. My eyes skated around each board member. My father sat shocked, along with a host of attorneys, and the one person my eyes lingered on. Two and a half years of methodical planning had come down to this moment.
I sincerely wished I had recorded it for Mason. Melinda Covington, our stepmother, looked as if she might pass out. But no such luck when the venom returned. I didn’t have to wait long for her to ask questions.
“What are you talking about?” she seethed. She looked at her attorney. “Call security. I want him out. You are not part of this board.”
The confused faces of the people sitting around the table made this even better. My laughter caused her to fume. “Oh, butI am. And I’m not the one who’s leaving. But we’ll get to that in a moment.”
My father spoke up. “Axel, what’s going on?”
I sat down where Harlan had been seated at the head of the table. He took the seat next to me, spreading out the dossiers he’d prepared for them. “It’s very simple. I’m here to take over.”
I turned my gaze back to the woman who had made Mason’s life a living hell. “I promised to ruin you. And today is your day of reckoning.”
The blood drained from her face. “What are you talking about?”
Leaning forward, I looked across the table at her. “I own you.” I motioned around the room. “And your hotel.”
“That’s fucking impossible! My husband’s bastard is not going to run my company!” Her attorney put her hand on Melinda’s arm to settle her down.
“Not impossible at all. My company, HBC, owns fifty-one percent of Covington Hotels, which means I’m Chairman of the Board. I have been waiting for this day since Maddie’s wedding. And the first order of business is to remove you.”
