CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CAMERONHADN’TMOVEDa muscle for the last thirty minutes. Jackson’s presentation was full of angles he hadn’t even considered. She had dropped hints about her ideas during her stay in Sydney, but she hadn’t asked for his approval. She had managed a perfect balance between respecting his freedom when it came to running his business but answering first and foremost tothe board. The woman was amazing.
But he already knew that. What he hadn’t counted on was her ability to take control of the meeting and steer it right back on her course. She had completely and unapologetically shut down the discussion of the front-page appearance of their less-than-professional dance. Even his father looked impressed. And that was saying something.
“That’s my proposalfor future actions,” concluded Jackson. She turned off the projector and returned to her seat. “Any questions?”
Harlan Blackmore leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together. “So you’re proposing that we hire a Sydney-based firm for ongoing strategy?”
Jackson shook her head. “No, Mr. Blackmore. I’m suggestingyour sonhires a Sydney-based firm. This is an ongoing project thatCameron needs to be a part of if we’re looking for success.” She turned to the rest of the board. “The virtual conferencing system I’m recommending is standard in most companies now, and it will allow for regular updates from the Sydney office.”
The room was silent. Jackson had just proposed a giant step toward getting him out from under his father’s thumb. And not just in the PR department.He’d rejected the idea of a virtual conferencing system before, thinking his father would abuse it. All this time he’d thought distancing the Sydney branch was the best way to keep the board from meddling. But from the way Jackson had presented it just now, this tool would give him his independence; it would ensure that decisions regarding the Sydney office weren’t made in his absence. And Jacksonhad carefully presented her recommendations in a way that sidestepped Harlan Blackmore.
“So, Ms. McAllister, you’re writing yourself out of this plan?” his father asked. “What will your firm say about that?”
Cameron clenched his fists. His father hadn’t missed any of the subtleties of Jackson’s plan. The board had assigned her the task of boosting the company’s image and getting his errantson under control, and she had come back with a plan that gave that same son more power. Which meant Harlan Blackmore had less. He was too savvy to outwardly dismiss Jackson’s plan, but he wasn’t above looking for ways to put her at a disadvantage.
But Harlan Blackmore wasn’t the first CEO Jackson had met. She raised an eyebrow at him. “My job is to recommend the best plan of action for yourcompany, not ours. My success record speaks for itself. That’s why I was assigned this account in the first place.”
The room grew quiet again. Finally, one of the board members leaned forward and picked up the sheet of recommendations Jackson had passed out.
“This is a really solid plan.” He looked down at Cameron. “But some of this depends on whether you want this role, Mr. Blackmore.”
Cameron nodded. “After I’ve taken a little time off, I’ll be ready.”
“I’m in favor, as well,” said another member.
“Should we take it to a vote?”
Cameron blinked. Maybe the board wasn’t completely under his father’s command. Maybe showing up at this meeting was enough to get them to listen. And Jackson had just created a way for him to do it. One that didn’t require flying or beingin the same room as his father.
Yep. He was definitely in love with her.
The vote passed, and they adjourned. He hung back as one of the board members shook Jackson’s hand. He couldn’t stop himself from staring. But the hard clap on his shoulder jolted him back to reality.
“You flew all the way here for this meeting, son.”
Cameron flinched at the wordson. There was no escapingit. He was Harlan Blackmore’s son, not just Harlan Senior’s grandson. But he had a choice in how he lived that out.
He cleared his face of emotion and turned to his father. “It was important, so I came.”
His father scowled. “You’re making a mistake if you let a woman like that make decisions for you.”
Cameron smiled. “You’re in a room full of people who disagree.”
His father wasquiet.
“How long will you be in New York?” he finally asked.
Cameron took a deep breath. “Not sure yet.”
“Come by the office again,” said his father.
“I’ll think about it.”
Cameron shook his father’s hand, and his father left. Slowly, the board members trickled out until it was just Jackson and him left. She looked at him carefully.
“You heading out?” he asked softly.
