“It’s been in the works for over a year now, and I’m pleased to finally be able to share this good news with you all. In discussion with the board, we’ve decided to undergo a change of ownership within the company. I’ll be relinquishing my role as CEO and retiring early, but never fear. You’ll be in very capable hands!”
Confused muttering now fills the crowd. I get the sense this is not the direction anyone expected this evening to go.
“Known throughout the world for their business acumen and as a long-standing, highly respected family in our society, I’m pleased to welcome tonight’s esteemed guests. Without further ado, please raise your glasses in welcome. I’d like to introduce you to the family who will be running the ship in the coming years, your new co-CEOs, Claude and Estelle Walton.”
Clapping enthusiastically, Mr. Trowlen holds his hands up in front of him and turns to the side as an elegant couple steps onto the stage. The names register in my brain a millisecond later and I whip my head to the left where Asher sits rigid in his chair. His eyes are hard, his spine is locked and fists clenched as the couple walk to the podium.
“What thefuck,” he whispers under his breath, my enhanced shifter hearing the only reason I pick it up.
Confused, I place my hand on his thigh under the table, and he turns his hard eyes on me.
“I thought you said you didn’t associate with them anymore,” I say, keeping my voice low so only he can hear.
“I don’t.”
“So…” I look back at the stage where the woman is mid-toast to the former CEO. “Then what are they doing here?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure it’s nothing good,” he growls, throwing his drink back.
31
LIVING NIGHTMARE
ASHER
My parents taketurns reciting a speech in which they assure everyone present that they have all the best things planned for the future of the company, and they are so very pleased to be welcomed as the new leaders. A few people are casting surreptitious looks my way. When the despicable couple waves another man on stage to introduce him, I swear again.
“That little shit.”
I grab Raya’s drink and down that too, forgetting she doesn’t drink alcohol.
“Who is that?” she asks.
“My cousin, Chadwick. Still riding on their coattails, no surprise there.”
Many in the crowd seem to recognize him or his name, and there’s some genuine cheering when he steps up next to my parents. They spend way too long sharing a list of Chadwick’s accomplishments, how much money he’s made for other businesses, various companies he’s propelled into the multi-billion dollar profit range, and proclaiming that he already has a plan to help them do the same here. Whichmeans raises, vacation days, and better employee benefits for everyone—supposedly.
This, of course, gets the loudest cheer of all.
Raya and I sit through the remainder of the speeches, listening to my cousin prattle on while my parents pretend to be good, decent people. I’m not sure about Raya, but none of the words stick in my mind. I’m left floundering, wondering how this happened and stunned at the effort they’re willing to go to entrap me again. I’m also paranoid about what this means for Raya; is she in danger because of me? They’ll have access to our files, all her information, they’ll know we’re dating even if we try to hide it.
The emcee comes back on stage a short while later and announces that the bar will be open for another hour, and a DJ starts playing in the background.
I lean back in my seat and swipe a hand through my hair. My entire body is tense, my muscles rigid with strain.
“What do you want to do?” Raya asks. “Should we stay? Do you want to talk to them?”
“No,” I growl, then sigh. “But we can stay if you want to.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather spend time with you than all these people anyway.”
We stand to leave, and I envelope her hand in mine. As we start to weave our way through the many bodies milling about and socializing, a man steps deliberately into our path.
My father is standing directly in front of me, feet planted wide and a look on his face daring me to try to push past him. My mother and cousin are standing on either side of Claude; Estelle’s expression hungry as she eyes me, and Chadwick looking smug, like he won the lottery and I didn’t.
“Son,” my father says, and it takes all of my power to hold in the grimace his voice triggers.
“Claude,” I reply. Distantly, I hear my own voice asthough it’s someone else’s. Void and cold, detached. I also sense Raya’s heart rate kick up a notch.
