“Emergency board meeting. This week. Let me present a comprehensive rescue package to your board. Show themhow Dellcourt can stabilize VSE’s position before things get…difficult.”
“James, I appreciate your concern, but?—”
“Friday,” James interrupts, his tone brooking no argument. “I’ve already prepared the presentation. Your board needs to see these numbers, Lior. For VSE’s sake.”
Lior meets my eyes across the desk. I nod slightly—this is exactly what we wanted.
“Very well,” Lior says after a pause. “Friday at two p.m. But, James, this better be legitimate business, not some elaborate power play.”
James’s laugh carries pure arrogance. “Lior, by Friday afternoon, you’ll be thanking me for saving your company.”
The line goes dead. Lior and I sit in silence for a moment, processing what just happened.
“He’s overconfident,” I say finally.
“Dangerously so.” Lior’s smile is sharp. “Which means he’s going to reveal more than he intends to.”
“Did you hear how he talked about ‘what it actually is?’ He’s not even pretending this is a partnership anymore.”
Lior nods. “We’ll make sure to be bulletproof when the time comes.” He leans back in his chair. “Anyway, how did things go in New York? Were the meetings productive?”
“Very productive,” I reply, my voice gaining confidence. “The East Coast team is performing beyond my forecasts. They’re ready to grow further and have asked for more floor space and an additional manager to help them expand into the foreign market.”
“We handle exports from here,” he says.
“I agree, but New York is a hub. If there are opportunities there, we shouldn’t ignore them when we can more than afford to hire a handful of managers.”
“Okay. Make it happen,” he says, though his eyes haven’tlost their thoughtful edge. “And Thatcher? How did he find the conference?”
Heat rises in my cheeks, despite my efforts to maintain my professional composure. “You should ask him, but I gather he made excellent connections,” I manage carefully.
A knowing smile tugs at the corner of Lior’s mouth as he picks up his pen again. “I’m glad to hear it. He’s been practically glowing since you both returned. Success suits him.”
I nod.
“You know,” Lior continues, “there’s a chance you might lose him because of this trip.”
I look into Lior’s eyes. Where once I saw a future, now I only see friendship. Lior is the definition of turning the other cheek. When I practically betrayed him and put his place as CEO at risk, he fought back and had the grace to forgive me. There is no one I respect more on a personal or professional level.
“Thatcher is free to pursue his career,” I say, trying to keep my tone even and professional.
“Is he?”
Whatever Lior is trying to imply, I don’t like it. “Of course. I would never stop him or any other employee from following their dreams. I can hire another PA, although I’d argue that I didn’t hire him to begin with.”
“And if he moves away from Cliffborough?” he asks.
I stand and walk to the window. “I don’t know what you’re implying, Lior.”
He laughs. “Don’t play coy, Pierce. I know your tells.”
I turn to him, and his expression shifts when he looks at me. Can he see the panic I feel at the thought of Thatcher out in the world without me? Not being able to see him anytime I want? Going back to not having lunch together?
“It’s scary, isn’t it? They crash into our lives like it’s not abig deal, and before we know it, they’ve burrowed so deep that they’re stuck on permanently, and then you wonder how life was before them.”
Fuck. He knows. Lior fucking knows.
My throat tightens, and all I can do is nod. “I never saw him coming.”
