Page 6 of Let Me Love You

“As many of you know, Victor and I dated in the past.” She looks around the room, waiting for everyone’s agreement, but when no one reacts, she continues, “He and I can get married, and then he can keep his role as CEO. I’ve worked here for years, so I can help him move the company into the future.”

My throat closes, but I keep my face neutral. No weaknesses, or the wolves will come for you, my father always said. I’d rather peel my own fingernails off than marry her. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” She leans over the table and loudly whispers, “You know that’s what our parents have wanted all along.”

We might’ve grown up in the same circles, but my parents never told me to marry her.

“Actually, I think that’s a great idea,” Mrs. Frederick says. “Rose is highly educated. You two can help lead Barlowe Technology to the future as a united front as she said.”

Mrs. Frederick was always on my side, and she knows about Rose and my past. Everyone in our world knows. So, why would she want to do this to me? “I refuse to marry someone I don’t love for the sake of the company.”

Mrs. Frederick sits forward and steeples her fingers under her chin. “Why not? Don’t you want a partner who knows your company and can help you when you’re overwhelmed?”

Mr. Tille startles us with a snore, unaware that the board is trying to marry his daughter off to me. I’m certain everyone has lost their minds at this point.

“Not to mention that Miss Tille is a looker. It won’t be a hardship for you,” Mr. Lexington says.

Mrs. Frederick tsks. “That’s inappropriate for you to say.”

He shrugs as if he can’t be bothered.

I need to get us off the topic of me marrying Rose, so it’s time to move forward with my half-baked idea. “I’m already in love with someone else.”

My phone vibrates inside my pocket. Normally, I’d ignore it, but I have a niggling feeling. I resist the urge to shift as everyone studies me. Sliding my phone out, I check to see who is bothering me. If it’s during business hours, everyone knows to call my office. And since Martha isn’t banging down the door, there has to be something.

A text flashes up at me. Mom. Great. She’s the last person I want to speak to, but for some reason, my thumb still clicks her message thread.

Mother

Your father had a heart attack and is in the hospital. No need to come, just thought I’d inform—

My heart thrashes in my ears, and I slam to my feet. I don’t meet my board members’ gazes as I murmur something about being right back. No one says anything. Or maybe they did, but I didn’t hear them.

Another message comes through. I click my sister’s name like it’s the only glass of water in the middle of a desert.

Isabella

Come now. The doctors aren’t sure if Dad will make it.

My phone slips through my fingers as her words sear into my memory. If he doesn’t make it, I won’t have a parent left. I don’t count my sad excuse of a mother as a parent. She never raised me, hugged me, kissed me … No, only my father did that stuff when he was home. But there were long stretches of time when he barely left the office.

I grab my phone as if it’s a baby bird and if I’m too rough, something might happen. I dial Jay, and he answers on the second ring. “I need you to pick me up.”

“Sir?”

Jay’s uncertain tone twists my stomach. I’m never so short with him. “Please, come get me. I need to get to the hospital now.”

***

I sit ramrod straight in a chair. My father has been in the ICU for twenty-four hours, and I haven’t left the hospital since arriving. I informed my board members to not call unless it’s urgent.

Isabella is slouching in the seat beside me, her black hair covering her face. She’s been asleep for five hours—lucky her. Her usual put together front has crumbled. It might make me sound cruel, but it’s reassuring to find out this affects her as it does me.

While my mother—I grip the arm of my chair and grind my molars—is at home or doing whatever it is she does, we wait here to find out whether or not our father is going to live through the week.

A nurse walks into the waiting room. “Are you Robert Barlowe’s family?”

I nod, and Isabella stirs beside me but doesn’t wake up.