Page 78 of Threaded Lies

His smile is hopeful. “You know I’d be willing to keep this up for however long the time frame is. I mean, if my uncle can’t find a workaround.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” I scramble for something more. “But there are more parameters that I have to meet. That’s just the main one.”

“It’s a reasonable ask,” he says.

I flash a smile. “Exactly. That’s why I appreciate you asking Henry to bend the rules a bit for me.”

“Like I said before. I’ll give him another call. I have some free time later.”

“Thank you.” I reach out and squeeze his bicep and offer a smile. “Truly. Thank you.”

His cheeks blush and expression softens as he stares at me with puppy-dog eyes. “Any time.”

I head out of the conference room and to my desk, questioning if that was a smart move or not. But nothing ventured, nothing gained and I need his help to make this happen, so …

I stutter-step when I notice the succulent arrangement sitting on my desk with a file folder sitting beside it.

Like anyone who receives a gift, I move toward it, my hands opening the card of the beautiful arrangement within seconds.

Rowan—

These plants supposedly represent endurance, strength, resilience. I thought it was a fitting gift for someone who embodies the same exact qualities. It’s overdue and has been a long time coming. Welcome to the board.

—Holden

I glance down to the desk and open the sealed envelope sitting there to find my new employment contract as well as paperwork that definitely pertains to being a board member. Clearly I need to sign it in front of a notary, but as I flip through it my eyes widen at the compensation package.

Despite what Holden told Rhett, there were no negotiations over my salary or the perks that come with this new position. But one glance at this paperwork, and I’m definitely not complaining.

“Congratulations.”

I whip my head up to see Holden standing there. His voice is like a steady constant for me. I hear it and immediately feel at ease. I meet his stoic expression with a soft smile.

“You need to stop leaving me gifts on my desk,” I say playfully through the tremendous amount of pride I have flowing through me.

“They’ve been warranted. Sapphires over rubies. Utility knife to make your mark or make a power play. Succulents to remind you how tenacious you are when you have a rough day.” He shrugs. “Nothing near extravagant.”

“Spoken like a true bazillionaire.”

He chuckles and steps farther into the room. “Hardly, but go on.”

“Did you need me for something?”

His gaze scrapes down the length of my body as every nerve ending heats up from the predatory look in it. “That’s a loaded question, Sunshine.”

The muscle in his jaw pulses and I swear, knowing that I can’t have him right now makes the desire even stronger.

“Well, you’re a complicated man. Nothing simple for you.”

His grin is a slow crawl across his lips. “I was coming in here to ask you to show me what you could do. What skills make you worthy of that co-CEO title”—he claps softly—“but you just passed that test with flying colors before you even set foot in your office.”

“I did?”

“Yes. A very appropriate dressing-down of your counterpart. I had plans to do the same but you did it for me.”

His praise warms me in ways I can’t put words to. “Thank you.”

“Award worthy.” He smiles.