Page 71 of By His Vow
“I’m here.” I grunt, attempting to ignore the burning need I have to look down. “I’ve just got some emails that need my attention,” I lie.
Both Dad and Kian glower at me.
It’s unlike me not to be fully focused in our meetings. But I can’t fucking help it.
“It can wait,” Dad says without enquiring about what I’m dealing with.
Dad has been slowly trying to pull back from the business, but despite his desire to embark on retirement, he’s still managing to be his overly-involved self with everything.
We’ve been running this place successfully for a while now, but Dad’s always been there watching our moves, double-checking our figures, and questioning our decisions.
It’s not necessary. We both know what we’re doing. We were fucking born for it, after all.
It’s time.
Even more so now that we have Warner Group and Miles with us.
The three of us have got this. We have the skills, the dedication, and the hunger to take both companies to places they’ve never been before.
“Just…” I look down at my screen and my smirk returns.
Tatum Warner: As much as I appreciate you sending something edible for a change, I have lunch plans so it was unnecessary. I’m sure my team will enjoy it. I’ll get them to send their thanks.
“Something funny?” Kian asks, when my smothered grunt turns all attention on me again.
“Everything is good. Please continue,” I say, placing my cell face down on the table before me.
“Not what I asked, but whatever,” Kian mutters as I repeat Tatum’s message in my head.
She’s lying. I had IT hook me up with her diary. I know she has back-to-back meetings today—none of which are lunch meetings.
It’s why I sent sushi. She can eat bites between them. It’s easy. Healthy. Filling.
I want to prove her right. Let her know that I know everything about her schedule.
I warned her on Saturday morning when I dropped the gala dinner on her. I already knew she didn’t have plans. I also knew that she’d try to convince me she was busy.
She’s underestimating me. I want to say that she really should learn, but I’m already addicted to proving her wrong and being one step ahead.
Knowing that she’s in her office eating some decent food, I finally turn most of my attention to my little brother as he geeks out over his spreadsheets.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I stand on the other side of Tatum’s office door and wait. It’s not often I do so, but my need to be at least semi-professional stops me from just barging in.
The attention of everyone in her office burns into my back as I wait for her to respond. Everyone bar her immediate team, that is. I already know they’re inside with her.
“Come in,” she calls out a handful of seconds later than polite.
Excitement bubbles inside me as I twist the handle and push the door open.
Silence greets me as I step inside, but somehow it gets even quieter when my identity is recognized by everyone around the conference table in her room.
It’s nowhere near as big as the one I’ve spent most of the day being bored around while thinking about her, but it’s decent enough to give her some kind of power trip, I’m sure. She might not be where she deserves to be in this company based on her surname alone, but she’s still doing alright for herself, and without the kind of step-up that Miles received when he finished college.
Tatum’s expression hardens as she glares at me. The air crackles between us, and I’ve no doubt that her team can sense it.
“Mr. Callahan, what can we do for you?” she asks tersely.