Page 37 of Trust Me
Riley peers down at her hands on the table for a moment before looking back up at me.
“Maybe it’s you who shouldn’t play with me,” she boldly counters before standing.
I stand to my full height as she gathers her belongings and saunters to the door. My eyes fall to the sway of her hips.
She pauses and turns to me. “You know, in Miami you told me there was never, nor will there ever be, a time a woman ended up in your bed and your boardroom.” She smiles from ear to ear. “Looks like hell just froze over,” she finishes before exiting the room.
* * *
“Get my father on a call. Now!”I seethe as I brush past Mike’s desk.
A second after I slam the door closed, there’s a knock on it.
“What?” I yell as I yank it open.
Mike startles, looking nervous. “Um, phone call or video call?”
“Video.”
“What if he’s busy?”
“Then tell whatever assistant answers on his behalf they no longer have a fucking job if my father isn’t on my line in the next five minutes.”
Do I have the authority to fire my father’s assistant? Probably not. Do I give a fuck?
No.
If he’s not on my line in five minutes, I will follow through on that threat.
Three minutes later, my computer screen alerts me that I have a video call coming through. I answer to see my father’s stern face staring back at me.
“I was expecting this call,” he says calmly.
“You know what I wasn’t expecting?” I demand. “To be blindsided like that. What was that?”
“You were appointed as Townsend’s new COO.”
“On aninterimbasis.” I spit out the word interim as if it burns my tongue. “Not to mention that my permanent placement is contingent upon working with Riley.” I stop when I see my father’s eyes narrow on the word Riley.
“Adam, as well as the other board members who were present in Miami, all spoke highly of Ms. Martin.” He sits forward, his hands clasped on the desk in front of him.
“Sam Waterson mentioned her as well. They all say the two of you appeared as if you had some interesting conversations. So …” he draws out that word, “how come you never mentioned her?”
Hell no. I’m not getting caught in that trap.
“She was irrelevant.” The lie burns as it comes out, but I manage to not choke on it.
He lifts an eyebrow.
“This isn’t about her.” I start to pace in front of my desk. “Do you not trust me? Is that what this is about?”
“Son,” he starts, but I stop him with a shake of my head.
“You could’ve stopped all of that. Your word is final. You know it, and I know it. You could’ve appointed me COO weeks ago. The board would’ve gone along with it.”
As the third generation Townsend to run this company, my father’s say goes a long way.
“They might have,” he admits. “Maybe not. Either way, I made my decision.”