Page 58 of Threaded Lies

I’m exhilarated that it is in fact true—that I was offered the new co-CEO position here—and don’t even know where to start or what to say.

I’m energized. I mean, how can I not be when I just spent hours tangled in the sheets—or rather, the floor, the couch, and then the sheets—with Holden Knight?

“It is,” I say.

“That’s so awesome. It’s about time a woman gets some kind of clout around here,” she says and grins. “I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about Mr. Knight, but I have to admit, he might have just won me over a bit with this decision.”

“Pretty sure I agree with that sentiment,” I say.

And isn’t that what’s filled my thoughts all morning long. With this new position, with the board vote that came with it, I will now equal Rhett’s stature in the company.

Is that enough for me? Do I want more? Getting married to Chad would not only net me the board seat and vote that comes with taking his last name, but in addition, it would also fulfill Gran’s terms. I’d gain the stake from Gran’s faceless LLC and the board seat that comes with it. Both of these gains would make me the second largest shareholder in my family’s company.

That’s what my goal is. To overtake Rhett and have something he can’t for the first time in our lives.

It’s not completely honoring the promise I made to Gran about keeping the company in the family and running it as the CEO, but it’s as close as I can get given the circumstances and I’ll gladly cling to that.

So no, when Holden left and I lay in bed to process all that happened yesterday, none of this went unnoticed.

And at the same time it puts everything into a kaleidoscope of opportunities for me. Holden delivered and gave me what he said … but a small part of me deep down doesn’t trust that there isn’t something waiting in the wings. Another shoe to drop.

So I hold tight to what I have but fear it might go away at any time.

That’s where keeping up pretenses with Chad comes in. If that shoe were to drop and those things were to be taken away, then I have another avenue to stay in this figurative position of power.

I’m leery of everything at this point and trust no one.

“Rowan?” Michele asks and pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. I look in the direction of her gaze to see my brother standing with his back against my doorjamb waiting for us. This can either be good or it can be bad. This is the first time I’ve seen Rhett since the co-CEO announcement. “We’ll talk later?” I ask Michele.

“Sure. Yes.” She glances Rhett’s way and then back to me, distrust in her eyes. I don’t blame her, considering he fired her last month in a power play.

And once again Holden stepped in to save the day there, but gave me the credit for rehiring them back with bonuses.

“Rhett,” I say, meeting his steely glare, as I move past him and into my office. What’s the number one way to ease into a difficult conversation with him? Talk about him, of course. “I saw your gigantic billboard on the way in today.”

Nothing like seeing your brother smiling cheesily at you from a billboard positioned at your highway off-ramp.

He glances over his shoulder before looking back at me. “The election’s already been secured. There’s no chance I’ll lose, but I have to at least look like I’m giving it a fair fight.”

“So you bribed your way on to the city council. How very … Rhett of you,” I say but then stop short when I notice the padded manila envelope sitting on my desk. There is a cheap red bow stuck to its top but no writing. It more than piques my curiosity.

“What’s that?” he asks and steps into my office, shutting the door at his back.

“Looks to me like it’s an envelope, but what do I know?” I say sarcastically.

“Open it,” he urges.

“What do you want?” I ask, irritation peppering my tone as Holden’s comments from last night about how much Rhett whined after I left the conference room come back. The last thing I want is to open a gift on my desk when the last time a gift was here it was the sapphire earrings.

“You’re playing at something here and I can’t figure out what it is.”

“And if I were, you think I’d tell you?”

“This isn’t the time for secrets,” he says as if he can’t make up his mind whether to be mad at me for the new co-CEO position, or to convince me that we need to be on the same side.

“That’s rich coming from someone who sold our company out from beneath me, closed the actual deal, and didn’t say two damn words to me about it.”

“I was legally bound not to say anything.”