CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
GEMMA
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“You guys, this is amazing.” I grin at the faces on the video conferencing screen.
Each first Monday of the month, we have a store manager meeting and do a quick round table sharing our wins from the past four weeks. I let go of the four regional managers who ran these, which was hard, but soon found myself enjoying being so hands on with the teams.
They knew me as the former marketing manager and Anthony’s wife, so it was an easy transition when I became CEO.
For them, not me.
I love how they enquire about Zoe, the smallest Ford family member as they call her, so today I tell them about her zoo adventures and make-believe robots.
Seeing her with Drew yesterday was strange, and yet I can’t get it out of my head. Zoe asked me questions about him after he left, wanted to know if he could come over for dinner and if we should take him to the zoo.
He made quite an impression on her.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Mom, of course, sent me a text message saying she liked my new friend with a wink emoji. There is little that gets past her, but I denied everything.
The standout moment for me was watching Zoe pat the stool and invite Drew to sit next to her. She didn’t hesitate to accept him into her world, while he sat there eating the silly diced grapes and little crackers, answering her questions.
It affected me.
He’s so powerful and gruff, and yet, when he crouched down to talk to her, my chest tightened as this big, supposedly cold and calculated businessman gave his undivided attention to my daughter.
Then had afternoon tea with her.
How do you feel about me buying you out?
I thought about his proposal all night.
I can’t do what is needed when I’m wanting my cock deep inside your wet pussy.
Do what?
He never answered my question, which is why I am here today, intending to get answers before I leave. While the money is tempting—very—as I watch the people on the screen, I know I have a level of care for them that needs to be fulfilled.
On behalf of Anthony and his father, and grandfather.
I have some key moves to make. Some information you need to know.
Goddamn him.
What information?
“We’re doing TikTok displays with the trending books and also adding an if you liked this book, now try this one,” Mary-Ellen shares. “It’s worked a treat. After all, once you’ve read all the trending books, which seem to be limited to a few dozen, then readers look for more.”
“Genius, Mary-Ellen. How do the rest of you feel about creating similar promotions?” I ask.
Many of them nod.
“We might need some help. I don’t even have a Ticker-Tok account,” Donna from Albuquerque says.
“It’s TikTok.” Mark shakes his head, all judgy.
“Look, I’m on the Gram, but I don’t like all the dancing videos.”
“You need to be on BookTok.” He frowns, and I step in because the two are a generation apart and never agree on much.
“I’ll organize a separate call, Donna. Perhaps Mary Ellen can share some tips.”
“Of course.” Mary Ellen smiles. “I’ll ring you this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Mary Ellen.” Donna glares to her left where I assume Mark’s face is on her screen.
Knock, knock.
My door opens, and Drew steps in. Immediately my body responds. My tummy clenches, heat flushes through me, and my sex wakes up with a resounding yes please.
No.
I’m not sleeping with him again.
From here on out, especially if he thinks buying me out is on the table, we must keep things professional.
“All right, thanks everyone. I’ll be sending out the reports tomorrow. You know where to find me if you need me.” We all say goodbye over the top of one another, and I end the video call.
I swivel on my chair. Drew rests his hip against the now closed door, his arms crossed. He’s devastatingly gorgeous.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” He pushes away from the wall and walks over to my desk. “So, you’d rather be here than with your daughter?”
“Ouch. That was unnecessary.” I flinch.
“I’m trying to get you to leave.”
“Ouch, again.” This time I don’t flinch, I simply frown.
Drew sits down in a chair in front of my desk and lifts his ankle onto his knee. Cool, calm and collected.
“We’re done with our due diligence. Please take my offer,” he says, those steel eyes of his boring into me intensely. “Things are going to get uncomfortable.”
“In what way?”
“You care about the people working for Open Leaf. You’re emotionally invested. Unfortunately, some tough financial decisions now need to be implemented.”
The butterflies in my tummy turn into a storm.
I knew this might happen.
“Are you closing the stores?”
“Yes.”
“There are other options, Drew. Hire a good marketer. A general manager. I had no idea what I was doing!”
He watches me with that goddamn unreadable expression, then stands and walks over to a wall with stupid HR posters. His hands slide into his pockets while he keeps his back to me, and then he turns.
“You knew what you were doing, Gemma.” His voice is rough. “You might not have years of experience, and fine, you might have been out of your depth, but the company was unable to be saved.”
My mouth falls open.
“That’s not true,” I say softly. “It was fine when Anthony was alive.”
Drew shakes his head.
I slump in my chair. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying...” He tugs his hands out and walks over to me, pulling me to my feet. “I’m saying, please take my offer. Let me do what I need to do, without hurting you.”
I swallow.
He’s not telling me something, and everything instinct inside of me is saying, don’t ask.
“Let me take you for lunch,” Drew says, and it takes me a second to pivot at the change of topic.
“I have—” ...my lunch.
“Grapes. Cheese?” He smirks.
I smile despite myself. Despite wanting to know why Drew is protecting me. He is, I can feel it.
I’ll look back and wish I’d asked.
“You have a big fan,” I say instead.
“Yeah?” he grins.
“Zoe thinks you need to go to the zoo. It was all I heard about last night.”
His smile remains on his handsome face. “Last time I went to the New York Zoo, I was about ten years old.” Drew tips his head to the side. “Tell Zoe I accept her offer.”
“Zoe doesn’t own a car or a credit card. Her mom thinks it sounds like you want to part ways. Professionally.”
“Yeah, well, I still want to have lunch with you. Grab your purse.”
The strength of his order has my body remembering how I slid down his cock, the power of his arms holding as I rode him like my life depended on it. How I fell apart screaming his name, clinging to his muscular frame.
How his mouth took mine and kissed me until I ran out of breath.
“Biting your bottom lip like that is a breach of your contract terms,” Drew rasps.
I snap my mouth closed.
“Christ. Let’s go, before I lock that door and fuck you on the desk, Gemma Ford.”
When he cups my face, I press into his hand, and we both groan.
“I see what you mean.”
“Explain,” Drew demands, his voice thick.
“This needs to end.” I nod, and as I pull away, his nostrils flare.