Chapter Sixteen Connor
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CONNOR
Father: CALL ME OR YOU WILL REGRET IT.
Father: I will do everything in my power to remove you. This behavior is appalling.
Father: You’re dead to me.
Never thought my dad would go as far as to be that dramatic, but there was always a first for everything.
Seeing him like this made me long for what our family could’ve been if my mom had survived.
Neighbors always told me how she leveled him out to be a little less of a prick.
The way he treated me made me want to work twice as hard to not be like him.
If I wanted my marriage to last forever, then distancing myself from my father was the right choice.
The past weekend had been a dream come true. I’d been living in my Laney fantasy, spending the last two days laughing, naked, or both, but it was back to reality this Monday morning. Back to the world where I could either lose my job or fix my life to get what I wanted—more time with my wife.
My insides turned to acid at the thought of my dad actually removing me as CEO. He could. And while the idea of walking away from all this bullshit still felt like a good idea, I wanted to do it on my terms. Not his. And after years of catering to him, I had called him on his bluff.
“It’s getting bad, Connor.”
I snapped my gaze to Petra. She paled and tilted her laptop toward me.
“The board is demanding a meeting next Wednesday night. You’re expected to be there. Two agenda items. The first… my new position, and the second… evaluating the CEO and expectations.”
A little more than a week away.
“Love that for us.” I sipped the black coffee she had brought to the rental house and stared at the kitchen counter.
Thoughts of Laney had me smiling but not enough to fix the dread.
I’d hid it from her all weekend, enjoying our quality time together, but I had no idea what to do if the board removed me.
We had good savings, sure, and I could form a new business, but that would be starting over. More late nights. It’d be all-hands-on-deck for whoever joined me. It would mean less time with my wife, which was the whole fucking point of this.
“Petra, what can we do?”
“Your three meetings with the board members in favor of this went well. They were pleased with your vision for growth. Dennis will absolutely try to turn everyone against this idea. Bruce will also go against you. Ryan is the wildcard.”
“Three votes get us what we want.”
“Correct, but Dennis is vice president and will vote first. He’ll blast into you and me.”
I ground my teeth together. “You’ll be there. I want him to say all this garbage to your face, in front of the entire room.”
Petra nodded. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“That doesn’t make it right.” I paced the dining area before gripping the back of a chair.
I hated feeling like I had missed something.
If they wanted to talk about the CEO role, I could show growth charts and evidence of success.
Yet they knew that. This was about Dennis, my father, and some fucked-up feelings I didn’t understand.
My CFO and CTO were in a group chat, and I immediately added Petra to it.
Jen: Everything has been restored, no data exfiltrated. 100% confirmed. Checked with our ISP to verify.
CFO: Business as usual. Nate has been fired and all access has been removed.
Petra: Jen, can one of your cyber guys spare half a day on Nate’s device?
“What are you thinking?” I asked, appreciating that our CTO and CFO were competent, intelligent people. “You still thinking there’s a tie from Nate to your ex?”
She shook her head. “I think it’s something bigger.”
“Bigger? What does that mean?” My brain spun with a familiar ache that could only be soothed with whiskey, Laney, or sex. Sometimes, all the above. “Nate received payments that we were able to track to your ex—our lawyers are working with law enforcement to see what action we can take.”
“Sure, but the way Blake has been acting…”
“Have you been speaking with him, Petra?” My tone was pure ice. “The man who tried to sabotage you, ruin our business, and make you cry?”
“I never cried, asshole.” She paced on the other side of the kitchen, her hair all over the place again. “He called me four times. I finally gave in two nights ago.”
“Goddamn it, Petra.” The urge to say I wish you would’ve called me was right there, but I didn’t say it. I was glad she hadn’t. That night with Laney had been precious. It had repaired the foundation I’d destroyed over the last year. “What the hell did he want?”
“He assured me that he had nothing to do with what the feds were saying. He’d never do that to me.”
“He stole your idea and used it in his business model. He used you to make his business thrive. He would do that to you.” I placed my hands on my hips and fought the compulsion to kick the chair. “Do not let him manipulate you. You are stronger than this.”
“I know, Connor. I told him to fuck off and speak to me through our lawyers. I am not an idiot, and I’ve seen his true colors.
He did make one comment though that has me hesitating.
” She chewed her lip, and a nervous look crossed her face.
“He said that, when they heard about our breach, their business doubled down on their protection in case someone went after them next. He made the claim that somehow Nate and Dennis know each other well.”
“That’s… okay, them knowing each other is not an issue.
” I cracked a few knuckles and stared at the checkered wallpaper.
I liked Laney’s hometown, but the décor in the rental was not my flavor.
“That sounds like he wanted to place doubt on him, and it’s working.
Dennis and Nate knowing each other isn’t a big deal. ”
“I want to ask Jen to look into it.” She pursed her lips. “Connor, you’ve known me for years, and I trust my gut. I have a weird feeling about this. I mean, hell, look at the timeline. The breach happened, then they’re questioning the CEO role?”
“He couldn’t have planned for me to try and work on my marriage.”
“Sure, but a cyberattack could have major setbacks on a business. He probably thought we wouldn’t be prepared enough.”
“Jen knows her shit.”
“Yeah, but how does he feel about women in the workplace, Connor?”
Fuck. She had me there. I pinched the bridge of my nose and nodded.
“As my proposed COO, I expect you to handle this and update me if you find anything of substance. Preferably by next Wednesday.”
She was already facing her phone, her fingers flying over the device as she smiled. “Come to think of it, remember that board meeting where Jen spoke about multifactor authentication and Dennis kept rolling his eyes?”
My jaw tensed as I nodded. “What about it?”
“His attitude about the entire thing. He truly thought it wasn’t a big deal. I’m right about this, boss. I feel it. I’ll get you the evidence to prove it. If I get you that, then during the board meeting next week, you can share it with the rest.”
She was so determined, so sure of it, that I smiled.
“Deal, Petra. Find me the shit I need to get Dennis off my back.”
After working all day, I closed my laptop at six with the hope of convincing my wife to join me for dinner.
Instead of calling, I walked over to her parents’ house carrying a deep red rose.
Our relationship changed after this weekend.
It had deepened. Even after all this time together, our connection had shifted into something else.
Something with legs and heart and heat. I thought about her all day, wondering if she had eaten lunch or if she was smiling.
I was content to let her lead, as long as she didn’t mention divorce again.
A car I didn’t recognize sat in the driveway. That should’ve been my first sign.
“Oh, hello, Connor.” Sophia answered the door before I knocked, a wineglass in her hands and a smirk on her face. “You look well. I like the small-town scruff on your face. It’s hotter than the polished look.”
“Have more wine, Soph.” I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Laney had to miss her best friend. She was the best friend my wife could have.
“Please, come in. Take your shoes off.” She ushered me in, and I elbowed her side.
“What was that for?”
“You’re ridiculous. I’ve been here more than you.”
“Sure, but I’ve never made Laney cry.”
I winced, and she immediately paled.
“Oh shit, that was uncalled for. Wow, sorry, dude.”
I rubbed my chest, forcing a smile when Laney walked up to me wearing leggings, green fuzzy socks, and an old hoodie of mine. Her hair was in a messy bun, and she had flour on her face, but fuck, she looked beautiful. I scanned her head to toe, my heart fluttering in my chest as she blushed.
“Hi, sweetheart.” I walked toward her and kissed her softly, letting my lips linger on hers. She tasted like cookies. “This is for you.”
“Oh, thank you.” She took the rose and smelled it. “That was nice.”
“I saw it at the store this afternoon and thought it’d make you smile. You could take some dramatic pictures of it against the snow. Maybe do some black and whites?”
“That.” She beamed. “That is… yes.” She hugged me tight and kissed my neck with a whisper. “I love you, thank you.”
“I’m gonna butt in here and say you both look great. Coming here for a few weeks was the right choice.” Sophia patted my back.
I put my arm around Laney, kissing her cheek. “Why do you taste like cookies?”
“Because we’re making some.”
“Some? Some is like two dozen,” Soph said, following us into the kitchen. “They are making millions.”
“It’s not millions, Sophia dear. It’s ten dozen for a bake sale at the church. Then two dozen for Dad to give away at the shop, then another three for Esmerelda’s art fair.”
“Okay, fifteen dozen, sorry. Not a million.”
The kitchen looked like a cookie factory exploded. Every crevice in the room was covered with pans, cookies, half frosted, half not. Food dye spilled on the counter, and I met her mom’s gaze.
“Connor, you here to help too?”
“Do you need it?” I laughed as Laney moved to hand me an apron. She placed it over my head and tied it in the back for me.
“What… what should I do?”
“Frosting. He can be on solids.”
“Oh, solids is for amateurs.” Sophia winked at me and then went right toward the island and held a container of sprinkles. “This is more advanced.”
“Shut up, Soph.” Laney grinned as she put on an apron and stood on the other side of the table from me. “We have stations.”
“I have more help coming too. I ran into Barb, who saw Kevin, who told Cienna, so it’ll be a full house in a bit.”
Laney’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, I’ve missed everyone so much.”
“They are so happy to see you.” Her mom beamed at her, the two of them sharing a smile.
It made my chest ache. Laney had seemed happier here with her parents than she had at our home.
At least, the last few years. Was it the house or me?
I made a note to ask her, to try to figure out how I could create a world where she was this happy all the time. There had to be a solution somewhere.
Her mom blasted some Christmas tunes and barked out orders like a sergeant. I had no idea she had it in her.
“Mrs. Whitfield, I didn’t realize you were so assertive.”
“I am around Christmas, good man.”
“We were never able to make it back for the annual cookie night, but when I grew up, this was a town tradition.” Laney swayed her hips to the music, outlining a cookie that looked like a stocking. “It’s like riding a bike! Look, Mom!”
Her mom glanced at the fancy frosting work my wife did.
“Nice job, Laney. Sophia, stop eating the decorations!”
“I can’t control myself!”
It was a little bit of madness for the next two hours.
Laney and Sophia danced around the kitchen, taking turns singing into a spatula while others joined in.
Two of the people I saw her with at the pizza place showed up with wine and more batter.
They patted my back and went to work. It was a seamless operation, and for the first time in a while, I felt awkward.
“Hey!” Laney nudged my hip with hers, her red lips in a perpetual smile. “You should invite Petra over!”
“Oh, Petra? Yes. I’ll invite Matt.” The blond girl wiggled her brows. “He wouldn’t shut up about her after the pizza place.”
Laney’s eyes lit up as she stood on her tiptoes and whispered, “Petra and Matt hit it off. Let’s play matchmaker!”
“Your Matt and my Petra?” I said, immediately regretting it. It was the wrong thing to say. “Wait, not, you know…”
Her lips pinched together as she narrowed her eyes. “Come with me, now.”
My stomach sank. “Laney—”
She shushed me, dragging me by the end of my sweatshirt as we went upstairs. Sophia caught my gaze, winked, and was not helpful. I had no idea how to explain what I had said. Petra was not mine, but thinking about Matt…
“I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
She shoved me onto her childhood bed, the lingering scent of her perfume still in the air.
“I am your wife, and you are my husband.”
I nodded, very confused. Was she not furious with me? Was she smiling?
“Laney, baby, what’s… happening?”
“Reminding you that if you ever again refer to Matt as mine, or Petra as yours, it will be very bad.”
Swallowing, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” She leaned down and kissed me, tasting like sugar cookies and frosting. It was a soft kiss, but she moaned and tightened her grip on my shoulders as she slid her tongue into my mouth.
I could get lost in a kiss like this, but her family was downstairs, and I knew how much this decorating night meant to her. I slowed the kiss and rested my forehead on hers. We both were breathing heavily, and I smiled. “That was one hell of a kiss, Laney.”
“Yeah, well, I had to remind you that I’m your wife.”
“Never once forgot it.” I took her hand and kissed the back of it, her eyes softening as I stared at her. “Let’s go finish decorating. I made a bet with your dad last week that I’d be better at it, and I can’t have him cheat.”
“Did you really?” she asked, her smile widening. “What would you win?”
“Five dollars, but it’s more about pride.”
She giggled and I wanted to bottle up that sound. I followed her back downstairs, wishing like hell that I could figure out a solution where we spent more time here. Because the one thing I learned these last few weeks was that, if given the choice, I’d pick Laney over my job.
I just had to show her that I meant it.