Chapter 32
PHOEBE
“Good morning, Miss Baldwin,” Mr. Terrence says as he walks into my office.
My office. It was Dad’s, then Mom’s before me, but now, it’s finally mine. And I still cannot believe it. A dream come true after so much unnecessary hardship. I let my fingers run along the edge of the mahogany desk—something I remember my father doing when he needed a moment to think.
“Good morning, Mr. Terrence,” I reply with a warm smile, then point to the guest chair across from my desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Funny enough, I remember sitting in that exact spot when I was a kid, playing with my dolls while Dad would trace his fingers along the edge as he pondered important decisions for the company.
Mom was always out and about with Crystal—beauty pageants, dance classes, shopping—and I’d be left under Dad’s watchful eye.
In hindsight, it was my mother’s best decision.
“How are you settling in?” Mr. Terrence asks. He’s holding a black leather dossier in his hands, ready to get the ball rolling on what will likely be an intensive and downright dramatic restructuring of Baldwin Enterprises.
I let out a deep exhale. “It’s been a couple of days. I’ve gone through all the departments, I’ve shaken all the hands. It will take a while to learn everybody’s names, but Ellie is a phenomenal PA. I’m keeping her, for sure.”
“Yes, well, Mrs. Baldwin wasn’t easy to work with, but Ellie managed somehow.”
Ellie also provided Penny and her law firm with a lot of the evidence that is now being used to prosecute my mother and sister. She’s earned her seat at the table.
I give Mr. Terrence a curious look. “I’m glad to see the executive board is so open to working with me.”
“We’d be fools not to. We were looking forward to you joining the company long before Mrs. Baldwin tried to keep you out of it,” he says. “Some of the board members sang to her tune, but only to protect their own interests.”
“Even so, I find it hard to trust them.”
“Which is why you are now the majority stakeholder. With fifty percent, courtesy of your sister,” he replies. “I assure you, there will be no trouble from us. All of the board members have been made aware that you won’t tolerate any sort of nonsense.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I pause and laugh lightly. “Forgive me, I’m not used to being in a position of power.”
“Which is why I’m here. To make sure you carry on with your father’s legacy.
” He smiles, nostalgia in his tone when he says, “I remember when you were a child, Miss Baldwin. Sitting in this chair, combing your doll’s hair, while Mr. Baldwin signed merger documents and secured thousands of new jobs for the people of this fine city. ”
I stare at him in genuine surprise. Most of my childhood memories have faded, the details having slipped away, but now that I look back, maybe I do remember seeing Mr. Terrence around, long before I became aware of him.
“Thank you for the kind words. I think we’ll get along great, Mr. Terrence. Now, let’s open that fancy dossier of yours and review the agenda for today.”
The door opens, and Ellie comes in with a coffee tray—freshly pressed French roast and two lovely porcelain cups, along with miniature milk jugs and a selection of sugars, which she places on the corner of my desk.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Terrence says. “I took the liberty.”
“Not at all. Except I’m only on decaf until the baby is born,” I reply with an apologetic smile.
Ellie points to a separate pot. “I made you decaf. Shall I pour it?”
“Oh, yes, please.”
Once she’s done with the service, she takes the tray and leaves us to our business. Mr. Terrence takes a long sip, then gives me a smile. “I look forward to having more children running around in this office again.”
“Ah, let’s hope I can handle it all. Motherhood, the company… I’m a tad overwhelmed right now.”
“You’ll be fine. There’s no doubt in my mind. And you have our full support for the cleanup. It’s gotten messy without a capable leader around here, I’m afraid.”
“Right. So, first item?”
“Our legal representation. There was some dissent regarding your decision to remove the previous law firm in charge of Baldwin Enterprises, but your friend’s firm is equally reputable, and they’re already doing a marvelous job of handling our case against your mother and sister in court.
They’re cooperating with the DA and the SEC on that front. ”
“Yes. I’ll be hiring their firm for a long-term contract. Penny is already drawing up the papers, and I’ll have copies for the board to review before the end of the week. If all goes well, we should be ready to sign them early next week.”
Mr. Terrence makes notes in the dossier. “There is also the matter of testifying. The entire board and approximately twenty other employees from the finance and accounting departments have been subpoenaed for the trial.”
“I’m assuming they will be provided with legal aid, should they be unable to afford their own. I presume we’re not talking about the employees who were arrested in connection with Mom and Crystal’s activities.”
“Oh, no. Their contracts were immediately terminated. They’re on their own,” Mr. Terrence shakes his head.
“Good. We need to review all of our employee records anyway. I want to make sure we have no loyalists of the previous regime left in our ranks.”
“I completely agree. I’ll add this to the next board meeting agenda, for sure. Next, there’s the issue of the SEC having frozen our funds, pending their investigation. We’re operating on air. The first of the month is pay day for all employees.”
I nod slowly. “Right. Can you liaise with Penny on this? I know she was in the process of getting the SEC to back off so we can continue our work. They already have all the evidence they need against my mother, and we’re still digging through the accounting archives to supplement their requirements.
There’s no need to keep our accounts frozen, not at this point in time. ”
“I’ll do that.”
“Thank you.”
To my surprise, the meeting unfolds smoothly and harmoniously. Mr. Terrence and I see eye to eye on most of the issues regarding my father’s company, and we both reach the same conclusion.
“We have our work cut out for us, don’t we?” I ask him, albeit rhetorically.
“I’m afraid so. But if we get our accounts back, I know you’ll be able to move some things around to secure a steady flow over the next six months.”
“Your confidence in me is overwhelming.” I nervously laugh.
Mr. Terrence gives me a wry smile. “I read your preliminary financial report, Miss Baldwin. You know what you’re doing.”
He’s right, I do know what I’m doing. I’m just thankful so many people around me are also aware of that and are willing to let me steer this ship away from the waterfall’s edge. Mom went to such great lengths to keep me out of the company; I’d almost begun doubting myself somewhere along the way.
My phone pings.
Look outside.
It’s a text message from Dominic, and it immediately piques my interest.
“Mr. Terrence, can you excuse me for just one second?” I ask and get up from my seat.
“Of course.”
My baby bump is starting to show, ever so slightly, against the pink satin shirt I’m wearing. I like the way I look, more and more.
“Holy smokes,” I gasp as soon as I see it.
My office is at the top floor, giving me a great view of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park, further to the left. But it’s the building next door that becomes the object of my attention. The rooftop terrace has been flooded with an abundance of white and pink roses.
On the edge, I see Dominic, August, and Theo standing proudly and smiling. In front of them, yellow roses have been arranged to spell out a stunning, breath-taking sentence.
WILL YOU MARRY US?
“Oh, my God…” I whisper.
I point downstairs.
They nod.
“Please excuse me, Mr. Terrence,” I say with a trembling voice.
“By all means, Miss Baldwin. I do believe congratulations are in order,” he laughs.
Five minutes later, I’m rushing out of the Baldwin Enterprises building with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart as I see Dominic, August, and Theo making their way up the front steps.
“Are you serious?”
“We are. If you’ll have us.” Dominic gives me a dazzling smile.
“Of course I’ll have you!” I reply, melting on the inside while my heart feels as if it might beat right out of my chest. It’s nearly impossible to breathe as my men huddle around me and take me in their arms.
People stop to stare at us, but we don’t care. We kiss, we hug, and we hold one another tightly as I say the words over and over.
“Yes, absolutely yes, undeniably yes!”
Dominic laughs and takes out a small velvet box, revealing a stunning diamond ring. The main stone is heart shaped, flanked by fine emerald and citrine shards, and mounted on a slim, gold band that reminds me of the Elven jewelry from fantasy movies. It’s so beautiful, so delicate and ethereal.
“We want to spend the rest of our lives with you, Phoebe,” he says. “That much, we know beyond any doubt.”
“You belong with us,” August adds. “We’re compatible in every possible way, and I have never been happier.”
Theo gently takes the ring and slips it on my finger. “Only one of us will be able to marry you in the eyes of the law, but know that this ring represents our commitment, from this day until our very last.”
“I love you all so much, it hurts,” I manage as I admire the ring, then proceed to cup each of my men’s handsome faces and kiss them deeply on the lips.
I taste coffee and mint, raw nerves and complete devotion. I taste dreams of a future together. The promise of beautiful days ahead. I taste the beginning of a strange new life where we all belong, our authentic and truest selves in sublime harmony. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.