Chapter Thirty
CALLIE
“So, what does this mean?”
When Emmett called me after the impromptu board meeting, I hadn’t known what to expect.
I definitely hadn’t expected to arrive at his apartment to find him opening a bottle of champagne.
My mouth fell open when he revealed that Gene had been unceremoniously removed from his position and that he had been named president of Price Industries.
Emmett frowned. “Well, I thought it was pretty obvious. I’m president of the company.”
I rolled my eyes, only to see Emmett’s darken.
“What have I told you about rolling your eyes at me, Miss Winters?” He prowled toward me, graceful like a predator.
“Nuh-uh! No sir! We’re talking right now. I have questions.” I stopped his approach with a firm hand on his chest.
He pouted, then waved a hand, feigning exasperation. “Proceed with your inquisition.”
“Thank you very much.” I cleared my throat. “First, what does this mean for Special Projects? Is the department…going away?”
It would be a devastating outcome, to be sure—and I wasn’t just thinking selfishly. They had done so much good over the years. I would have hated to see that end.
“Of course not! I’d never let that happen. In fact, I’m hoping that I can grow the team even more in this role—make a bigger impact.”
“So, you’ll still be leading Special Projects, then?”
“For a time. There will be a transition period until we find someone to take over leading the team on a day-to-day basis.”
I nodded, lips pursed.
“Next question?”
“And what does this mean for…for us?”
Emmett frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we just told everyone we were together and now you’re president of the company. That can’t be allowed, right?”
I knew I was being a pain in the ass, but I needed to hear him say it.
He sighed patiently. “I know it’s going to take some time for you to believe this, but let me try to make it as clear as possible.
” He palmed my cheeks and stared directly into my eyes as he spoke.
“I love you. I will love you proudly and openly whether you work for me or for Glenn or if you don’t work at all.
” I pulled what I was certain was an unattractive face.
Emmett laughed and pressed his forehead to mine.
“Though I expect you will work until the very day you go to your grave, Miss Winters.”
I huffed my approval and let him continue.
“This is not some fling, and our relationship is not something I’m taking lightly. I won’t let this promotion, or anything else, interfere with what we have going here. Got it?”
“Got it.” My eyes filled, and I gave him a watery smile.
* * *
“You ready for this?” Emmett asked, resting a soothing hand on the small of my back as I took the seat next to him.
The conference room gleamed like a fortress of glass and steel. Nerves twisted my stomach into knots as I smoothed my skirt for what felt like the hundredth time. The elevator doors slid open, and Thomas and Laura Price entered together. Their presence heightened my excitement and anxiety.
I nodded, momentarily unable to find my voice. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He squeezed my hand under the table as we waited for the rest of the board members to arrive.
Once everyone was seated, Thomas called the meeting to order. “Let’s get started. No time to waste.”
Emmett and I exchanged a look, suppressing our smiles.
Minutes blurred together in a haze of anxiety and adrenaline as the board ran through mundane items on their agenda.
Despite Emmett’s steady presence beside me, my palms grew clammy.
This presentation was the culmination of our tireless work on the community development project. I wanted it to be flawless.
And with Emmett leading the room, I knew it would be.
“Well, that settles that,” Thomas said, though I had no clue what they had been discussing. “Let’s move on to the proposal from Special Projects. Emmett?”
“I think I’m going to sit this one out,” Emmett said.
The blood drained from my face. On Emmett’s other side, Glenn wore a mischievous grin.
Cheeky fuckers planned this.
My stomach dropped as reality sunk in. I was leading the pitch—to the entire board. Shit. What if I stumbled over my words? What if they weren’t convinced?
Emmett gave me an encouraging nod. “You’ve got this.”
At that moment, I couldn’t have loved him more. Only two weeks into his new role as president, and he was already stepping to the side to ensure I wasn’t left in his shadow.
I drew a steadying breath and strode to the front of the room. This was my chance to shine.
I took in the faces before me—some familiar, like Meghan’s with its warm smile, but others were strangers whose opinions held immense weight. As my eyes landed on Thomas, he gave a slight nod. “Whenever you’re ready, Ms. Winters.”
Squaring my shoulders, I clicked to the first slide, outlining our vision for revitalizing the Harrison Park neighborhood. I could deliver this pitch in my sleep. “Thank you, Mr. Price. It’s an honor to be here today...”
The words flowed smoothly. I was in my element, my passion for the project lending strength to my voice. With each point I hit, the weight on my chest lifted.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Emmett’s proud gaze locked on me. His silent support bolstered my nerves. I could do this.
Every fact, every data point, every nuance was etched indelibly in my mind after weeks of relentless preparation.
Slide after slide, I painted a vivid picture of the transformative potential this project held for the community—new jobs, affordable housing, education initiatives.
This wasn’t just another corporate scheme to pad investors’ pockets.
It was a chance to uplift an entire struggling neighborhood, to breathe new life into a region that had been left behind for far too long.
I knew the skeptics in that room would need more than just flashy graphics and empty promises. They needed to see the depth of my belief, my commitment to making this dream a reality no matter what obstacles lay ahead.
So, I bared my soul with every point I drove home, each impassioned utterance bleeding conviction. The future of struggling families was worth fighting for. And I would fight tooth and nail.
Forty minutes later, I clicked to the final slide, the renderings of the proposed community center and housing complex filling the screen.
“In summary,” I said, infusing my voice with every ounce of passion I could muster, “this project has the potential to be a game-changer, not just for Price Industries, but for the entire community. By investing in their future, we’ll be forging a legacy that extends far beyond the boundaries of this boardroom. ”
Silence filled the air as I finished, the only sound the faint ticking of the clock in the corner. Then, slowly, Thomas inclined his head, the hint of a smile on his lips.
“Thank you, Ms. Winters. Your presentation was thoroughly prepared and well-delivered. I’d like to personally congratulate you on a job well done.”
I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. “Thank you, sir. Truly, though, it was a team effort. I could not have done it without the support I received from Emmett and Glenn and the rest of the Special Projects team.”
Thomas nodded, and I caught a wink from Emmett out of the corner of my eye.
“Does anyone have any final questions for Ms. Winters before we call the project to a vote?”
I examined the faces around the long table. The men and women seated before me held the future of this ambitious project in their hands. Their expressions were inscrutable as they weighed the merits of my proposal.
Laura Price cleared her throat, and the cold rasp of her voice broke the tense quiet. “I have a question for you, Ms. Winters.”
My pulse kicked up a notch as all eyes swiveled in her direction.
“This community revitalization effort is certainly...ambitious,” she drawled. “But let’s be realistic here. We’re a for-profit business—not some charity foundation. What tangible returns can we expect to see on this kind of investment?”
The board members’ eyes flicked between Laura and me as if watching a tennis match.
Maintaining my composure, I met her harsh gaze with a level stare of my own.
“You raise a fair point, Mrs. Price. At the end of the day, we are a business, beholden to our shareholders. However, I would argue that this endeavor represents a sound investment with the potential for substantial long-term returns.”
Drawing myself up taller, I clicked back through the slides, pulling up the financials.
“As outlined in my proposal, the construction and operation of these facilities will create hundreds of new jobs in an economically depressed area. Not only will this revitalize the local tax base, but it will also foster goodwill and stronger brand loyalty from a highly under-served market segment.”
I paused before continuing. “By positioning Price Industries as a socially conscious leader, we’ll be better equipped to attract top talent from younger generations who increasingly prioritize corporate ethics and social impact. In essence, we’ll be investing in our future workforce pipeline.”
I leaned forward and braced my hands on the table. “Make no mistake, this project carries risks. But I firmly believe the potential rewards—both ethical and financial—far outweigh the drawbacks.”
I pressed on, refusing to be cowed by Laura’s frosty glare.
“The data is clear — companies that prioritize social responsibility and invest in their communities consistently outperform their peers in the long run. This project represents a prime opportunity for Price Industries to solidify its reputation as an ethical, forward-thinking leader.”
I looked around the table, silently imploring the other board members to hear the sincerity in my words. “Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if bolstering our bottom line is the sole metric for success, or if cultivating a positive legacy that uplifts those around us is equally vital.”