Chapter 90
An event coordinator guides Adam and I to the side of the stage. “We’re going to play the video your marketing team provided,” she says, looking at me. “Then, you will get on stage and introduce him,” she says to Adam, and we both nod.
“What are you feeding her?” Adam asks me.
What an asshole.
“Real men encourage women to eat,” I say through a clenched jaw. The video starts to play, getting the audience’s attention. The room grows quiet, and the lights dim.
“She’s going to come back to me,” Adam whispers. I glare at him and channel some of the words of wisdom from various books we’ve read in book club. Nothing good will come from me reacting further.
Adam Harris is almost out of my life for good. I’m focused on the big picture versus winning at this moment.
He steps on stage when the video ends and begins reading the teleprompter, staying on script with the copy Dani and his team agreed on. She would never go back to that asshole.
“Gideon Stone,” he says, and I walk on stage, taking the crystal award from his hands. I place it on the podium, then look at the teleprompter and begin reading.
“I am truly honored and humbled to receive this Entrepreneur of the Year Award,” I start. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief of the entire Real-ity team. Five years ago …” I continue reading.
Smiling at the phrase “breathe,” I think about how Dani and I workshopped what I was going to say tonight, naked in bed a couple weeks ago. I decide to go off script.
“To my partner in life, Dani—this is just the beginning for us. Since meeting you, I’ve internalized that there is more to life than the endless pursuit of financial success.”
She looks stressed the fuck out. I chuckle, considering how she might think I’m going to propose. I quickly look at Adam, who’s on the side of the stage with his arms crossed now. She’s mine. Not his.
“With that, I would like to announce that I am stepping down as CEO of Real-ity to focus on what matters outside of work. This decision has not been easy,” I continue, seeing Dani’s face harden.
She starts looking around the room, and I realize how I let my emotions blind me from the fact that we had strategically planned not to say this news until it was official.
I continue speaking, intently watching her as she walks over to someone and starts whispering with them. When I step off stage, she comes to me. “Gideon,” she scolds.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Your girlfriend found it very sweet.” She smiles before the tension grows on her face. “Your publicist fucking hates you right now. This is going to be so bad.”
“Why?”
“We’re going to have such a hard time controlling the narrative now.”
“It’s fine. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Yes, it is! The headlines are going to be ‘CEO steps down after missing growth projections,’ ‘Board loses confidence in CEO, asks him to step down,’ it’s going to be negative now!”
Adam approaches, and Dani looks at him, asking, “Are you still working with that firm I suggested?” He nods. “Please don’t say anything to the press,” she says to him.
“I don’t talk to the press. You know that.”
“Don’t off-the-record talk to the press either,” she says firmly. “Don’t!” she nearly yells at him after a smug look appears on his face. “This is bad for you too. There’s easily going to be a narrative about how Harris Ventures overvalued Real-ity.”
“You think it’s overvalued?” Adam and I ask in unison.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s all about perception, and since we are not following the plan I’ve been discussing with your teams …” She takes a centering breath. “Both of you—shut the fuck up unless I tell you to say something.”