CHAPTER 10
The Deal Moves Forward
Josh
That night, Josh couldn't sleep.
And all he could think about was the way Helen looked at him in the garden. The way she'd said "I'm willing to listen" like it cost her something. The way she'd held his hand like she was trying to decide whether to hold on or let go.
He found himself in the Grand Ballroom again, standing under the chandeliers.
He thought about Helen's father, dancing with his little girl in this room. Step-together-step, turn. Humming off-key.
He thought about his own father, who had never danced with him.
His phone buzzed. Marcus: Final confirmation. All signatures secured. Legal team is ready. Tender offer launches at 9 AM sharp. Do you want me to proceed?
Josh stared at the message. His thumbs hovered over the keyboard.
He could stop this. One word. No.
But his fingers wouldn't type it. Because stopping the deal meant admitting he'd been wrong. About everything. About his life. About his choices.
Stopping the deal meant becoming someone new.
And he didn't know how to be someone new.
He typed: Confirmed. Proceed as planned.
Then he locked the phone and slid it into his pocket.
The chandeliers glittered above him, indifferent to his turmoil. He thought about Helen. About her father dancing with her in this room. About her fighting for this hotel with every breath in her body.
He thought about what he was going to take from her.
And for the first time in twenty years, Josh Baylor felt something he'd trained himself never to feel.
Shame.
He stayed in the ballroom until 3 AM. Then he walked back to his suite, lay down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling until the sun came up.
He didn't sleep. He didn't deserve to sleep.