Chapter 50 Andrea
FIFTY
ANDREA
Meet Harrison Cross’s New Executive Assistant: It’s a Team of Five & a Robot
Harrison Cross Spotted Waiting in Line at Café After Hours
Rumor Mill: Sweet Seasons Is Still Chatting with Investors, IPO Announcement Seems Imminent
Ifailed to stop googling Harrison for the umpteenth day in a row, and I deeply regretted it.
Putting my phone away, I paced backstage at Lily’s Ice Cream headquarters and tried to focus on my public interview ahead.
The glow of stage lights bled through the velvet curtains, and the faint hum of conversation from the theater beyond made my stomach twist.
“I’m so honored to have you here as our potential new CFO, Miss Stone.” The CEO smiled at me, extending his hand.
“It’s an honor to be considered, Mr. Sharp,” I said.
“As we discussed,” he said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks, “you’ll just need to read your prepared remarks to our audience of board members, shareholders, and executives. We’ll decide whether you move on to the final interview stage by the end of the week.”
“Understood, sir. Thank you.”
He stepped aside, already moving on to his next obligation, and I logged into my cloud one last time to confirm my speech was queued up and ready.
This was the eighth interview with them, and since I didn’t have any other true prospects, I didn’t have a choice.
They’d put me through endless stages and follow-up sessions, and I was exhausted. I was starting to miss the simplicity of being a barista, when my biggest concern had been oat milk shortages instead of executive politics.
“Candidate number seven for the CFO position…” Mr. Sharp announced over the speakers. “Miss Andrea Stone!”
Applause rolled through the theater as I walked out, heels echoing against the polished stage floor. I stepped up to the lectern, adjusted the microphone, and glanced down at my tablet.
“Good afternoon.” I read the screen. “When we met before, I told you that I’ve always loved numbers and that it would be a pleasure to serve as your CFO—But quite frankly, you don’t deserve me or my time.”
A sharp gasp rippled through the audience—loud enough that I heard it over my own voice.
What the…
My stomach dropped.
I stared at the screen, heart pounding, pulse roaring in my ears. I blinked, refusing to believe I’d said those words, that I’d ever written them.
Heat crawled up my neck and my palms went slick against the tablet.
I could feel every pair of eyes drilling into me, waiting for me to crumble.
A message flashed across the screen.
Unknown Number
Keep reading the speech. The entire speech…
I looked up at the crowd. People were murmuring now, shifting in their seats, shaking their heads. There was no saving this—and suddenly, I didn’t want to.
“I scored a perfect score on the CPA exam,” I continued, my voice steadier than I felt. “I worked for months under multi-billionaire Harrison Cross—a man who is far more successful than any of you will ever be.”
The room went dead silent.
“But since that wasn’t enough to hire me outright—since you decided to parade me through a circus process led by people who are nowhere near as qualified…”
My vision blurred.
“This is your loss,” I said, blinking hard. “And you will regret it forever.”
I scrolled to the final line.
“Oh—and I would say ‘thank you,’ but my former boss taught me never to thank anyone for wasting my time.”
The silence that followed was so complete I could hear my own breathing.
I lowered the tablet, picked up my phone, and turned to walk offstage—when clapping echoed from the very back of the theater. Slow and deliberate, it cut through the hush, drawing every head in the room as whispers spread and people turned to see who would dare applaud.
I squinted into the dim light and felt my breath catch.
Harrison.
Dressed in the same perfect charcoal suit he’d worn the first day we met, he stood alone, smiling at me, making my heart beat a rhythm that was just for him.
Even though I was still mad at him, I didn’t walk toward the backstage.
Instead, I changed direction and walked straight toward him.
We stopped inches apart, the space between us buzzing with everything unsaid.
“I think you just got me fired,” I said quietly.
“You’d have to be hired first for that to happen,” he replied. “I saved you from a future disappointment.”
“You still have my cloud password?”
“You never changed it,” he said. “You also didn’t have to read a single word I changed.”
“I know,” I said softly. “I wanted to.”
The corner of his mouth twitched — not a smile, something deeper.
“Well, um…” Tears blurred my vision all over again. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he said. “Can you step into the hallway with me?”
“I have another interview across the street in like an hour. Can it wait?”
“No.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me away, and I could still feel the audience watching me as we left.
The hallway was ours alone, and under the bright lighting, Harrison’s beautiful face was even more tempting.
“I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks, Andrea,” he said, looking into my eyes. “I need you to take me back.”
“I wish I could… But with the layoffs—”
“I’m sorry for ever entertaining the idea of those.” He wiped away one of my stray tears. “I should’ve shut Ken Lay down the moment he suggested it, and I’m sorry. So fucking sorry.”
“So, instead of forty-nine point five percent, what number did you settle for?”
“Zero,” he said, letting the word settle between us. “I’m not laying off a single soul, and we’re no longer going public.”
“Until—”
“Never.” His voice was firm. “Never, Andrea.”
“I was wrong—about everything, and I don’t want to go back to the days when you weren’t a part of my life, so…” He swallowed. “I really need you to come back… the sooner, the better. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
I stared at him, processing everything he said line by line.
“Give me one reason why I should trust you again,” I said. “Tell me why you won’t change your mind like you did before…”
“Because I can’t bear to lose you again.” He looked wounded. “I’ll prove it to you every day.”
“You promise you’re telling the truth?” was all I could say. “There aren’t any hidden terms where you’ll go back on this?”
“Not at all,” he said. “It’s final.”
“I would love to come back to you…” My voice cracked under the weight of holding back. “I’ve missed you…”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me—hard and unapologetic. His hand slid into my hair, tilting my head back like he was reclaiming something he’d lost.
I melted before I could stop myself.
“Um… Miss? Sir?” A security guard appeared beside us, his voice echoing through the hall. “The CEO has asked that you both leave. You’re permanently banned from the premises.”
“Good to know.” Harrison took my hand, and I laughed as we walked toward the exit.
Outside, the cool air hit my flushed skin, and he kissed me again. “We have some serious catching up to do.”
“I agree.” I moaned as he bit my bottom lip. “Can we talk about it over dinner?”
“We can talk about whatever you want,” he murmured. “After we make up for all the nights you weren’t in my bed.”
My knees nearly buckled, and I blushed as he ran his fingers through my hair.
“Wait a minute,” I said, slowly pulling back. “What made you change your mind?”
“You, Andrea.”
“I mean, revenge- and business-wise,” I said. “How did you determine you’d run things as is and let Starbucks reign at the top for a lot longer?”
“I had a long conversation with Mr. Lewis,” he said. “Then I revisited my beliefs about crushing the competition.”
“So you’re okay being the number two coffee chain for a while?”
“Absolutely not.” He smiled. “I said revisited—not abandoned.”
“I’m not following, Harrison.”
“I did what I should’ve done from the beginning.” He opened my door. “I took over a company, fired everyone at the top, expelled the entire board, and sent out my usual ‘Welcome to the new business’ memo. It should be hitting the news within the next hour.”
“I’m still not following.” I crossed my arms. “What are you saying?”
“I bought Starbucks.”
The End