Chapter. 4

I straightened my blouse, double-checked for lipstick on my teeth, and smiled at myself in the mirror. This time, no one would talk over me.

Tucking my planner under my arm, I strutted into the boardroom.

Todd nudged my usual chair. “Hey, how are you doing?”

“Amazing, thank you.” I perched at the edge of my seat and folded my hands over my planner.

“If you need anything—”

“I have everything I need.” My hair brushed across my shoulders as I turned to flash him a tight smile. I knew what he’d do, if given the chance. Woo me. Undermine me. Still, part of me longed to confide in someone—anyone. This version of him was a thousand times more supportive than the one I’d lost in the crash. He looked and acted like the guy I fell in love with, the guy who made my stomach tighten with anxiety and longing whenever we crossed paths.

But I wanted to save this company more than I wanted to save that marriage. There wasn’t anything to save, yet, anyway! For now, we could be coworkers—maybe friends.

“Thank you for offering,” I said, crossing my legs.

“My pleasure.” Todd swiveled in his chair and grazed his knee against my thigh. “We should be thanking you for getting us out of that meeting early.”

Across the table, Leonard let out a guttural laugh and shuffled some papers. “The look on that boy’s face—”

“He’s not a boy,” I said.

Todd snorted.

“He’s only a few years younger than you.” I frowned, rolling my shoulders back. “Same as me.”

Leonard cleared his throat, peering over his too-small spectacles. “Sorry, when you’re an old-timer like me, everyone seems like a baby.”

So why did they let Todd take over the meeting? And if they thought Damon was a kid, what did they think of me, the CEO’s daughter who’d been in and out of the office since she was actually a baby?

As soon as Dad entered, the board members scooted forward in their seats. “Hello, everyone! It should be a short meeting today.” He tilted the e-reader towards us. “Which icon is—ah, yes, thank you, Todd.”

“No problem.” Todd beamed at him, then me. At my apprehensive smile, his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Did he ever love my father? This company? Me? It couldn’t all have been some grand scheme.

Dad went through the list, about half of us taking notes. “We have a technology company coming…”

Was that one of our not-so-great investments? I’d have to see the faces of the reps to jog my memory. If I could prevent our stock from dipping, the board might not be as tempted to cut corners in three years.

My dad placed the tablet on the table. “Other than that, we’ll start thinking about WorldCon.”

“Actually,” I raised my planner, “I’ve pondered it. And I’ve got it.”

Dad’s eyes sparkled. “Have you?”

“That’s our girl!” Todd clapped a hand on my shoulder, the other trying to ease the planner out of my hands. “I was hoping we’d get to work together a little more closely.”

My grip tightened as I wrestled it back. “So, I’m the lead?”

“You’re on the team,” Todd clarified carefully.

Leonard adjusted his glasses. “It’s a big responsibility.”

“As a future leader of this company, I’ve accounted for everything.” I smiled wide at Todd. “A challenge doesn’t scare me.”

Paula snorted. “Says someone who hasn’t had many. Aren’t you in your twenties?”

“If it’s a matter of seniority, I’d love to remind the board I’ve been working here for over fifteen years.” My blood was boiling, but instead of letting it show I met her eyes cooly, knowing I held a trump card. “By the way, how’s Bobby?”

Paling, she retreated to her seat and glanced at her husband, who was too busy playing with his phone under the table to notice anything. The affair with the guy from accounting would come out, eventually.

Dad’s chair squeaked as he leaned forward. “We’ll discuss who’s the official lead. For now, why don’t we treat it as a collaboration between my protegees and take a read? All who agree say ‘aye.’”

“Aye,” the board members answered, and I tried to take it in stride.

If I was going to truly turn things around in this timeline, I had to get the board and my dad to support some changes. Winning them over would require more than great business plans, baked goods, and happy hours. I couldn’t be too “bossy,” nor too “sweet.” They’d been loyal to CEO Roy Martin forever, and I needed them to see me, not this oh-so-charming version of Todd, as the next in line to lead this company.

“Meeting dismissed!” Dad said, pushing back from the table. “Now, I’ll be at the softball game later today, so you better not disappoint me.”

The board members chuckled, gathering their things and getting ready to go.

Leonard wagged his prickly white eyebrows. “As long as we have our star player—”

“I’ll do my best!” Todd stretched out just as I was trying to leave. “Hey, can I take a look at those plans? I’m so impressed you got them ready this early! Nice foresight.”

Oh, he had no idea....

“Thanks, I can send you a summary—”

“I thought you had a ‘photographic’ memory,” he teased, grabbing my planner and holding it just out of reach. “Can’t I keep the hard copy? We’re all on the same team.”

Yes, but if I didn’t hold my boundaries, I’d always be on the bench.

“The team uses the electronic copy,” I said diplomatically. “That way, changes are documented automatically and we can track who’s contributing what.”

“You really don’t need the physical version, then.” He flipped through the pages.

“I plan on fine-tuning things each meeting, so I’d like to keep the hard copy. Especially since it contains other upcoming projects that haven’t been transferred, yet. I can't have you stealing any of my ideas.” I kept my tone light, but wiggled my upturned fingers at him.

Brow furrowed, he plopped my planner back into my palm. “I’d never do that! It’s not a competition.”

With a low hum, I looked up at him from under my lashes, clutching the planner against my chest. “All on the same team, right? Would you say every voice matters?”

He put his arm on the wall in front of me and dipped his head low enough that some of his ashy hair fell into his eyes. “I’d probably play a lot better tonight knowing you’re cheering for me.”

I almost laughed at the blatant flirting. When was the last time he cheered for me? Or pretended to care about my opinion on anything? Three years ago, apparently.

Shrugging, I swerved around him. “That sounds fun, but those games always take hours, and I should really be focused on this WorldCon thing.”

He practically skipped to keep up. “We have months before WorldCon, and the game won’t last that long with who we’re playing. You remember that guy from yesterday?”

“Yes.” As if I could forget my first love (and heartbreak) Damon. Would Todd also like to sprinkle lemon juice on my papercuts today?

“It’s our company versus his. If his presentation skills are any indication, we should steamroll them within an hour, max.”

“You think so?” I laughed. Damon wasn’t too bad in gym class, but I had no idea how the rest of his company played.

“I know so.” He smirked, half-blocking my path. “What do you say? Will you cheer me on?”

“No.” I pulled my hair back. “I’m going to play.”