Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
When he pulled back, I had to hold onto him to keep from slumping to the ground in a smiling mess of happiness.
“Okay,” I said, letting out a heavy breath and bouncing on my toes. “I still need to do this.”
“What exactly is it you’re planning, Ember?” Orion asked, eyes searching mine.
“You’re going to have to trust my instincts. A lot. Can you do that?”
He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Yes."
"Even if it means letting me tell everyone the truth? About both of us?"
Another nod, slower this time. "Whatever it takes."
41
EMBER
Orion was back in his seat and the grand ballroom was already filling with faces from both companies—Foster Real Estate employees clustered on one side, Northman Group on the other, like some corporate version of West Side Story.
I halfway expected the men to tie their ties around their foreheads and start brawling while breaking out into stage songs.
"You look like you're about to jump out of your skin," Eleanor said, appearing at my elbow. She wore an elegant navy dress that somehow made her seem both regal and approachable. "Everything's arranged exactly as you requested. Though I still think you're taking an awful risk."
"I know." I smoothed my emerald dress.
Eleanor squeezed my arm. "Marcellus is ready when you are. And dear? That young man of yours hasn't taken his eyes off you since he walked in."
I didn't need to turn around to know she was right. I could feel his presence like electricity in the air. But I kept my eyes forward, watching Cole work the room with his usual swagger. He actually winked at me when he caught my eye, as if we shared some secret joke.
My hands tightened around the folder I carried. Soon he wouldn't be smiling at all.
"Places, everyone!" Eleanor called out. "Mr. Davenport would like to say a few words."
The room quieted as Davenport took the small stage. He looked frail under the lights, but his voice carried clearly.
"I've spent my life building things that last," he began. "Not just factories, but legacies. Communities. Tonight, I'll be announcing which company will help preserve that legacy."
I saw Cole's satisfied smirk, the way he was already half-rising from his chair in anticipation. I caught Orion's reflection in one of the room's mirrors. He wasn't looking at Davenport at all. His eyes were fixed on me, and there was something like understanding dawning in them.
"But first," Davenport continued, "I believe Miss Hartwell has something to share."
My heart hammered as I walked to the podium and adjusted the microphone. This was it. It was my chance to make everything right. To prove I wasn't the person who had taken this job for revenge, but someone who had grown to care about these people, this work, this company.
Someone who had fallen in love with a man everyone thought was heartless, only to discover he was anything but.
I clutched the podium like a lifeline as my legs threatened to give out from under me.
Time to blow it all up.
I took a deep breath and opened my folder.
"What I'm about to share affects everyone in this room," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "But first, I need to apologize. To Foster Real Estate, to Mr. Davenport, and especially to Orion Foster."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. I forced myself not to look at Orion.
"Miss Hartwell," Cole cut in smoothly, raising his deep voice so it could be heard around the large room. "I'm sure whatever dramatic revelation you're planning is fascinating, but Mr. Davenport called us here to announce his decision."
“Sit down,” Orion growled, drawing surprised and scared looks from around the room.
Even Cole looked a little rattled as he stared at Orion and adjusted his coat.
"Actually," Eleanor said from her seat, "I called you here. At Ember's request. And Mr. Davenport agreed to join because Ember promised he would want to hear what she has to say."
To my mild satisfaction, Cole’s expression went a little green as he sat back down, glaring up at the stage.
Orion gave me a small nod of encouragement and I flashed a smile his way as I pulled out the first document. It was a printout of Cole's plans for the factories. I tapped a button on the podium’s control panel and projected a large copy of the document for everyone to see.
"These are architectural plans commissioned by Northman Group two months ago,” I said. “Plans to demolish the Davenport factories and build luxury hotels."
The room erupted in murmurs. Cole's face went from confusion to fury as he recognized his own documents.
"Those are confidential company files—" he started.
"So you admit they belong to you?” I asked sweetly. “I’m glad we could establish that so much more easily than I expected.”
Cole’s mouth pressed into a furious thin line.
“It didn’t matter what you told Mr. Davenport you were going to do with his buildings, Cole. To you, the real prize was what you could do with them after he died. You wanted to demolish them and use the land for your own purposes.” My voice rang clear and cold.