“Yes, we should. How about nine o’clock his time?”
“I’ll make it happen. I’ll also be sending you an email with some talking points along with the instructions for logging into the video conference.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
“You’re welcome. Just promise me you’ll stay out of California for a while. I suspect Vincent isn’t going to be very happy.”
As Grandpa ends the call, I lean back, throw my arms up in victory, and scream with delight. “Aaaahhhh!!!”
Aiden and Cooper barrel through my bedroom door at the same time. “What’s wrong?”
I laugh, almost hysterically. I’m so damn happy. “Nothing. Everything is going perfectly.”
Later, I text Knox.
Me: The takeover of Vincent’s company went through. I have an online meeting tomorrow to personally tell him the good news. Then I’d like to be seen. You wanna have lunch with the new chairman of the board?
Knox: I’d be honored. I assume you want this lunch to be photographed?
Me: Yes, I do.
Knox: You’re a girl after my heart, Keatyn. I’ll let my assistant know where we’ll be.
Me: Thank you. Cooper and I will pick you up at noon. I’m going shopping at Bergdorf’s after. Maybe we could go somewhere close?
Knox: Do we get to shop together? That would be romantic.
Me: Romantic looking, you mean?
Knox: Of course, sugar. Whatever you say.
Me: There’s hope for you yet. See you tomorrow.
MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND
No need for threats.
10:30am
I wake up to Aiden sprinkling little kisses across my shoulder.
“You were naughty last night,” he whispers, referring to the party I threw for myself. Riley and Ariela left for home yesterday to get ready to go back to Eastbrooke. When I took my nap, I went to sleep feeling a little sad. Sad that they’re all going back without me.
But that sadness was quickly replaced with joy when Grandpa called and told me about the takeover. I immediately decided to throw a party.
It was a small party. Just Peyton, Damian, Aiden, Cooper, and me. But still, it was fun.
Especially after a few shots.
And even more so when I dragged Aiden into my room and used the feather on him.
Let’s just say there is still a smile plastered on my face.
“I think you like it when I’m naughty,” I reply, sliding my hand down his chest and stopping to rest on his boxers.
He grins at me, removes his boxers, and kisses me. “Yes, I do.”
After some more naughtiness, I get up and spend a lot of time getting myself ready for the video conference. I want to look like my mom did in the movie, so I blow my hair out and finish it with a straightener.
Then I stand in the middle of my closet and look at my clothes. If it was just Vincent and me, I would wear a bikini. But I’ll be speaking to the entire board of directors.
I need to look as professional as possible, so I chose the suit I begged Kym for when I saw it at her studio last week. It’s a violet Oscar de la Renta asymmetrical sheath dress with a matching belted peplum moto jacket. It’s the perfect combination of fashion forward and understated elegance.
I study myself in the mirror, deciding the bold collar and my hair are competing, so I pull it back into a chic bun and add the glossy black enamel flower earrings that Kym paired with it.
Glancing at the clock and knowing it’s almost time, I grab a pair of black suede Ala?a stiletto booties with white dots. I don’t know if they really match, but they make me feel fierce, and I’m going to need that.
“So, what do you think?” I ask Aiden when I walk out to the kitchen.
“You look older. Professional.” He glances down. “Not sure about the little boot things with it, though.”
“I like them.”
“That’s all that matters, then,” he says, giving me a steamy kiss. “Are you ready for this? To face him? To fire him? To speak to a freaking board of directors?”
“Yeah, I’m ready. I’m going to get set up in the dining room. The rest of you cannot make a peep.”
“Can we watch? Listen?” Cooper asks.
“Yeah, you can. Grandpa will be conferenced in, too. I’ll give you the link, but you have to go upstairs.”
“Are you sure?” Aiden asks. “I don’t really need to watch. I can stay down here with you.”
“I appreciate that. But I need to focus. Concentrate like I would on a movie set. I’ve memorized the key points Grandpa sent me and I know what I’m going to say.”
“Well, good luck, then,” he says, first kissing his clover tattoo and then kissing mine. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Aiden. Now, get upstairs.”
I get the computer set up so that I can stand in front of it, rather than sitting down. Grandpa said it will make me look stronger. More dominant.
Part of me wants to laugh. I mean, I’m freaking seventeen and I’m taking over a company? I might be as nuts as Vincent.