Landon

The next day started bad enough, with the worst traffic jam I’d experienced since returning to LA.

It turned even worse when Adam called. I typically didn’t like talking on the phone in a cab, but it looked like I’d be stuck in traffic for a while longer. Better put the time to good use.

“Finally figured out what Sullivan’s been up to,” Adam said the second I picked up. “He’s been talking to our board, convincing them to sell.”

My mind went blank as the full meaning of his words hit me.

“What? He doesn’t have the funds to buy us out. Our company’s valuation is larger than his.”

“Yes, but he’s been in talks with a private equity fund to come up with the rest of the cash. I did some digging. Apparently, they approached him after you left for LA.”

That bastard! I forced my temper under control. I needed my head cool.

“How did you find out?” I asked.

“Bowman came forward today, told me about Sullivan’s proposal. Very generous.”

Bowman was the head of our board.

“Let me guess. They’re in favor of selling?”

“Yes. You know they’ve wanted you to sell the company for some time. We reached a peak two years ago, and you don’t want to do an IPO. They only agreed to wait because you promised the cooperation with Sullivan.”

I felt the ground sliding from beneath my feet. He was 100 percent right. If Sullivan could convince the board to sell, they could force me to do so, even if I was the CEO and owned 49 percent. The role of the board was to protect the interest of stakeholders. I was one of those stakeholders; the investors who held the other 51 percent made up the rest.

“The board isn’t happy that you’ve been away for so long. They doubt your commitment to the company.”

“I’ve given the company everything for years. Now I take a few weeks for my family and suddenly they doubt my commitment? This is just an excuse. They’ve been nagging me to sell for two years.”

I undid the top button of my shirt, but that didn’t make breathing any easier.

“I can’t believe we didn’t get wind of this until now.”

Adam cursed. “Sullivan is sly, I’ll give him that. I didn’t even know he was talking to the board outside our meetings.”

My absence had simplified everything.

“I’ve called an emergency meeting with the board, but you have to be here, Landon. You’re the only one who can convince them that selling isn’t the only option.”

“I know.” I pressed my free palm against my temple. A dull ache was forming there. “What time is the meeting?”

“Six o’clock.”

“Okay. I’ll whip up a plan and call you later.”

I called Hailey next, explaining everything. I hated that the situation had escalated so far out of my control.

“This is insane. But Adam’s right. You need to confront your board and convince them. I like Adam, but he doesn’t have your charisma, your charm. It’s good that he knows that. I can handle things here, and Val’s cast comes off in a few days. You do what you have to do. If we can help in any way, just say the word.”

***

Maddie

I arrived at the school later than usual. Damn traffic. My boys hadn’t arrived yet. None of their trucks was in front of the gate, but I did see a cab. Was the principal paying us a visit? She did say she’d like to check on our progress this week.

I slipped through the gates, intending to go straight inside the school building, but came to a halt when I saw Landon pacing near the corner where I’d been storing supplies.

I hurried to him, my insides coiling with dread. “What are you doing here? Is Val okay?”

“Nothing happened to Val. I came here to see you. I received a call from Adam this morning.”

He rattled off terms like “sale,” “hostile takeover,” and “board.” Panic rose in my throat. My spine stiffened. “How can they take your company away from you? It’s yours.”

“Forty-nine percent is mine. The rest belongs to other investors. The board acts in the interest of all stakeholders, so if they think it’s in the stakeholders’ best interest to sell the company, they can overpower me.”

“Forcing you to sell?”

“Essentially, yes.”

I covered my mouth with both hands. “So what can you do?”

“Talk to the board myself, convince them otherwise. They didn’t like that I was gone so long. I have to head back.”

“You’re leaving right now?” My brain short-circuited. “Oh, no! But I had this big goodbye dinner planned. I mean, of course you have to go talk to your board.”

Landon set his jaw, rolling back his shoulders. “You’d arranged a goodbye dinner?”

“Of course. Oh, Landon. I’m so not prepared for this. Obviously I knew we only had a limited time, but God, that goodbye dinner was going to be epic.”

I was rambling. I didn’t know what to say, except that I had to keep talking. I was afraid I’d cry otherwise. I’d planned to talk to him about our options during that dinner. I searched his expression for any sign that he didn’t want this to be over, that he wished for us to work to stay together. He said nothing. In all fairness, he had more important things on his mind now, like saving his company.

“When is your flight?” I asked.

“I haven’t looked, but I’m heading straight to the airport, hopping on the first flight.”

I retrieved my phone from my back pocket and pulled up a browser, searching for flights. I needed to concentrate on a task, any task, and I was glad for the excuse not to look straight at him.

“Okay, so there is a flight in one hour, but you won’t even make it to LAX until then. The other leaves in three hours. Do you want me to book a ticket for you?”

He cleared his throat, and I peeked up. His brows were knitted together. I couldn’t read his expression.

“I’ll buy it straight at the airport.”

“Okay.” I shoved the phone back in my pocket and crossed my arms over my chest. “Good luck. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Wear your best cuff links.” My heartbeat was thundering in my ears now. I wondered if Landon could hear it too.

“I don’t think that’ll have much of an effect. I wear them too often.”

“Nah, no one’s immune to them, trust me.”

I mustered up a smile, and Landon rewarded me with one of his own, even if it was strained. I couldn’t imagine mine looked any better. A loud honking sound startled me.

“That cab in front is for you?” I asked, just now remembering it.

He nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to wait and talk to you first, face-to-face. I didn’t want to do it over the phone.”

“Thanks. Well, don’t leave him waiting longer. And good luck.”

Damn it, Maddie! You already wished him good luck. My brain was running in a loop.

He stepped forward, kissing my cheek. My cheek! That was it? After everything, we ended with a kiss on the cheek?

I wanted to wrap my arms around him, tell him everything would be all right, that he’d get to keep his company. But I was too frozen to do more than return his chaste peck.

I walked him to the cab, my legs feeling like they belonged to someone else. As he climbed in the back seat, I barely caught myself before wishing him good luck a third time.