The team meeting room is nothing like the sleek modern boardroom upstairs, but that’s okay, I sort of like it. Around this long, plain wooden table sit about a half-dozen of the best business minds, and I know when I take over, the sycophants upstairs are going to find themselves replaced with this younger, hungrier, smarter generation. Maybe we’ll crash and burn, but I believe otherwise. These people are the ones I want beside me as I lead Danger Enterprises into the future.

“So I think the big thing we need to hammer home is the long-term market positioning,” Robbie says from his end of the table, sitting next to my speech writer, Teresa. “It’s the biggest advantage we have over Olivia and Chase.”

“That’s true, but not the most important point,” says Teresa, who I hired because in addition to an MBA, she’s got a way with words. I’d lured her away from a lucrative political speechwriting career and felt fortunate she deigned to put her business mind to work for me instead of some slick politician.

Robbie’s jaw drops a bit and Teresa continues. “We need to show how the market is going to pay off faster. The key is speed.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, and Teresa grins, adjusting her glasses.

“Sir, your father isn’t focused on a twenty-year market capitalization, even if it’s good for the company. He’s flashy and wants a big payout that will pump up the stock price right now. So that when he gives up control, he can lay claim to being in the Forbes top 50.”

Money and pride. For my father, that’s what it always comes down to. “Where’s he at now?” I ask, not having a clue because that list isn’t something I remotely care about.

“Right now?” Robbie asks, tapping at his tablet. “Estimates put him at about one hundred and seven, give or take a couple of spots.”

Teresa presses. “If we can show how your deal will vault him up that list faster than our competitors . . . or even better—”

“Show how those deals will send him down the list,” I finish for her. “Of course, we can’t say they’ll lose money. That’s not true and everyone knows it . . . but if we can show how relative to the other Top-100, he won’t keep pace, we’ll have an angle.”

Teresa nods. “It has to be subtle. We can’t just attack Chase and Olivia directly, or we’ll risk turning off the whole board, including your father. But it can be done, with precision.”

“Good,” I reply, tapping the table. “Teresa, I want you to take Keith and start working on that angle. Do a cursory check on who the biggest movers on that list are and what they’re investing in so we can use that in our play. Get me a draft by the end of the day.”

Keith isn’t much for speaking up in these meetings, but I can always trust him to be listening and do what needs to be done. “On it, sir.”

“Okay then, everyone has their jobs. Get to it.”

The team breaks up, and I gesture to Teresa as she walks by. “Yes, Scott?”

“Teresa, regardless of how we pitch this to my father, I want it to be clear that this plan will position the company for total domination, now and later,” I comment, making Teresa smirk.

“You mean position you for total domination?”

“Isn’t that one and the same?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes, nodding before leaving. I spy Robbie, who’s hanging back, and lift my chin. “What’s up?”

“You got a minute?” he asks, waiting until the room’s cleared and the door closes before continuing. “Anything else you need? On the downlow, for the party?”

My head tilts, taking him in. “What do you mean? I think we’re solid. Or is there something you want to add?”

Robbie straightens his spine, seeming to brace himself for what he’s about to say. “Do you need a date, or are you bringing the bar girl?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Yes. I’m bringing Madison,” I say, emphasizing her name and taking offense at the dismissal of her as simply a ‘bar girl’. “Although that’s not really your business.”

He sighs. “Scott, look, man. This deal is important, a fucking pivotal moment in your career and we all know it. Are you sure you want some random chick of the week from a bar on your arm? That’s all I’m saying.”

My blood boils as I seethe, angrier at my best friend than I’ve ever been. “She’s not a random chick of the week. I fucking care about her—a lot. And you will never speak of her like that again.”

Robbie cringes at my harsh tone but doesn’t back down. “Fine, so she’s important. Hell, maybe she’s The One, but is this the time to test that? You’re not the only one with everything riding on this. The whole team needs this win, and its my job, the job you hired me for, I might add, to foresee any issues and handle them. That’s all I’m trying to do . . . protect you, protect the team, protect the company.”

I let the big inhale and exhale of breath I force into my lungs fill the room, silent as I stare Robbie down. “I get it, man. You’re coming from a good place, and I appreciate it. Truly, I do. And any other time, any other girl, you’d probably be right. But not this time, not this girl. She makes me feel . . .” I search for the word to describe how Madison makes my heart swell, my body hum, and my mind fire on all pistons. “She just makes me . . . feel. Does that make sense?”

Robbie grins, big and wide for a moment before a laugh bursts past his lips. “Son of a bitch. You’re fucking falling in love with her! Never thought I’d see the day. Well, shit. That does change things, doesn’t it?”

He nods, and I can see his mind at work. I can’t care what he’s thinking about, though, because his words are resonating through my mind. Love Madison? Do I? Is that what this is? I know she’s constantly on my mind, even as I work, which has always been my one true focus in life. And my body fucking burns hot with the need to claim her again and again. Being with her, inside her, feels like home. And I’m homesick every moment I’m away from her.

While I’m having an existential crisis of revelation, Robbie’s mind has been turning more productive circles. “All right, we can sell this. Settling down definitely makes you look more mature to the board, a plus considering you’re the baby of the family. They’ll take you more seriously, and by default, that’ll translate into taking your plan more seriously.”

I stop him. “Robbie, she’s not a ploy, not a pawn. She’s just . . . mine. And I want her there by my side.”

Robbie nods. “Of course, yeah, man. But whatever it means to you, to her, it also means something to the board. You handle your relationship. That’s all you, so don’t fuck it up. My job is to set the frame for the business side. Deal?”

I grin. “Deal. Thanks for looking out, Robbie. Really.”

He nods. “Holy fuck. Scott Danger in love. Will miracles never cease.” He pauses to laugh. “Actually, no, let’s keep those miracles rolling . . . at least until the board signs off on our proposal.”

He struts out, a man on a new mission, and I smile. The truth of the last few moments sinks in, filling me with unexpected happiness. Holy shit, I love Madison. I really do.

I’m still sitting at the head of table, smiling like a loon when a knock disturbs me. I look over, surprised to see Chase standing in the doorway.

“Hey, little brother. How’s the prep going?” he asks, coming over to sit down beside me at the table. The fact that I’m at the head of the table and he’s sitting to my right doesn’t escape me. In fact, it gives me a little jolt of victory even if it’s premature.

“Going well here. And you?” Our words are stilted, cautious as we don’t trust each other, never have and likely never will.

“Fine.” He looks out the window of the room, seeing Teresa talking animatedly as her assistant types along with her dictated words. Luckily, we can’t hear her. “You think your silver-tongued she-devil will deliver for your speech?”

He’s showing that he knows my team, knows their roles in my strategy, and likely the strengths and weaknesses in each of us, our proposal included. But I know his too.

“Chase, the numbers don’t lie. Your plan is good, no doubt about that.” He looks surprised at my admission, and quite honestly, I am too. But I continue, “But we can do better, be better. And trading on the fact that you’re the golden son only gets you so far and doesn’t serve the company. It makes you lazy, makes you take the easy, safe way. The board will see that. Their loyalty to Dad has limits.”

Chase nods. “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” He’s quiet for a moment and then continues, barbs in his every word letting me know that maybe I hit a little too close to home for his comfort. “You think you’re this wunderkind, somehow above, or outside, all of Dad’s shit. But you’re not. None of us are. It’s his game, his boards, and his fucking rules, and if you don’t play by them, no amount of genius from your team of crackpots out there is going to put you at the head of that table upstairs.”

“And you think you should sit there instead?” I sneer.

“It doesn’t matter what I think, only what Dad thinks. And for that reason alone, I will sit there. I will lead this company. No matter what you do. You’re simply no threat because you don’t play his game. I do. You might think it’s weak, but I call it smart,” he says evenly.