Chapter 31: Chapter Thirty-One

LOGAN

Rae is fighting with the corners of her lips as they try to curve downward. She tries to hoist them back up into a fake smile, but it’s as impossible as defying gravity, and she’s left with sadness engraved on her face.

Her mouth twitches when she thanks Taylor and me for our time and leaves my office.

“Michael told me she’s been getting around,” Taylor sneers. “Sad to hear you were her next victim.”

“That’s unprofessional, Taylor,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “Shouldn’t you delegate consultant management to someone lower in the chain of command?”

I want her the fuck out of Rae’s hair. How she can enjoy tormenting Rae, who wouldn’t hurt a goddamn fly, I’ll never understand.

“Branding is very important,” she replies earnestly. “I want to ensure we’re getting the most ~bang~ for our buck. Jade Agency isn’t cheap, you know.” She smirks. “Some of their employees, on the other hand…”

If it wouldn’t ruin the last months of Dad’s life, I would quit right now.

I would pluck Rae from her cramped cubicle, drive to her office, give a glowing review to her boss before demanding she be placed on another assignment, and bring her back to my place to treat her like the queen she is.

I’d enroll in culinary school and ask Rae to photograph my every creation. Hell, if I’m doing this fantasy thing, I’d get down on one knee right there.

Instead, I’m glaring at my witch of an ex-girlfriend while brainstorming ways to cover up my dad’s sketchy business dealings in a vain attempt to save his life.

“Taylor, one more inappropriate word about the consultants and I’m bringing this to Nicki.”

“I love it when you bite back,” she giggles.

“I have a meeting. Close the door on your way out.”

Taylor obliges, saving me from incurring homicide charges.

I rub my eyes, entirely unprepared to deal with my meeting with Serena. I haven’t slept well—slept at ~all~, really—since Thursday night.

All the guilt with Rae is fucking me up, and knowing that Dad is leaving for China soon isn’t helping either.

Serena walks in without knocking. She’s been at the company since Dad started it thirty years ago, so she pretty much acts like she owns the place. In a way, she ~does~ own the place.

Being CCO, she has veto power over everything we do.

“Good morning.” There’s a bitterness in her tone that’s usually only reserved for rooms containing Michael Pomeroy.

“Hey, Serena. How’s it going?”

She raises her eyebrows. “Mind if I close the door?”

By the time “sure” leaves my mouth, the door is already shut.

“I had an interesting meeting with Michael and Beatrice Friday. They seem to think you’ve approved the investments in Tetra, Vaxx, Cybory, Nutrity, and Physion.”

I sigh. “Did they tell you why?”

“No, which is why I’m here. You know that all five belong to the same parent company as CX Health. Michael said that you were aware of that.”

“I am,” I admit.

“And you’re aware of the allegations against CX?”

“Serena—” I start.

“You are aware, I take it?”

“Yes, I’m aware. I don’t like it any more than you do. There’s… I don’t have a choice, Serena.”

“Is there an invisible gun to your head that I’m missing?”

“Not to ~my~ head.”

“But there’s a gun?”

“There’s a gun,” I sigh.

“Alright. I’ll be straight with you. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t ~want~ to know, not if there’s a metaphorical gun involved.

“I can’t, in good conscience, sign off on these investments. I can’t ask my subordinates to sign off either, and you need compliance’s approval if you want to proceed.”

I catch my head before it drops into my hands. Now’s not the time to be weak. Not in the office that belonged to Dad.

“I submitted my resignation to Nicki’s office this morning.”

I stare, open-mouthed. Serena twiddles her thumbs, nonplussed. “Ser—” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I’ve ignored the nepotism that’s been running rampant since Beatrice and Howard— ~yes~ , Howard, as much as you admire him, Logan—stepped into their roles.

“I’ve approved more of Beatrice’s risky fund selections than I should have. CX Health is where I draw the line.

“In any other circumstances, I’d deny the investment outright, but there’s clearly a life-or-death reason why you’re on board with the transaction, and I’m not willing to let you face those consequences, whatever they are.

“If you appoint Keith to CCO, he’ll sign off. He informed Michael this morning. I’m sure he’ll tell you the same.”

“Serena, I’m so sorry.” It’s all I have.

She tilts her head, blinking, as if she’s trying to determine if I’m real or a figment of her imagination. “You’re sorry, Logan? Are you?”

“This isn’t what I want, but my hands are tied.”

“With all due respect, I don’t believe they are.”

My hands ball into fists. “Did you not hear a word I said?” I snap. “You acknowledged it yourself. There’s a gun, Serena. A life is on the line.”

“And how many lives will CX take to save that one?”

The door slams. I spring out of my chair, furious. Serena knows this is about Dad. He has cancer. Quincy Ventures is investing in a healthcare company.

It’s not difficult to put two and two together. How fucking dare she disregard Dad’s life like that? He’s been her colleague, her ~friend~, for thirty years.

By walking away and giving me Keith’s name, she’s allowing the investment to happen. She might as well have signed the agreement waiting on Beatrice’s desk.

She’s just as complicit as all of us. How dare she act so superior?

I aim a kick at the chair Rae was using as a crutch. It’s the one we made love in for the first time.

This investment is making me lose everything.

After pacing the office more times than I can count, I call for Ellen.

She pokes her head in. “Yes?”

“Can you grab Keith Albertson?”

***

Keith’s first act as chief compliance officer is to sign off on the investments.

His second is to grab a round with Michael, Taylor, and a couple of the guys in finance at three in the goddamn afternoon. Serena’s right. This place is going to shit.

And I’m not doing a fucking thing to fix it.