Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty-Five

LOGAN

Mel’s gone by the time I wake up. I vaguely remember her slipping out of bed at some ungodly hour and tiptoeing away. I never asked for her number, and she didn’t bother to get mine.

It’s weird. I’ve had plenty of one-night stands, but I’ve never had someone sneak out on me before.

I’m relieved, to be honest. She was nice and we had a good time, but neither of us was into it. Minimal kissing, barely any foreplay, just a basic fuck. No wonder she left without swapping contacts.

She’s definitely not interested in a second round.

Neither am I.

I don’t want to ruminate on this all day. I throw on some presentable clothes and drive to the office to prepare for Tuesday evening’s board meeting.

Unless I want to stay at QV until the early hours of the morning Monday, now’s the only time I can put any real focus into the remarks. I’m going over Mom’s tomorrow, and I have meetings all day Monday and Tuesday.

As CFO, I attended a shit-ton of meetings, but it was nothing compared to the number I have to sit through as CEO. Clients don’t give a fuck about talking to the CFO.

Change one letter, and they’re insisting on meeting with you constantly. It’s exhausting, and the packed schedule doesn’t allot any time to actually work. I’d be happy returning to my financial analyst role, honestly.

Staring at Excel for ten hours a day is more appealing than meeting with irritating clients for eight.

The empty mug on Ellen’s desk reminds me that I haven’t had breakfast yet. If I’m going to prepare halfway interesting remarks, I’m going to need some coffee. Sighing, I grab my wallet and head to the bakery across the street.

Sitting by the window is a familiar face. Two familiar faces, actually. Zoe, with Rae’s date from last night.

They’re at a two-person table, chatting and leaning close together, clearly flirting. I swallow the growl forming in my throat.

The color drains from Zoe’s face when she sees me enter, confirming my suspicion. Rae wasn’t on a fucking date last night.

Her bitch of a roommate just told me that so I’d get jealous and leave with someone, convincing Rae that I’d moved on.

I want to give her a piece of my mind, to let her know that Rae’s a grown adult who can fend for herself, that she deserves better friends than those who manipulate her feelings.

But I’m the chief executive officer at the company across the street. I can’t cause a scene. All I can do is acknowledge Zoe with a sharp nod.

My appetite is reduced to nothing, but I order a breakfast sandwich and black coffee anyway. I can’t storm out of coffee shops. By the time my order’s ready, Zoe and her date are gone.

I strum my fingers over my phone screen. I could text Rae and explain, but how immature would that sound? ~I left with someone because I got jealous that you were on a date after I dumped you~. Pathetic.

She probably wouldn’t think so, because she’s the most empathetic person in the goddamn world, but it wouldn’t do any good. I can’t risk it, not with Dad leaving for the trial tomorrow.

Back in my office, I type up notes on the firm’s performance and plan out how I want to reassure the board that I’ll do as good a job as Dad. I’ve got nothing. Just that I’ll continue on Dad’s trajectory.

I’m a shit CEO, but that won’t change before Tuesday, so I continue my brainstorming session.

Maybe I’ll have Nicki speak about recruitment. The social media shit Rae’s company has been doing is working really well.

Applications have tripled since the brand campaign started, and most of the candidates are under thirty.

As much as I hate Dylan and his arrogant way of communicating, I think I’ll have to ask him to speak as well.

The company is splurging on some new software that generates financial models more quickly than the program we use now. The board will probably want to know about that. They’re all about efficiency.

Just as the ideas start flowing, Taylor struts into my office, followed by a smug Michael. “What are you doing here?” she asks cheerfully.

“Board meeting prep.” I don’t return the question. I’m pretty sure I already know what they’re up to, not that they’ll ever admit it. She sounds far too happy to be at the office early on a Saturday.

“How was that Mel chick last night?” Michael asks, chuckling to himself like my sex life is entertaining to him. Taylor stiffens as he speaks. I almost smirk. Almost.

“A gentleman doesn’t share,” I retort. I don’t want to hear shit about what he did with Mel’s friend, whatever her name was.

“We’re not the only ones who got laid,” Michael continues. “Rae was all over some guy.”

I swear to God, if he and Zoe are collaborating to convince me Rae’s seeing that guy she was with last night, I’ll knock him out. “The guy was with her friend.”

My stomach drops when I see legitimate confusion on his face. “No, not the dude her hot roommate was with. They left early, then Rae sucked face with his friend, and they left together.”

I know Rae. She did that because of me. She hooked up with someone because she saw me leave with Mel. Her roommate’s plan succeeded.

I swallow the guilt. I need to focus on getting Michael the fuck out of my office. “Did you really just say ‘sucked face’?” I ask incredulously.

The idiot still looks confused. “You’ve never heard ‘sucked face’ before?”

“You sound like a horny fourteen-year-old.”

“I have to agree with Logan,” Taylor chimes in. Michael shrugs as she continues, “Rae really does get around. She must be ~so~ heartbroken over her ex to have ~so many~ rebounds.” She pretends to shudder.

“Nah, I fucked the heartbreak out of her,” Michael boasts.

I could fucking kill him. “Can I help you with something? I’ve got shit to do,” I snap.

“Just saying hello. We’re looking into some of the press Quincy has gotten because of the CX investments. I think we can spin it if we find the right angle,” she says sweetly.

I’m entirely certain that’s not why Michael is here. As CIO, he has nothing to do with public relations.

For the second time this morning, I swallow my anger for the sake of the company. “Great. See you Monday,” I force out.

Taylor bats her eyelashes and flounces through the doorway. Michael follows, leaving me wondering which of them is orchestrating the fucked-up blackmail scheme and who’s just tagging along, reaping the benefits for themselves.

***

“Have you heard from Dad?” I ask Mom over casserole and potatoes Yvette made yesterday. She doesn’t come on Mondays, so my parents—just Mom now, I guess—survive off leftovers until she returns Tuesday morning.

Mom nods.

Not what I was expecting. I wait for her to elaborate, but she doesn’t, so I prompt, “What did he say?”

“He called this morning.” She yawns. “He had the first round today.”

“Did he say how he was feeling?” I pry.

“No. You know your father,” she sighs.

I haven’t been able to find anything online about the CX Health trial Dad’s enrolled in.

The company’s website has some information about how they’re researching brain cancer treatments, but there’s nothing about an actual clinical trial.

That scares the shit out of me.

CX doesn’t post anything about their first-round trials because they are unethical and, according to the investigation Serena’s team conducted, sometimes do serious harm to participants.

They’re known for rushing through animal testing before moving on to experiments on human patients. The second-round human trials are safer. Drugs don’t make it to them unless the people in the first round don’t die.

Dad’s supposed to be in a second-round trial.

I’m a fucking hypocrite. I met Michael’s demands. I allowed the investments to go through.

I did everything I could to get Dad into a second-round trial, knowing what the first round entailed, fully aware that the initial research might have killed people.

Now, I’m freaking the fuck out because Dad could be one of them. I really disgust myself sometimes.

Mom and I eat the rest of the meal in silence. “It’s getting late, Logan,” she says quietly as I’m clearing the plates. It isn’t even seven.

“Are you doing alright, Mom? With Dad and everything?”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Day by day. Don’t worry about me.” She doesn’t ask how I’m doing. She doesn’t want to know. I mean, it’s fine. I wouldn’t tell her anyway.

“Do you want me to be CEO of Quincy Ventures, Mom?” I blurt out.

“Yes.”

I hate that she’s so far gone she doesn’t even register my question as strange. I hate that I’m using that to my advantage. “What if I decided to do something else?”

She sighs. “Your father wouldn’t like that.”

“I know. What would ~you~ do? What if I left the company and Howard took over?”

“Just want you to be happy.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Stay for him. Until he…” Mom stops, exhaling sharply, unable to complete her request.

“I will,” I promise. ~I’ll stay on until Dad dies~. It’s not like I have a choice.