His Marriage Demand. Yahrah St. John

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       One

       Two weeks later

      “Stewart Technologies is in dire straits,” Fallon told her parents over Sunday dinner.

      Thinking about the past and what she’d done to Gage Campbell had weighed heavily on her mind ever since she’d had drinks with Shana a couple of weeks ago.

      Fallon had never been able to forget the hateful stare Gage had given her moments before her father had closed the cottage door all those years ago. She’d never learned what had happened to Gage and his mother after they’d left Stewart Manor. She hadn’t wanted to know because she’d been the cause of his mother losing her livelihood and the guilt had eaten her up. She’d felt so bad that she hadn’t balked when her parents had sent her to a finishing school her final year of high school to avoid her spending time with the “wrong crowd.”

      “Must you be so dramatic?” Nora Stewart said, glancing at her daughter from the opposite end of the table. Even though it was just the three of them at dinner, her mother had insisted on eating in the formal dining room when Fallon would rather be in the kitchen.

      Her mother was the epitome of sophistication, wearing cream slacks and a matching cardigan set. Her smooth chestnut-brown hair was stylishly cut in a chin-length bob while her makeup was perfection. Nora was well-preserved thanks to personal trainers and weekly visits to the salon and spa for massages and facials. Since marrying Henry Stewart and becoming pregnant with Fallon, Nora hadn’t worked. Why should she when she was lady of the manor?

      “I’m not being dramatic,” Fallon responded. “We’re bleeding money and it has to stop.”

      “And whose fault is that?” Henry inquired. “You’ve been CEO for two years now.”

      When she’d turned thirty Fallon thought she’d finally achieved the height of her career only to find out it had been built on quicksand. Stewart Technologies was leveraged to the hilt all because of her father’s poor judgment and her mother’s notorious spending habits. Every few years she was constantly redecorating Stewart manor to keep up with the latest fads and, as for fashion, there wasn’t a bag, shoe or piece of clothing in her mother’s closet that didn’t have a designer label.

      “Not mine,” Fallon said hotly. “Stewart Technologies was in trouble well before I became CEO.”

      “You’re the leader now and it’s up to you to fix things. It’s what you said you wanted, Fallon,” her father replied. “It’s time you show what you’re made of instead of running to me.”

      Fallon bristled at that. She’d come to level with her parents, but clearly they were beyond reason. They wanted to stick their heads in the sand and refuse to accept the inevitable: that they were running out of funds and wouldn’t be able to live in the style to which they were accustomed. “I have shown my commitment to the company over the last decade. But since it’s clear I don’t have your support, I’ll take my leave.” She rose from her seat and made for the door.

      “Sit down, Fallon.” Her father trained his hazel-gray eyes on her, causing Fallon to pause and retrace her steps.

      “If you’re going to talk business—” Nora used her napkin to lightly tap the sides of her mouth “—I’m going to make myself scarce because it’s such a bore.”

      Fallon sucked in a deep breath and reminded herself to count to ten, which was more than enough time for her mother to depart. She loved Nora, but she found her exhausting.

      “Yes, Father?” Fallon turned and, for the first time, truly looked at her father. She saw more salt and pepper in his normally black hair and a few more lines were etched across his features, showing life wasn’t as easy as her mother portrayed.

      “I’m sorry if I was harsh before,” Henry said. “I know you’ve been doing your best.”

      “Which isn’t good enough,” Fallon stated. “Don’t you get it? We could lose everything.”

      “Surely it’s not as dire as you predict?” Henry countered.

      “It is. I’ve exhausted all options,” Fallon said. “I even asked Ayden for the money.”

      Her father’s eyes widened. “Why on earth would you do such a thing? He isn’t a member of this family. How much did you tell him of our circumstances? What did he say?”

      Fallon waited for her father to finish peppering her with questions before answering. Did he wonder if Ayden had told her about his infidelity with her mother? “I was desperate. But I didn’t get to explain because he told me he isn’t interested in bailing out our company because he’s not a part of this family.” She didn’t share that Ayden had had a change of heart and had come to her days ago.

      Henry sighed. “It’s just as well. We don’t need him. You can figure this out, Fallon. There’s a reason I let you become CEO.”

      “Let me?” Fallon repeated. “I worked hard to get where I am. I don’t recall Dane or even Ayden getting in line to step in your shoes.”

      “Listen here, young lady—” he began.

      “Don’t bother chastising me, Father,” Fallon interrupted. “I’m the only child you have who cares one iota about Stewart Technologies, so I suggest you stop fighting me and get Mother to understand we are just a few steps away from going broke.”

      Fallon shot to her feet and, without another word, left the room, her stunned father sitting with his mouth open at her insolence. She walked quickly to the door and headed for her cottage. Her haven. Her safe place.

      The cool night air hit her immediately when she exited. The leaves that had begun falling a few weeks ago crunched under her heels, signaling fall was in full swing. Once inside the cottage, Fallon turned on the lights and sagged against the door. Why was it she felt safe here? The one place that had once caused such misery to others.

      Her mother had long since renovated the cottage after the Campbells left. It now had an open concept with a stainless-steel kitchen, sitting area, master suite with en suite bath as well as guest bedroom and powder room. It was all Fallon needed while allowing her to be close to her horse, Lady.

      Kicking off her boots, Fallon plopped onto her plush leather sofa, leaned back and thought about the weekend. Once again, she’d scoured the books looking for ways to make cuts and keep the company afloat, but it was pointless. They were going under. And tonight was a complete bust. Her parents refused to accept their new reality: they were broke. The only bright spot had been on Friday evening when Ayden had shown up at her office. He’d looked drawn and tired, and there were lines under his eyes, but he’d wanted to talk. She’d been hard on him because he’d treated her like the enemy for years. She and Dane had been the chosen ones, the children Henry Stewart claimed while leaving Ayden to languish in poverty with his mother.

      Fallon СКАЧАТЬ