Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
I stilled at those words. Ashleigh had turned on Dad. She’d found out what was going on and helped make it public. I couldn’t believe it. I’d only seen my sister as the manipulative, conniving thing that she was. How she always liked to dip her fingers into anything with gossip and stir the pot. Was that what this was? Did she want to have a bigger role in the company and couldn’t get it any other way?
“You broke the news about his sexual harassment allegations?”
“I’ve been working on it for months,” she said, her voice tight. “No one wanted to come forward because they didn’t think anyone would believe them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She chewed on her lip. Her eyes darting to Harley and back. “You were still on his side.”
I barely managed to keep a laugh from exploding out of me. Since when had I ever been on Dad’s side? Was that what she’d thought all this time? That because I had been chosen as the face of the company that I wanted to be on his good side?
“That’s why you hid her, right?” Ashleigh asked.
“No,” I said. “Harley has nothing to do with any of this. I wasn’t on his side. You could have told me about this.”
“I guess I should have. I’m used to working alone,” she admitted. For a moment, her voice went soft, like I was getting a glimpse of my real sister. The one I’d known before the world hardened her. I hadn’t believed that she was underneath all of this. “I’ve been managing him for years. That’s why I was always in his space. As you jokingly called me his assistant.” Her words held venom—and maybe rightfully so. “I didn’t know how bad it was until more recently. I just knew that employees weren’t comfortable around him.”
“Most men don’t see it,” Harley said softly at my side. “You’ve never had to be on your guard the way we have.”
Ashleigh tipped her head at Harley. “It’s second nature.”
I sighed. I hated that they were right. I hadn’t looked deeper, and I should have. At what Ashleigh was doing and why. At my father’s exploits. At all of it.
“All right,” I said with a nod. “Come to the meeting.”
“Sir,” Joseph said, “are you sure about this?”
Joseph was my favorite board member. He’d been at my side through all of this with my father. From his relationship with Dayna and on. He wasn’t sure about Ashleigh. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure about her either. Not after everything she’d done. But in this, with Harley’s nod of approval, I felt like I was in the right. I could at least hear her out. She’d been hurt by the monster we called Father as much or even more than I had.
“Yes, I’m sure. Shall we convene in the conference room?” I said, taking control of the chaotic office space.
“Of course,” Joseph said.
He gestured to the remaining board members, and they began to file toward the conference room.
His eyes landed on Harley, and he held his hand out. “Joseph Johnson. You must be Harley Wright. We’ve heard a great deal about you recently.”
She grinned and took his hand. “All good things, I hope.”
“Not exactly, but I’m sure Chase will correct us about all of that.”
She laughed. “I bet he will.”
Joseph smiled down at her. “Just keep him happy. It’s going to be a rough couple of weeks.”
“I plan to keep her happy,” I interjected.
She lifted her book. “By reading in his office while y’all have your big, important meeting. Don’t worry. I don’t want to be involved.” She fluttered the book and turned to me. “Have fun at your little shindig.”
I shook my head and kissed her. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I’d just released her and gestured to Ashleigh to fall into step next to me when the elevator dinged again.
My gaze shifted to Joseph. “Were we waiting on someone else?”
He shook his head. “Just you, sir.”
The doors opened, and my father took up the doorway like the giant he was. An unkempt, greasy mess, but a giant nonetheless.
He took one look at me and Ashleigh, clearly colluding side by side, and his fury burned. Before finding Harley still standing in the open space. And then he exploded.
“Who let that Wright whore in my building?” he snarled.
24
HARLEY
Whore.
How eloquent.
I rolled my eyes. “Ugh. This guy again?”
Chase barely suppressed a laugh as he left his sister’s side to come stand next to me. He put his hand in mine, a unit. And I was glad for it.
Arnold Sinclair was not supposed to be here today. That was part of the reason Chase had hustled to get back. The board had dealt with his dad, and now, they were moving on. How had Arnold even found out about the board meeting? Did he have someone sympathetic to his cause within the ranks?