by Layla Hagen
Sebastian was the levelheaded one, Logan the hotheaded. Christopher was close on his heels. Blake was laid-back about everything. Usually. I was learning that roles were not set in stone.
“It’s because we’re having a girl. His protective instincts are getting sharper,” Clara said.
That sounded like a solid explanation.
When Victoria asked me to help her bring some ice for the drinks, I seized the chance to question her.
“What’s with the impromptu get-together?”
Victoria blushed. My spidey-senses kicked in. What was going on?
“Um... so you know that we all had a little too much eggnog last night,” she began.
“Yeah...”
“And you know I’m usually not one to tell about other’s secrets.”
Um... that was debatable. Very debatable. But making that point now wouldn’t help my goal.
“Sister, spill it.”
“Well, Christopher and I spoke about Statham and the board. And he talked to the rest of the Bennetts, and they have an idea.”
“Okay...”
A Bennett-wide conspiracy? I loved, loved, loved those.
“Sebastian will explain everything.”
I was looking at the gang with fresh eyes when I returned to the living room. Now that I thought about it, everyone was already here when we arrived. What was going on?
I wanted to wait for Sebastian to bring up the subject... and I resisted all of ten minutes, until we all sat at the dinner table.
“Sebastian, Victoria said you wanted to talk to Winston and me about the store.”
Victoria laughed. Sebastian looked between the two of us with a smile. Next to me, Winston sat straighter in his chair. I should have warned him, but it completely slipped my mind.
“Yes. Winston, we have heard that the banks won’t extend the grace period to solve the liquidity troubles and the board will close this store.”
“That’s right.”
“We held a family meeting at lunch, and we have a proposition for you.”
A family meeting? Wow. That was superinvolved. How had they even managed it? Summer, Daniel, Max, and their families, plus their parents were in Australia.
“We’ve told you before that we’re interested in having our jewelry in Statham Stores.”
“Yes.”
“We’d only talked about you building a jewelry section before... but how about making it exclusive for Bennett Enterprises? In exchange, we’ll invest the necessary amount to even your liquidity ratio. We’d be silent partners, only getting involved in decisions regarding our products.”
Holy shit. They had actually gotten together today and discussed this.
I’d felt part of the Bennett family ever since my sister started dating Christopher, but never more than now. I had a sudden urge to hug everyone at the table.
“That’s a very generous offer. Thank you,” Winston said. He sounded stunned. I could see how that might seem perplexing to anyone who didn’t know the family as well as I did.
“Take your time and think about it,” Sebastian went on.
“I’ll get back to you quickly. I need to talk to the board first. Just to clarify, you’ve already got all the involved parties to agree to a partnership?”
Sebastian smiled, exchanging a furtive look with Logan and Pippa.
“Shares are distributed between family members. We debated it in the family meeting at lunch. Summer, Max, and Daniel participated via video calls.”
“You decided this... in a family meeting.” Despite still sounding perplexed, he was smiling.
“That’s how we do things in the Bennett clan,” Christopher said.
“Once we stop giving you shit,” Blake clarified. “See it as a rite of initiation. And now that we got business out of the way, let’s change the subject. Wouldn’t want to scare Winston into thinking that’s all we do when we get together,” Blake said. Everyone laughed, and there was a general hum of agreement.
The rest of the dinner was a leisurely affair. Business wasn’t mentioned again, though I suspected it was on everyone’s mind. It definitely was on mine.
I was really, really hoping Winston was considering it. I would have said yes in a heartbeat, but well, I was biased, of course. I was so full of energy I could barely sit still.
My euphoria kept intensifying, reaching a high point during dessert (chocolate chip ice cream with caramel and pistachio sauce).
I wanted to be alone with Winston and hear his thoughts on the proposal, but guess what’s the one thing you can’t get during a Bennett get-together? That’s right—alone time.
During after-dinner drinks, I managed to tone down my euphoria somewhat. I needed to be levelheaded and objective when Winston and I spoke about it, make a pro-con list, like we’d done this morning for all the other prospective partners. I started mentally making one. Honestly (and objectively!), this was the best deal of all. Sure, it would be an investment to add the jewelry division in the stores and include it in Statham’s branding, but the payoff was stellar.
And then there was me! Ha! I knew Bennett Enterprises, could make the whole process run much smoother than with a different company. I would definitely put myself in the pro list.
A dark thought popped in my mind. What if Winston didn’t? We’d been together for a short time. What if he thought that this offer came with strings, with expectations from my side? Oh my God.
Sometime in between dinner and drinks, I fell into a rabbit hole. My previous euphoria was completely gone. I was now trapped in the clutches of fear. Did he feel pressured?
By the time we left Victoria’s house, my heart was in my throat.
I fiddled with the hem of my sweater during the entire drive to my house.
“What’s on your mind?” Winston asked once we were inside.
“Just what Sebastian said.”
What was he thinking? I couldn’t tell.
The house was semidark. My pulse was so intense that I felt almost nauseous from the rhythmic pumping in my ears.
“So... I was thinking it’s a great offer. I’ve already made a mental pro-con list, and it’s the best bet.”
“Sienna... why are you nervous?”
Crap, of course he’d caught on. He stood right in front of me, and, as usual, having him so near was messing with my senses. Actually, now much more than usual. Perhaps because I was afraid I might lose him.
“Because I don’t want you to think that this alliance between the companies means I’m expecting anything... that things between us have to change. Don’t feel pressured. Because I’m happy with the way things are between us right now,” I said quickly.
Winston was silent for so long that the thumping in my ears turned to pounding.
“I’m not, Sienna.”
“What?” I whispered.
He stepped even closer, until the tip of his nose touched my cheek.
“I love our relationship, but I want even more.” I felt his lips curl in a smile against my cheek. I couldn’t do anything other than cling to every word. “And clearly, I’m not doing a great job showing you how much I love you if you think this is scaring me. Pressured, huh? You can pressure me every day of the week, love.” He pinched my ass, dropping his head to the side of my neck, biting it playfully before planting a kiss.
“I’m your man, Sienna. Your man, you hear me? I want to share my life with you—the smooth sailing and the bumpy rides. You came into my life unexpectedly, and I fell so hard, so deep. I won’t let you go. I love you unconditionally. Never forget that, you hear me?”
“Yes.” My voice was semiwobbly with emotion, but what did he expect after those beautiful words that just melted my heart?
“Now we’re talking.” He pinched my ass again.
“Hey, stop that,” I teased.
“I don’t intend to. Mine to pinch, pat, kiss, fondle. You’re mine, Sienna. Every part of you. Every inch of you.”
I pulled at his collar unt
il our lips were level. I wanted a kiss. He obliged me, and then some more.
He kissed me so deep that I felt my heart was about to explode. I never wanted the kiss to stop.
His chest pressed against my upper body; his hips touched mine. Masculinity was rolling off him in the way he gripped my hips, fisted my hair, deepened the kiss.
We were both laughing as we stumbled through the house. Then he flipped me around, keeping his arms wrapped around my middle, his chin in the crook between my neck and shoulder.
“Let’s watch where we’re walking,” he said.
“But I could touch you before.”
“You can touch me all you want once we’re in the bedroom. And as to the offer, I plan to say yes. I wanted to say yes at the table but wanted to talk to you before. I’m sure the board will agree.”
I squealed, shimmying my hips right against his crotch. Heat curled through me when I felt how turned-on he was.
He groaned. I did it again. He lowered his hands from my waist to my hips, keeping them firmly in place.
“I do have one condition, though,” he said.
“Oh?”
“I want you to be in charge of everything related to the partnership.”
“That sounds promising.”
“You’d be working for both Bennett Enterprises and Statham Stores. I’ve been looking for a loophole to keep you with me this entire time, and finally, I have it.”
I laughed as we came to a halt at the entrance to the bedroom. I immediately turned around, lacing my arms around his neck, before lowering one to his arm. I wanted to touch and kiss him everywhere at once.
“So, what do you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I see. So we’re back to sir? Is that an upgrade, a downgrade? I can’t even tell anymore.” He was grinning against my cheek.
“Definitely an upgrade.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Winston
Four months later
“Son, if your mind isn’t on the car, you’ll get us both in trouble.”
“Sorry. I’m focusing now. Promise.”
I’d come to help Dad work on one of his newest acquisitions. We were both bent over the engine, trying to determine what exactly was broken.
Ever since signing the deal with Bennett Enterprises, things became considerably more relaxed. I’d spoken to the board right before I flew to London with Sienna to visit Lucas on Christmas. They’d been surprised that I was willing to go into a partnership and immediately agreed. Since I was staying in San Francisco for good, we had to send someone else to Paris. One of the operations managers volunteered to go, and he was the perfect fit.
Since I finally had some room to breathe, I’d made some changes to my lifestyle. One of them was regularly stopping by here.
“You know what? Today’s a big day for you. Let’s talk about that. The car can wait.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I can multitask.”
Dad winked. “Doesn’t look like that from where I’m standing.”
We worked on the car in silence for a few minutes before Dad said, “We’re happy you went into that partnership, Winston. That’s exactly what your Mom and I would have done, but we thought it wouldn’t be your way.”
“A few months ago, it wouldn’t have been.”
“That pretty girl you’re crazy about is a great influence on you.”
“She is.”
“How’s that proposal strategy of yours coming along?”
I could tell Dad had a shit-eating grin without even looking at him. He’ll be mocking me for a long time for saying that.
“So far, so good.”
Every great achievement begins with a great strategy.
My goal: ask Sienna to marry me... when she least expected it.
I was heading to Bennett Enterprises this afternoon to pick a ring right from Pippa’s desk. Before that, I was meeting Lucas and Chloe.
After leaving Dad’s garage, I headed straight to the restaurant.
I’d already talked to Victoria and Christopher, asking for Sienna’s hand, but I wanted to talk to Lucas and Chloe separately as well. Lucas was here for his spring break, so the timing was perfect.
I arrived first and waited for them at the table. Chloe waved at me enthusiastically as soon as they stepped inside, hugging me when they reached the table.
“As you know, Sienna and I have been dating for a few months,” I said once we sat down.
Chloe nodded eagerly. “And you are the perfect boyfriend.” Turning to her brother, she added, “You can take notes.”
Lucas’s eyes bulged. I laughed.
“I want to marry Sienna, and I wanted you two to know that before I propose.”
They were close, more than siblings usually were, always looking after each other.
Chloe squealed. Lucas laughed, shaking his head.
“Man, you really worked hard at winning Chloe over. She’s your number-one fan.”
“I do what I can,” I replied.
“Well, every report I received was that Sienna’s happy, so this is a great thing.” Then he groaned.
“What?” Chloe and I asked at the same time.
“Nothing. Wondering what the cut-off age is... before they start getting on my case about a steady girlfriend.”
“Lucas. You’re seventeen. I think you’re safe for now,” I said.
“You never know with the Bennetts.”
Truer words were never spoken.
Chloe grinned, rubbing her hands. “I didn’t know you were afraid of that. This is excellent blackmail material. If you bug me, I’ll give them ideas.”
Lucas groaned again, but he was smiling. “I leave for half a year, and she forsakes me as her brother.”
“No... just... you know, filling my Lucas-free time with the Bennett girls.”
“Yeah... I can see you’ve gone over to the dark side. Let’s order.”
We ate three courses. Chloe gave me tips about rings the entire time, with Lucas looking at her as if she’d grown an extra head.
By the time I arrived at Bennett Enterprises, I was already feeling very confident about my plan. Christopher was waiting for me in the lobby. He’d insisted on going with me and spouted off survival tips—his words, not mine—the second I joined him.
“Did Pippa already drill you about rings?” he asked.
“No, she doesn’t even know why I’m coming.”
I’d been in the building a few times since signing the papers for the partnership.
Christopher threw his head back, laughing. “For your sake, I hope you’re right. But decades of experience tell me you’re not.”
The creative department was bewildering, at least compared to the floors above, where everything was orderly and everyone had a separate office. This was an open floor plan with sketches and prototypes scattered on the desks. Pippa was waiting just by the door, hands clasped together.
“Already got the rings on my desk. I have the newest collection here, as well as some of my personal favorites. Plus, Sienna’s favorites.”
I was... stunned.
“How did you know I’m coming for a ring?”
She flashed a cat-ate-the-canary smile. “There are two main reasons anyone ever comes here. One: to talk budgets. Two: pick a ring.”
“That is scarily accurate,” Christopher pointed out.
I laughed. “Well, then. Let’s get started on choosing that ring. I can see it’s a group activity.”
Christopher grinned.
Pippa laced her arm around mine, escorting me to her desk. “Everything is in the Bennett family.”
Epilogue
One day later
Sienna
“Sister, I know your matchmaking credentials are impressive, but you can’t claim any credit for Winston and Sienna,” Alice said to Pippa.
We were all in the Statham building, ready for the inauguration party of the revamped store. The group was huddled in a corner, away from everyo
ne else.
“I know, I know,” Pippa said.
I laced my arm with Pippa’s, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I wouldn’t say that. All those dangerous ideas you planted in my head about doing the grouchy boss... definitely helped.”
Pippa’s smile was so smug that I couldn’t help laughing. Next to us, Blake shook his head mockingly.
“Don’t encourage her, Sienna. Every time someone tells her she’s right, that’s one more battle I lose.”
Pippa narrowed her eyes. “Brother of mine, you’re being unfair.”
“Did you or did you not side with Clara when we picked our girl’s name? Hermione.”
“But I also talked Clara into giving her two names, so you could have yours as well. Does that not count for anything?”
Blake winked, shaking his head. “The women in our family will be the death of me.”
Pippa patted his shoulder. “Don’t be so dramatic. We girls have to stick together. Clara and I have our secrets.”
Blake looked positively frightened. “What does that mean? Actually, I don’t even want to know.”
“Shhh... it’s starting, and I want to pay attention,” I said.
Bennett Enterprises became an official partner of Statham Stores four months ago. I loved, loved, loved my new duties. I was still working on all aspects of branding, but Bennett duties were making up a big chunk of my tasks. It was even better than what I’d envisioned whenever I’d planned my future at Bennett Enterprises. Lesson learned. Sometimes it’s worth keeping an open mind instead of planning in too much detail.
We closed this building for renovations right after the deal was signed, to add the jewelry section and to implement the rebrand Winston and I had worked on. The result was simply beautiful. The core structure had remained the same, but with the added playground in the food court and the mini entertainment corner on every floor, the place was more alive and inviting than ever before.
I couldn’t wait for the next Christmas season.
Winston went up on a small stage we’d set up right next to the entrance.
“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining us at this opening party. My mother and father have left me a legacy I’m proud to carry on.” He looked at his parents, who were only a few feet away, beaming. “We’re entering a new era for the Statham Stores. I couldn’t have done this without my smart and beautiful girlfriend, Sienna Hensley, as well as the support of the entire Bennett family. It’s my honor to welcome them as official partner in Statham Stores.”
