“No, no. You’ll make sure this entire company will be solely mine, you’ll decline your rights to inherit this company, and you’ll do it before Friday,” he assured her calmly, then, prompted by her daring lift of an eyebrow that seemed to defy him, he finished, “or your girlfriend will lose her precious, precious job.”
He seemed sickeningly tranquil with that whole situation.
“You’re crazy, Tom. You’ll regret this; you can’t do this to me.”
“She’ll be on the streets by next Monday.”
With that final sentence, he left Mallory’s office and left her in only a tremendous sense of helplessness and fear.
Chapter 10
With such a massive threat, Mallory had spent most of her week in the greatest state of distress she had ever known. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat, she couldn’t even think. There were so many things to consider that before she could weight each issue they would mix and mess in her head, and the only revelation she’d find was a terrible headache.
It was a matter of love. Because every time she looked at Amanda, every time she heard her voice and watched her do something so uniquely hers, she could feel in her heart that she was more and more in love each passing second. It was a matter of family, as well. Because Mallory knew that her father trusted and believed in her, would she disappoint him terribly if she gave up the company for a woman? Amanda wasn’t just a woman, Mallory knew, but would her father understand that? Then, it was also a matter of honor, because, how dare Tom think he could just manipulate and threaten her like that? She had no idea how, not yet, but she was certain that life would find a way to turn things around against him, make him pay for his arrogance.
Friday finally arrived, and Mallory still hadn’t taken a decision. She was locked up in her office just thinking and thinking. Unlike her generally lonesome and unpleasant brother, Mallory actually had glass walls on her office, to allow light and to not feel isolated from the world. That’s how she noticed Amanda walking up the stairs to the top floor at the end of the day. Amanda, she thought, Amanda or her job. Mallory started herself with two big realizations. One, this was also about Amanda. This job was everything for her. Two… Amanda was going upstairs! To her father’s office! What could be so wrong to make that happen?!
Mallory actually ran out of her office, across the lobby, up the stairs and she crashed into her father’s office, paying no mind to her manners.
“Amanda! What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
Amanda looked speechless. Instead, Mr. Langdon was the one to answer.
“Oh, hello, darling. Miss Young here, I think she was about to… quit her job.”
“No! Don’t do that! Is this because of Tom? What did he tell you?”
“Oh, Mallory, it doesn’t matter, it’s okay, and this is nothing compared to…” Amanda tried to answer, but she was interrupted by Mallory who rushed forward and softly took Amanda’s hands in hers.
“Baby, no. You forget this is just another company for me; I have much else to do. But you love this job, please don’t lose anything you love for me…”
“What if…”
This time, Mr. Langdon was the one to interrupt them. He had kindly but seriously demanded to know what was going on, what had happened between them and how was Tom involved in it all. As both girls shared their stories, Mr. Langdon looked truthfully furious at his son’s tricks. But he wasn’t an aggressive man at all. He took a few deep breaths and instead thought about a solution. His quick mind was what had earned him his fortune, and now he was also using his heart, his love for his daughter.
“Mallory, my love, what is the one thing your brother has always wanted more than this company?” he asked.
“One of the companies in Europe. Which is ridiculous because he could never run one by himself,” Mallory replied, crossing her arms, not understanding what her father was driving.
“That’s correct. In contrast, I think you would be just perfect to take one of the companies, starting now. That way your friend here won’t be forced to lose her job,” Mr. Langdon talked with a knowing smile on his face, he observed how his daughter didn’t react happily at all at the proposition and how the other young woman visibly paled at the idea of Mallory leaving for another continent. Then he continued, “unless, of course, Miss Young would be interested in taking an executive job to support you in this grand new project.”
Amanda’s sudden squeal of excitement that left her mouth spontaneously made everybody in the room laugh good-naturedly. Mallory turned towards her with the brightest smile she had ever had and opened her arms. Amanda didn’t waste a single second in running into her girlfriend’s arms and jumping into the embrace. Mallory and her father couldn’t contain their joyful laughter. Mr. Langdon had the money and power to take more than a few dumb decisions, but he blindly trusted his daughter’s abilities, talent, and hard-work ethic. Plus, since Amanda started working for them, it was apparent the improvement in the sale’s department performance, so she had earned enough of his trust, and since his daughter already seemed to love her, well, it wasn’t a tough decision to make.
“Dad, please excuse us,” Mallory said, carrying her giggling girlfriend out of the office.
“We’re going to Europe!” Amanda exclaimed, finally stepping down but keeping her arms wrapped around Mallory’s shoulders.
Mallory couldn’t help but kiss her, “Did I mention I love you?” and kiss her again, “Because I love you so much,” and again, “I’m so in love with you.”
“I love you too,” Amanda replied with her heart filled with love and firmly believing they would be happy together forever and ever.
THE END
Title: You Should Believe Her
Subtitle: Clean Lesbian and Billionaire Romance
Author: Karen Klinger
© Copyright 2019 by Karen Klinger. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of very brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental.
From the Author:
Thank you for purchasing this book.
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