Boardroom Battle

by Kelsie Fann

  Liz helped Coney and Dee get in the limo, and everyone headed to the reception. Liz prayed Darcy wasn’t going to join in the after-party, but she knew since it was his house, he was probably going to be there.

  The old Chambers’s House was one of the most breathtaking scenes Liz had ever experienced. The wide, white exterior columns were wrapped with flowers, spiraling down to the ground.

  Inside, instead of dated wallpaper, the only thing Liz could see was miles of white draperies and archways decorated floor to ceiling with various kinds of white flowers—orchids, roses, lilies, peonies—giving the whole place texture and class.

  Liz immediately walked up to Dee, who was taking pictures with Coney outside on the back terrace. “Need anything?” Liz whispered in her friend’s ear between shots.

  “Please dance,” Dee begged. “I don’t want it to be one of those weddings where no one dances.”

  “Of course,” Liz squeezed her friend’s hand. “After the music starts, right? Or do you want me to go now?” She smiled and gestured toward the band who was just tuning their instruments.

  Dee shook her hands out of Liz’s grasp. “When the music starts.” She walked away toward the photographer.

  Liz nodded at Dee, whose eyes grew wide as she looked over Liz’s head. Liz felt a hand on her back. “Can we talk?”

  The warm hand on her shoulder and the deep, silky voice in her ear made Liz spin around. For a split second, her heart and mind leaped to an impossible assumption. Was Hamilton surprising her? Was her bronze, gorgeous date here?

  She looked up, hoping desperately to meet Hamilton’s ocean blue eyes, but he wasn’t there. She looked into Darcy’s chiseled face.

  “Can we talk?” he repeated.

  Liz’s stomach dropped. The excitement she’d felt, thinking Hamilton had arrived, was replaced with a cocktail of nerves and embarrassment. She was looking at a highly-educated, successful man who knew that she was a college dropout working part-time for Coney. What did he think of her?

  She looked toward the bathroom, wondering if there were a quick way out of this conversation, but before she could make an excuse, the music came on.

  Dee waved her hands from the terrace and pointed at the dance floor. “I’m sorry. I need to dance.” Liz stepped around him.

  “Need a partner?” Darcy asked.

  Liz swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat as Darcy extended his arm toward her.

  They hadn’t spoken since their email exchange, and she was still worried about what he thought of her. She looked up into his dark, brown eyes. They looked softer, like when they ate lunch with Dee’s family in Denver, not hard and penetrating like they looked during their work meetings.

  She nodded slowly, and he placed his hand on her back as they walked toward the dance floor. They took exactly ten steps before they were in the middle of the floor. Liz turned to face him and placed her hand in his palm. The warmth from his hand spread up her arm.

  As they danced, she expected them to talk, but as they swayed to the music, a blanket of silence descended. She exhaled deeply, relaxing into his arms and into the warmth of his body.

  Liz forced herself to take a deep breath. For the first time in a long time, she tried to stay in the moment, letting this complicated man dance with her. Surprisingly, she enjoyed every second.

  He met her eyes after the song drifted away. “Walk with me?”

  37.

  Darcy guided Liz off the dance floor, and he knew what he had to do. After reading her email, and realizing how hard she’d worked without an education, he knew he had to try again to get her to work for him. He admired her, and he needed someone with Liz’s grit at Pemberley Media.

  His board was nervous about opening two branches at once, but after a little prodding, Darcy had gotten approval to open a Savannah Branch only days before Dee’s wedding. And he knew there was no one else who could be a better fit for the expansion into the South.

  He guided Liz toward the back terrace that overlooked a pasture surrounding the Chambers’s estate. Even though Darcy was partial to the silver skyline of Chicago, he could admit the lush field was beautiful too.

  He cleared his throat as he searched for the words. He felt nervous, maybe because she looked stunning in the blush dress she was wearing, or maybe because he was afraid of getting rejected a second time. He coughed and slowly met her bright brown eyes. “I’m going to try one more time, and if you decline, I promise never to bother you about this again.”

  38.

  “Liz,” his voice sounded thick and formal.

  Was Darcy nervous? Did Darcy get nervous? She watched him hesitate a few more moments and wondered what was going through his mind.

  She definitely was. She looked down where her knuckles were white from gripping the railing. “I don’t care about your education or your experience. I’ve seen your work, and I would love to have you work for us. Full time, as the managing director of our new Savannah branch."

  Liz grabbed the banister for support. “What?” She expected them to talk about her lack of education and maybe his purchase of a mansion in Sugar Hill

  “I want you to be the run our new office.”

  Her blush gown swirled around her legs with the light wind. He straightened his tie, waiting for her answer. She took a sip of the champagne she’d grabbed on his way off the dance floor.

  “You’re going to open a Savannah office?” she asked, making sure she heard him right. “And you want me to run it?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I understand if you don’t want to work for me. If you say no, I promise not to ask again. But I need you. There is no one better than you.”

  She looked into his dark eyes, and her mind answered the question she’d been asking: Who is Darcy? She knew he wasn’t perfect. She knew he was stern and sometimes cold, but as she listened to his offer, she realized it was a symbol of how generous and kind Darcy could be, qualities she definitely wanted in her boss.

  It didn’t take her long to decide. After a few seconds, she looked back at Darcy, and she nodded slowly. “I would love to come work for you.”

  It was the truth. She was thoroughly embarrassed by what she’d said months before when she’d rejected his offer. Today, there was nothing she’d rather do than to work for this man, who clearly made Dee’s and now her own dreams come true.

  He stretched out his hands and grabbed her hands for a split second. She thought he may pull her toward him, into his arms, but he dropped her hands as quickly as he took them. The touch of his skin sent a spark through her body.

  “This is great news,” he said. “I can’t wait to have you.” The words hung in the air. Liz turned her head, and a smile crossed her mouth.

  “As an employee,” he added quickly. “And maybe even as a VP someday. We’re going to be a great team.”

  They stood there, inches from each other. It was like a spell had trapped both of them together. As she looked around the Chambers’s House, she knew whatever misunderstanding Darcy had with her—even with Hamilton—was in the past. This was Darcy now.

  “Just one question,” Liz asked.

  “Just one?” Darcy teased.

  “One for now,” Liz said. “Why did you buy this place?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice.

  Darcy laughed, the rich baritone sound filled Liz’s ears. She smiled; it was the first time she’d heard him laugh. “Partly because I knew Mr. Chambers needed to sell to retire and be with his grandson. And . . . ” He stopped talking.

  He smiled and looked down, putting his hands in his pockets. Out of the corner of her eye, Liz saw Darcy’s angelic blonde date approach. She stood next to Darcy. Liz expected her to scowl at her in jealousy, but she didn’t. A big smile spread across her face.

  “Perfect timing,” Darcy said, nodding toward the woman. Liz noticed that she looked even younger than she initially thought. She was in her early twenties possibly.

  “This is my sister,” Darcy said,
nodding toward the young lady.

  Ahh, his sister. The revelation hit Liz hard, and she was glad this young woman wasn’t Darcy’s date. For reasons she didn’t even want to admit to herself.

  “Hi! I’m Georgia. You must be Liz. I’ve heard such great things about you.”

  Darcy cut into the conversation. “My mom loved touring these big, southern mansions. I don’t know . . . ” Darcy trailed off. “When the deal with Chambers fell through and I found out he needed to sell this place, I just thought my parents would have loved it here. Plus, I needed to get Georgia a twenty-second birthday present.”

  “He’s crazy and sentimental,” Georgia chimed in, her voice quiet. “I didn’t need a whole house.”

  A mansion for a birthday? Liz looked at the brother and sister pair and realized they were living on a completely different stratosphere, but Liz knew Darcy’s generosity was limitless. “I think it’s perfect,” Liz said.

  She looked beyond Darcy, toward the dance floor, and saw Dee motioning toward her.

  “I guess I’m back on duty,” she told them.

  “We will talk Monday then?” Darcy asked.

  “Absolutely. Thank you,” Liz said. She smiled once more at Georgia. “Nice to meet you.”

  Before she turned to walk away, Darcy leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Feel free to start hiring if you know anyone you want on your staff.” He nodded toward Elise and Stella, tearing it up on the dance floor—without shoes on.

  Liz grabbed Rose and pulled her toward the dance floor with Stella and Elise. “Ladies,” she told her team, walking into the middle of the group. “Let’s have fun tonight, because in a few weeks, we’re all back to work.”

  Her team looked at her for a few seconds. “Darcy is opening Pemberley Media in Savannah.”

  No one said anything. They just stared at Liz like she was speaking in a foreign language. As the dance floor swirled all around them, Liz said loudly and slowly, “We’ve got our old jobs back!”

  Stella and Elise squealed and waved their hands in the air as they jumped up and down in a rhythm to the song “Don’t Stop Believing.”

  “I’m so glad you’re my boss again,” Rose whispered in Liz’s ear after the song was over.

  “I’m so glad you’re on my team again,” Liz whispered back.

  Liz’s eyes followed Darcy and his sister as they walked out of their new mansion. Not for the first time, a strange feeling settled on her heart. She looked at the tall, well-dressed man, and she felt so much warmth for him for helping Mr. Chambers by buying his house, for letting Dee use it for one of the most special days of her life, and for opening a branch in Savannah.

  “Where’s Hamilton?” Stella asked. “That guy who looks like he just walked off a beach.”

  Liz realized a little time on the dance floor with Hamilton would make this night completely perfect. Her heart fluttered at the thought of his crystal blue eyes. “He couldn’t make it.”

  Stella pulled Liz’s elbow. “Elise and I will dance with you, boss.”

  Liz ran to the table where Elise and Stella’s shoes were sitting and slid off her pumps. It was time to celebrate.

  39.

  Darcy walked out of his newest real estate purchase: a completely impractical old mansion in eastern Georgia. The Georgia wind rolled over his body, but it didn’t cool his fingers, which were still on fire after being wrapped around Liz’s hands.

  His eyes felt permanently blinded by her smile, which had made him feel happier than he’d felt since his parents died. Did he just make a huge mistake?

  He stopped and leaned up against a white column.

  “Darcy, are you okay?” his sister asked.

  He looked down at his black leather shoes. He was now standing on his new porch. He had told himself he bought the mansion for old man Chambers. But holding her in his arms as they danced forced him to face the truth: He wanted to see Liz.

  This was an epic mistake. He couldn’t be her boss.

  “Darcy?” Georgia asked again.

  He forced himself to look up and straighten the bottom of his jacket by pulling it tightly toward his shoes. “I’m fine.”

  He would have to stuff whatever he felt for this woman into the back corner of his mind. Luckily, Darcy was good at stuffing away his feelings; he had returned to work only three days after his parents died. Darcy knew if he wanted his parents’ company and their memory to survive, he had to forget about Liz. That’s exactly what he would do—it was just going to be hard now that he’d hired her.

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  1.

  “You like Liz.” Darcy could feel his little sister looking at him as they left Dee’s reception, but he pretended not to hear Georgia’s comment. He put his arm around her shoulders as they crossed the green lawn of the southern mansion Darcy had just purchased.

  Darcy looked over his shoulder at his new real estate purchase, the Pemberley House, and he traced the tall white columns with his eyes. He still couldn’t believe he owned a property in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Six months ago, he didn’t know the town existed.

  Darcy felt a sharp pain in his side that only Georgia’s bony elbow could produce.

  Darcy rubbed his ribs and looked down at the green grass. “What was that for?”

  “You like her. You like Liz,” his little sister repeated her accusation.

  He shook his head and pulled at the sleeve of black suit jacket. “Do not.”

  Georgia laughed. “Do not?” she teased. “Reverting to your toddler communication skills?”

  Darcy looked at his little sister; a big smile was plastered on her face. He liked seeing her like this. It had been a long time since her voice sounded so light, so effortless.

  He put his arm around her slim shoulders. To him, she still looked like she was five, even though she was twenty-two. He opened the passenger door of his black Mercedes for her, and she slid into the seat. He bent down and asked, “Why do you think I like her?”

  Georgia looked up at him from the seat. “You smiled at her.”

  Darcy rolled his eyes. “I smile at people all the time.”

  “Do not,” Georgia mocked him. Darcy shut her door, and he walked around the to the driver’s side.

  He slid in the leather seat, put his hands on the steering wheel, and put the car in reverse. Georgia turned to look at him. “Thanks for the house,” she said. “Mom would have loved this place.”

  Darcy nodded. “She would have.” He thought about his parents, who had celebrated their thirty-fourth anniversary just before they died in a car crash together, four years before. “She would have dragged Dad away for the weekend to look at it. He would have complained about what a piece of junk it was, but by Sunday, they would have owned it.”

  Georgia looked at her brother. “It’s still too much for a twenty-second birthday present. Which makes me wonder . . . ” She looked at him in the eyes, peering like only a little sister on the hunt for information could do. “Did you buy it so you could see Liz again?”

  Darcy pulled out of the long driveway, past the gates, and shook his head. “I did not.”

  He had just offered Liz a job as director of the Savannah branch of his company, Pemberley Media, and he would be her direct supervisor, which meant he couldn’t like her. Ever.

  He felt his hands tense around the steering wheel. “Business and romance don’t mix,” he could hear his father say. And Darcy wasn’t about to change a policy that had been working for almost forty years.

  I do not have feelings for her.

  It was time to go back to Chicago, where he wouldn’t have to defend himself to his sister. The sooner he was away from the reception, the Southern hospitality, the heat, the bugs, and Liz, the better.

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  From the Author:

  A huge thanks to Jane Austen, whose loveable a
nd immortal characters were the inspiration for this story. Love you Jane!

  Thanks to my editor Sarah Fox whose keen eye and expertise kept me from going down several Wickham-shaped rabbit holes.

  Also, thank you to my husband, who inspires me every day with his patience and generosity.

  Finally, thank you for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to know when more of my books are coming to electronic shelves near you, check out my website and join my mailing list. Hope to see you there!

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