Her Billionaire Lifeguard
Page 10
Trey murmured in Jake’s ear. “I’m gonnna kill him.”
“After me.”
They pushed their way through the group, keeping their faces a mask, heading toward the larger conference room where they assumed the meeting would take place. They rounded the corner, nearly tripping over a reporter who would not move, and then stepped inside the larger room door. Jake shut it behind them. They turned to the room.
Damian stood. “Happy you could make it through our visitors. We are as uncomfortable as you are. I’d apologize, but I do believe it’s you they’re after.”
“Nevertheless, an apology would be appreciated, given that somehow, they knew we were coming.”
Damian didn’t respond, but he shook their hands and introduced them. “I’d like you to meet the two faces behind Beauty Foundation.”
Trey and Jake nodded to the room. And then they sat in the spots available at the other end of the table.
“So, let’s begin.” Damian turned on the projector and it looked as though they would move through their typical board meeting with Trey on the agenda about halfway through.
Jake settled back in his chair. And Trey was happy he could read his friend’s mind sometimes.
The noise in the hall picked up, getting louder as it moved closer to the conference room. Damian stopped speaking again as the door opened.
A young woman entered, sharp, pointed, serious, followed by a man with a notepad furiously writing everything a woman dictated to him. He stood. He knew that voice.
Jake let out a long breath. And he stood beside him just as Scottie entered the room.
Everyone else stood to join them. Four or five people rushed forward, hugging her and shaking her hand.
She looked fantastic in a power suit but instead of the matching pants, she wore an artistic design. They were just a little bit bold, daring. And her shoes, yup, daring, bright yellow. She wore her hair down, partly. If her appearance was anything to go by, she was well on her way to combining the bold business woman Scottie with the artistic yoga babe of the Sea and Song, and Trey had never been more attracted to a woman. Again. “She’s upped her game.”
“You gotta snap out of it,” Jake whispered. “She’s gonna need our top game.”
His thoughts sharpened. Sure enough. Damian’s eyes narrowed and he was motioning to someone on his right. But Scottie cut him off. “Damian, don’t even try to hand whatever papers those are out. They aren’t valid anymore. We’ve been to the judge. And we have a couple things that will be of great interest to the board.” Her eyes traveled over the group and passed over Trey and Jake as if they weren’t even there.
“Typical,” he grumbled.
“She’s a pro.”
“I hope so.”
She waved to the room. “Please be seated. I can take it from here.” She turned to Damian. “You too.”
“Hey, Scottie, babe, I know it’s been awhile since you’ve been here, but you can’t just walk in here—”
“Excuse me? I can’t what?” She waved a paper in front of him and when he read it, his face blanched. He swallowed four times and then nodded. He seemed to give up, but as he sat in a chair over by the window, his eyes were calculating.
Scottie smiled and Trey hoped everyone in the room was as charmed as he. “So, I think there may have been some misunderstandings.”
A few people chuckled.
“But I want you to know I’m back and have no plans to leave.”
Damian cleared his throat, but she waved him away.
“After doing a bit of research, I have learned that you were under the impression I had asked for a leave of absence after my father died. And for that, you kindly packed my things and made it easy for me to say goodbye. Am I correct in that understanding?”
Most of the room nodded their heads.
Trey snorted.
“Oh, my dear friends. When I heard that, I was so relieved because I was told you voted me off the board and to leave with as little drama as possible because my father would have wanted a smooth transition.”
The women at the front gasped.
“We have all been grossly manipulated.”
Many turned to scowl at Damian, but a few looked down, and Trey took note.
A man entered the room. “I’m looking for Damian Ortega?”
He stood. “I’m Damian Ortega.”
An envelope passed hands and the new visitor said, “You have been served.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Oh, just a little love note.” Scottie didn’t even look at him. Trey was proud of her.
Damian lifted a phone to his ear and left the room.
And Scottie let out a sigh. “Anyone else who aided Damian in his deception, and most especially if you suspect you will also be indicted, please leave now.”
Six people stood and left. Scottie watched them all. Then, when the door once again shut, she smiled. “I won’t pretend I don’t have a battle ahead of me, but do I have your support?”
Everyone in the room stood and clapped. And Scottie’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I’m sorry it took so long for me to come back. I thought you didn’t want me.”
They each came forward, hugging her, passing on condolences about her father, telling her how excited they were to have her back. She loved on each person in return and then told them all she wanted to see them first thing in the morning tomorrow when they were going to have a full production planning meeting.
Once they had all left, and only Jake, Trey and Scottie remained, she at last looked at them. “I’m so glad you were here.” Her eyes bore into Trey’s.
“You were remarkable.”
Jake looked from one to the other. “I’ll be outside.”
As he passed, she reached for him. “Thanks for being here, Jake. Can you go meet the team? Be your gregarious self and win lots of positive vibes in our behalf?”
“On it.”
As soon as the door shut, Scottie reached over and shut the shades. Then she ran forward into Trey’s arms.
He held her, rocking and murmuring words of support. When she pulled away, he smiled into her beautiful face. “You made that look easy.”
She laughed. “At last it was. He was embezzling money and trying to pin it on me.”
“Really! I’m not surprised.” He wrapped his arms around her again. “Can you prove all of it?”
“I think so. Once we spread the word I was coming back, people stepped forward to offer testimony if need be. But mostly, we just have to convince Damian we have proof.”
“Genius. So he backs off. My brave, creative genius of a woman.” He searched her face. “Will you be my woman? I feel like now that there are all these other lifeguard types to choose from, you might forget about the little guys.”
She shook her head. “No way. If I have any say in the matter, we’re gonna be partners. And besides, they already call us the hottest new cosmetic power couple.”
He laughed. “As they should.”
So #hotTrey, you okay sharing your trending hashtag for a little while?”
“I’m okay sharing more than that.”
She stepped up on her toes, and he pressed his lips to hers, until she clutched his arms, until he held her up, until he lifted her in his arms and even then he didn’t want to let go until Jake tapped on the door. “Um, guys?”
He paused, his mouth just above hers, and growled, “What!”
“The press would like to have a word. Would now be a good time to maybe announce a few things?” He cleared his throat. “Like Scottie’s innocence?”
Trey pressed his forehead to hers and sighed. “He’s right.”
She nodded. “Let’s do this. Together.”
He set her down on her feet again and reached for her hand. “Us.”
Her smile grew. “Yes. Us.”
The end.
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