Around nine, I finally get out of bed. Iwalk into the bathroom, grabbing a towel and glance at myself in the mirror,but then stop, staring. My neck, torso, and thighs are covered in red andpurple bruises where Cole has bitten and sucked on my skin. “Holy hell,” Imutter, running a hand down my stomach. I’m not sure how to feel about allthese hickies. I should be furious. But looking at them brings back thesensations of last night and how Cole made me feel. I get an idea and I runinto the bedroom, and grab my phone.
Back in the bathroom I take a nakedselfie, and text it to Cole with the caption:I think a tiger mauled me.I shouldn’t have sent. He’s in meetings to finalize the sale of Lawton, butthat’s just another reason to send it.
When I get out of the shower, I check mymessages. Cole’s reply doesn’t tell me anything about what he thought of mypicture. He simply says:See you at 11:00.
I rummage through the closet looking forjust the right thing to wear. I pull out an ivory silk ruffle blouse and riflethrough the skirts I have. You’d think that with all these amazing clothes,that I could pick one. I’m about to give up when I come across a light grayskirt. “Hey this looks business—ish.” I walk out of the closet and pull it onwith the blouse. I look pretty good, but it’s a little tight around my tush.You can see my panty line and the skirt is a bit snug at the top. “Dang it.” Istomp my foot. This outfit would’ve been perfect. I pull off my underwear. Thathelps, but I feel naked, and I have a bit of skin poking out the top. I digthrough my underwear drawer, looking for a pair of panties that won’t show. Ifind the Spanx I bought at Niemen Marcus several weeks ago when I was going tomeet Preston and Olivia. This will work great. I tug, stretching it out, andthen I attempt to slideitup my legs. I feel like I’m lifting a fifty-pound dumbbell, trying to pullthese things up over my hips. I’ve broken out into a sweat. Maybe I should havegotten the bigger size. I can’t really walk, so I hop over, reading thepackage’s sizing. It says I bought the right size for my height and weight. Atleast I have that going for me. After another ten minutes of huffing andpuffing and some jumping around the bedroom to pull these damn things up, Ihave them on. Now the problem is I feel like I’m going to suffocate. Ugh, Ishould just take them off and forget it. I glance at the clock; it reads 10:30.Holy Jeez-Louise, it took me thirty minutes to get these tight-ass things on.No way am I taking them off. I pull my skirt on and it fits perfectly. Nounderwear line and my curves look amazing. I rummage through the closet againand find a pair of four-inch shiny black Milano heels. I may fall and break myneck in these but now I definitely fit the part. Business don’t mess with me. Ilaugh, yeah right.
I come out of the bedroom right at 11:00.Keaton’s standing next to the elevator. He doesn’t say anything to me, he justlooks at his watch. “I know, I know,” I say, as I carefully climb the stairs.“I’m late, whatever. I’m a woman. They can wait for me.”
In the elevator, Keaton calls Luke andtells him we are, “finally on our way.”
When he’s off, I glance at him. “You’resingle, aren’t you?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“It shows.” I laugh. He just gives me afunny look.
At ten after the hour, I walk onto thethird floor of the Upper House. Cole’s standing outside the conference room,waiting for me. He looks at me for a minute, his jaw tensing. He glances downthe hall and then back at me. “What?”
“You’re late.”
I shrug with a smile that I hope says,sorry, not sorry. He gives me a peck on the mouth and takes my hand. I followhim into the room where Race, Kit, Cooper, Luke, Preston, and Alan, and twoother men I don’t recognize, are waiting.
“Kate.” Kit beams. “My favorite Holt. Howare you, Sugar?”
“I’m pretty good. How are you?”
“Great now that you’re here.” He winks.
“Ah, thanks.” I smile.
“Kate,” Cole stops in front of the twomen I haven’t met. “These are the head attorneys for Prescott-Holt. TysonMarsden, and Ed Williams. Gentlemen, this is my wife, Kate.”
I hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meetyou.” He leads me down the room, sitting me next to Alan. Cole sits at the headwith Kit, Race, and Luke on one side and Preston, Cooper, and Alan on theother. “Hey Katie girl, how are you?” Alan whispers.
“I’m good and you?”
“Never better, never better.” He sayspatting my shoulder.
“When are you going to come over andfinish that game of chess with me?” I ask.
“You name the time, and I’ll be there.”
I glance around the room again. “Um—sothe six of you are the only shareholders in Prescott-Holt?”
“No, there are seven of us, well eight,including you.”
“Seven?”
“Luke has stock.” Alan states. I glanceat Luke, who gives me a small smile. I smile back. No wonder Cole said I wasgoing to lose this vote; everyone here is practically family. Dammit to hell!Now I’m mad. Cole should have told me. Now is a good time for that tantrum. Ican feel Cole’s eyes on me, but I refuse to look at him. If this was any otherperson being threatened, then they’d figure a way around it. They wouldn’t cavein and sell. This room is dripping with alpha male testosterone. I’m going todo it. I’m going to stand up and give my two cents.
“Kate,” Cole says, but I turn my headaway, ignoring him. I need to do this. I need to tell them to get their headsout of their asses. “Kathrine Holt.” Cole nearly yells my name.
I jump. “Yes, dear.” I peek at him,batting my eyes with a smile.
He pins me to my seat with his alphabusinessman stare. Ooh, sometimes he makes me so mad. He knows exactly what Iwant to do. If that’s the case, then why did he make me come? I guess he didn’tmake me, but he did egg me on. I may not get to throw a fit, but I’m stillgoing to vote. Finally, he smiles. “Thank you for being here.”
I smile sweetly at him, but don’t sayanything.
