Can't Let You Go

Chapter 34

"Oh gosh!" Tally's breath catches in a small gasp. "Darius. I didn't expect anyone to be in here. I missed seeing you at breakfast."

"Sorry to startle you," he says to Tally as she enters the room.

"It's fine, it's this office. I know my father wants me to use this space, but treating his office like it's my own kind of puts me on edge." Still affected by her childhood memories, the room always gave her a sense of being big and scary. Seeming like a king to her six year old self, her father would be behind the desk working, barely acknowledging her.

"It is a somewhat intimidating space. Anyway, I had some things to take care of this morning, so I didn't come by the house."

"Did you have something you wanted to discuss with me?"

"Yeah, I have a list of employees here that I think will be good to put on the resort team. Where possible I picked ones that haven't had any real dealings with Bethany."

"Why would you make that a criteria?"

"Honey, I've been in your home often enough that I can see the tension between the two of you."

"Yeah, at home. This is work. Bethany and I have the same goals at work."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you. I have a feeling Bethany would like to see you fail."

"Really?" Tilting her head as she looks at him intently while she ponders for a moment. "But you don't want me to fail?"

"No, I'd like for you to stay here." His face tightens slightly. "It's what your father wants," he adds.

"Hmm," she hums softly in thought as she looks at the list. "Thank you for this. I'll consider it carefully. I see some familiar names here, including the person we have a meeting with next. What can you tell me about them?" The two continue discussing staff until there's a knock on the door.

"I'm available, you may come in."

Having worked for her father for so long, Darius is familiar with this unusual phrasing. Bemused, he notices that Tally even uses the same intonation.

"Liam!" Instantly enlivened, she gets up to stand by the visitor. "This is a surprise." She beams at him for a moment before remembering the situation. "Oh, right. I didn't get to introduce you two at the fundraiser. Liam Bennet. Darius Merriweather." She indicates each man in turn and they shake hands.

"Sorry to show up without warning like this," Liam apologizes. "I did call because I need to talk to you, but you haven't been answering your phone."

"Oh yeah, it's on silent. If you'd called my office, they could have told you that I was busy." Teasing him on their role reversal is too tempting for her to resist. "It's probably more efficient to make an appointment with me than to stop by and hope I'm available." She winks. "Is what you want to talk about time sensitive? Darius and I still have some things to discuss before a meeting that starts in ten minutes."

"It's alright, it can wait." Darius gathers his files. "I actually have a couple of things to do before we're both needed in the conference room." Exiting Honey's office he heads straight into Bethany's where she is waiting for him.

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"Good morning Ms. James." Darius is typically at his most formal during conversations with the executive vice president. "Here is the detailed report on the weekend's activities cross referenced with your list of associates as usual." He hands a printed document to her and waits by her desk.

In her cool and dismissive manner, Bethany goes over the report. "I see she spent a fair amount of individual time with Brandt Ralston and an unknown man?"