sinking ships - succession

chapter thirty-two

It was the morning and she sat with Lukas on the couch as his Gojo team fluttered around going through things on the deal. Rose sat tucked into his side with her knees pulled up and resting in his lap with her sketchbook propped up against them as she drew.

She was drawing the wedding dress. Lukas was on his phone as she drew scrolling through photos of wedding dresses that she made.

"What about this one?" he questioned as he tilted his phone towards her to see.

She smiled a bit in amusement before she kissed his cheek, "Babe, when I marry you, I'm wearing a one-of-a-kind wedding dress that no one else will ever wear."

Lukas nodded with a small grin, "Like a princess?"

"I'll be your princess bride, yes," she giggled a bit.

Rose had talked to him a bit last night about wedding planning. She had already decided they were getting married on New Year's Day in Greece because it was when and where they met only a year ago.

She had also told him that because she wanted the dress to fit absolutely perfect, they would not be having sex until they got married. She didn't want to chance any sort of pregnancy. It didn't mean they still couldn't have fun as they did last night but regular sex was off the table.

Lukas smiled before pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Then Shiv walked in after getting off the phone which made Rose close her sketchbook.

"Okay! I think they lost Stewy. He's wonked. So that means we got..." Shiv chuckled. "Kendall in the trunk, all trussed up and ready to fucking bake! Yeah? It's good."

Shiv then held up a piece of paper to the wall as she tallied the votes (that Rose already knew), "Okay. 'Cause, you know, we got me, obviously... Here. Uh... me, Simon, Frank, Sandy and Sandi, locked. And then Stewy. I... Look, he talks a lot of shit, but I think he's gonna stay. He's not gonna split. 'Cause money, honey, right?"

"And why wouldn't he split?" Rose pointed out an error in her thinking as she stared Shiv down. "He's going to vote with Kendall because he thinks if Ken wins, he's solid and has a future there, and even if Ken doesn't win, he gets a shit ton of money. It's a no lose situation if he votes the other way, Shiv."

Lukas chuckled a bit at her harsh criticism and gazed at her with adoration. They had already talked last night about the position of CEO. Lukas really wanted Rose but she declined. Instead of Shiv (who was completely incompetent), she recommended Tom.

Shiv rolled her eyes at Rose, "Okay, fine. So, then we got Diane Liu, Sonya. And then we... we have it. Then, if we peel off Dewi, Paul, and Ewan, then there's only, like... is that... Ken and Rome in the against. That's fuckin'... And Rome might not even show up from whatever jerk dungeon he's being pity-spanked in. You happy?"

"Very happy," Lukas said softly as he stared at Rose.

Rose then stood up with her sketchbook clutched to her chest. She looked down at Lukas, "Okay. I'm going to head to the airport to go down to Caribbean. But I'll see you at the board vote."

"You're going to Mom's thing?" Shiv asked.

"Yes, Shiv, I am," Rose answered without looking at her.

Rose thought it would be best to go down to the Caribbean. She could tell her mother she was getting married before news got out because her mother would have a fit if she wasn't the first to know.

Rose leaned down and kissed Lukas shortly on the lips, "Bye, handsome."

She started to leave before she looked at him as she walked away, "And wear what I told you for the board vote. Don't forget."