Family Business

31. Conference

**Faith POV**

I avoided Xavier like the damn plague. Derek too, and I caught them both looking at me whenever I did have the misfortune of running into them.

My father wasn't too happy either. Ripped into me about the whole fiasco and how he wasn't doing the press thing anymore. He was angry at me for instructing him not to tell, but he was the one who so readily agreed. He had slammed me around a bit for that one.

It's not even that I minded doing the conference. I didn't mind public speaking or being in the public eye. The main thing was that I didn't want to get Derek or Xavier's attention more than I already had. In fact, I should be trying to do a shit job, or at least the bare minimum, so that they didn't want me back. But the perfectionist control freak in me couldn't let my dad struggle and I never did things halfassed. Maybe that would be my downfall.

It was worse seeing Xavier knowing he was not only pissed at me, but also that we've slept together multiple times, and gone even further than that. The worst part is it was actually kind of hot seeing him in his element here. He was cold, all business. Watching him fire those girls made my thighs clench, a shudder drawing through me. He was actually ruthless to them, telling them how useless they were, and I couldn't look at him long for fear of him seeing the lust seeping from me. Even the way he yelled at me, grabbed me. I needed space. I was falling. I had heard that he was pretty harsh in terms of how he ran Stone Enterprises, even worse than Derek, and the rumors were right. He was much more in charge this summer than I had previously known. It was a major turn on, which was awful for me. He was meticulous, cold, and determined. I needed to get out of here before I saw any more that I liked too much.

I had mostly avoided him, a week going by. Wednesday again. I printed out the stupid list he had made me compile of everything I did here. I was surprised myself, itemizing it like this. I had accomplished a lot. Onboarding new employees, the summaries, countless excel sheets, all the PowerPoints, organizing the meeting times and locations, preparing the conference room, all sorts of things. I had been a productive month or so for me.

I snatched the warm paper from the printing tray and headed towards his office. I had been warned, no one goes into Xavier's office without a formal invitation. I had a feeling I was an exception here. If not, he could fire me. I just might like hearing him get mad at me some more.

I knocked twice before inviting myself in, pushing his door open. He was on the phone, and narrowed his eyes on me, but still gestured for me to come in and close the door. I obliged, then came to stand in front of his desk while he spoke on the phone. Sounded like he was talking legalities about the lawsuit with the hotel. He was firm, telling them if they wanted to avoid a lawsuit, they needed to return all the money he was owed. I just set the paper on his desk and turned to leave, trying to keep my confidence.

"Hold on," he said into the phone, before giving me a sharp whistle to get my attention, "Stay."

My hand froze on the doorknob at his voice dripping with authority. I should leave, defy him, act like I didn't hear him and didn't answer to him, but instead I turned to watch, my arms crossed. He shamelessly let his eyes rake over me as he spoke.

"Yes.... I agree.... No, I won't accept a compromise. Full amount or we will be pursuing the case.... No exceptions. I'm willing to settle out of court, but not for a lesser amount."

He beckoned me closer, and I looked nervously at his windows, the blinds drawn tight. I approached hesitantly towards his desk, and he gestured me to come around, making my stomach flip. I felt the nerves erupt in me, my confidence waning. I had planned to come in here and fight. Not be drawn in. I was still supposed to be angry with him. I came up beside him, and he picked up the sheet I had defiantly tossed on his desk, turning his leather chair to lean back and read the paper while facing me. I crossed my arms, cocking out a hip and trying to show him I meant business. I saw his eyes running over everything, before he dropped it back onto his desk and sat back, looking at me while on his call.