Battle of the Sexes

Chapter 12

Carver

I settle in across from Marcus at his desk. "I have the Board meeting this week for the CEO spot."

"That blows. Why won't they just put you where you belong?"

"Right?" I say, shaking my head. "I've been dealing with this bullshit for two weeks now, neglecting the work that needs to be done just to get into position to do the work. Does that make any sense?"

"In a weird way, yes. But I get it—look at what I had to do to get control of this company. I had to convince Priscilla to marry me, and then, on top of that, convince her to have my baby."

"Don't even ask me to feel sorry for you," I laugh. "Marrying and then impregnating Priscilla wouldn't exactly be what I would consider torture."

"Mywife." He grins. "Just the sound of that makes me hard."

"Too much information, man."

He kicks back, putting the top of his pen in his mouth. "So, you fucking Amity yet?"

I look at him blankly. "Is that a necessary question, Marcus?"

"Why, yes, yes, it is."

"It's not."

"So that's a yes." His laugh sounds across the room, his eyes dancing with amusement. "How is she, anyway? I haven't seen her in years."

I open my mouth to respond, but I can't figure out what to say. If I say she's "good," or "hot," or "beautiful," or "smart as hell," it all seems to be a disservice to who she really is.

"Ah, I see," he says, shaking the pen at me. "It's like that."

"It's not like anything."

"No, it is. And that's okay. I would've totally busted your ass about this before, but I'm more understanding of what it's like to be pussy-whipped these days."

"I've been with her once," I protest. "Tone it down a couple of notches, will ya?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. So," he says, springing forward, "what's going to happen when the Board sides with you? Because, I have to say, the plan we discussed the last time we talked is gold. There's no way she can beat you, Carver. You know that company inside and out."

"I won't lose to her. I can't. I've waited for this my whole damn life."

"I know. Remember in high school we used to say we'd be running our fathers' empires one day? How cool we thought that would be?" He smiles brightly. "We're almost there."

"We will be by the start of next week." I slide a file across his desk. "Take a look at that for me. If you can think of any other strategies to put into place, let me know. I want this thing to shine."

"Sure thing. I'll call a meeting with Priscilla today and have her take a look too."

"You don't get enough of that at home?"

"I'll never have enough of that." He flips through the file, nodding as he goes from page to page. "So, what happens when this is all over?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you're the CEO. What happens to her then?"

I clear my throat. "I'm not sure."

"Do you think she'll stick around? I mean, she didn't work with you before. Hell, she didn't even work in Manhattan," he points out. "You think she'll head back to the West Coast?"

My gaze settles on a spot far in the distance as I ponder this. Will she move back to California? Wouldn't she stay here and take a spot with Jones + Gallum?

"She'll have to stick around," I say, my tone lacking any surety at all. "She'd have to be invested at this point, don't you think?"

My friend looks at me. "Invested in the company? Or invested in you?"

"Well, I meant the company."

"Did you?"

Did I? My mouth goes dry as I consider the very real possibility that she'll leave. It's nothing to me. Or is it?

"What are you? A shrink?" I recover, lifting off the chair. "Go play doctor with your wife."

"Mywife," he grins. "I think I'll do that." He stands as I head for the door. "I'll take a look at this and get back to you in the morning, Carver."

"Thanks, Marcus."

"Any time."