Ruby Red 3 - A Romance for All Time (Complete)

Chapter 18

Ali held Sam's hand as they sat side by side in the spacious office of Spencer Stellen.

Her father's confidant and Stinson Studio's board member was a tall, thin man whose once light brown hair had never had a chance to grey before it fell out. His steel-rimmed glasses shared the gleam from his bald head. Today he was dressed in a light blue suit with a matching blue tie featuring white polka dots. He had always been a calming presence in Ali's life, an antidote to her father's hot temper and her mother's dramatic episodes.

"What can I do for you, Alexandria?"

"I want to talk about options... to remove Jack as acting Chairman of Stinson Studios."

In typical Spencer fashion, he took her words in and considered them before speaking. Leaning back in his chair, Spencer didn't comment, but asked a clarifying question, "And who would you replace him with?"

"I could do it."

After airing their respective secrets yesterday, Sam and Ali spent most of the evening discussing how to remove Jack's dirty fingers from all things Stinson related. The easiest and fastest was the company. It was a matter of getting enough votes from the shareholders and the board to oust him. The key to securing those votes would be finding a viable candidate to replace Jack as CEO.

Sam had suggested she take the position first. Ali had been considering it, wondering how to broach the subject with her fiancée. It meant staying who knows how long in California. Hopefully, her father would wake up from his coma soon. But the doctors had warned of potential life-altering complications from the stroke. Recovery could be months. Or longer.

That's if Daniel Stinson woke up.

What would this mean for Sam and Ali? For their relationship? Sam had a full life back on the east coast. Reconnecting with family, coordinating Leif Stewart's political campaign and his new responsibilities at the foundation. The meeting this morning had been successful via conference call but that would not always be the case. There were times when Sam would be required in New York.

Ali knew to successfully run Stinson Studios her presence would be needed here. There were simply aspects of the business needing a hands-on approach. You had to inspect the craftsmanship, feel the sample fabrics, talk face-to-face with the designers. Like her father had.

The thing was, she wanted to do it. Run Stinson Studios. Revive the company. Renew it's potential. The more they talked about it, the more it felt right. What she had to do. What she was meant to do.

Just as strong was her knowledge her future was with Sam. A full life. Not stolen weekends where one of them had to sacrifice for them to be together. The couple didn't know how to make it work. Despite hours of talk, no solution had presented itself. In the end, they agreed to take things one step at a time. Step one was getting rid of Jack.

Spencer was regarding her with his grey eyes. When at last he spoke, it was not what Ali expected.

"That wouldn't work."

A little stunned and hurt by the lack of support, it took Ali a moment to respond. Sam beat her to it.

"Why not. She's smart."

Spencer swivelled his gaze to Sam and then back to Ali. "I agree. Alexandria, I know you know this business. You know the staff, the product. And what you don't know about the financial side of things, I'm sure you could quickly learn."

"But..." Ali could all but see the word hanging between them. Was this going to be the old excuse, she wasn't a man.

"No one else knows that. The suppliers, the wholesalers, the creditors. They simply don't know you or what you are capable of. In their eyes, you're only the daughter of the owner. It would buy you some clout, but I'm afraid not enough." He leaned forward. "They do however know Jack Blackhorne. In the last year, he has been seen at your father's side. He's been here."