I pace the hotel suite with the killer view of the Pacific and grip my phone.
Breathe in, breathe out.
The exercise keeps me from focusing on the very real possibility that this day will end in disaster. Even the possibility shreds my composure and moves me close to tears.
No. Stop. Keep it together. This is your last hope.
The past seventeen days have been tumultuous, to say the least.
The evening following Bruce Rawson’s visit, it hit me that I finally had everything I’d wanted most of my adult life: my father’s approval and control of the company I loved. And I was miserable because I didn’t have what I needed.
Sebastian.
His actions after our split—leaving his job and letting me go—more than prove he loves me. They tell me that if I let him, he’ll put me first. That’s why, despite finding an excellent divorce attorney who’s licensed to practice in more than a dozen states, including Texas and Hawaii, I haven’t called.
I can’t bring myself to.
Plus, I haven’t had much time.
A week and a half after Mr. Rawson visited my office, he passed quietly in his sleep with his sons—and me—at his side. Shane, Brady, and Rogan all seemed relieved to know that our father signed the company over to me nearly a week prior. They all have trust funds, and running a company would have been a drain on their time and energy. I suspect my oldest half brother will blow through his money quickly, but that’s not my problem.
Reservoir is.
A handful of days after assuming the company, a few things became terribly clear, chief among them that demand for our services—thanks to Wynam selecting us—far outweighs our capacity to provide them. After Shane’s disastrous reign, our cash position is shaky. And since we had to fire every single person who participated in or condoned his mismanagement of corporate funds, Reservoir is terribly understaffed.
The company wasn’t going to make it long if I didn’t take significant action.
So I did.
As of this morning, it’s final. I’ve ensured Reservoir for the foreseeable future. And I hope that my father is looking down on me and that’s he’s still proud.
I also hope that, after this one last scheme, I’ll be well and truly happy.
It’s seemingly taken forever to reach this place, but a glance at my phone tells me it’s time.
Right on cue, there’s a knock on the door.
Breathe in, breathe out.
With that mantra rolling through my head, I open the door with a hopeful smile.
Sebastian stands there, looking incredibly gorgeous in a dark charcoal suit, a pale gray shirt, a red tie—and his wedding ring. God, just seeing him is enough to send my heart soaring.
When he catches sight of me, he rears back in shock. His expression turns guarded. “Sloan? I must be in the wrong place. A headhunter contacted me about a job interview. I’m supposed to meet the CEO here—”
“You’re exactly where you should be.”
He scowls. “You want to interview me for a job?”
“Yes. I heard you left Stratus, and there’s no one better suited to this position than you. In fact, I think you’re the only one for the job. Come in and sit. I’ll explain.”
Sebastian doesn’t move. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Because?” Please don’t say that you’ve fallen out of love with me…
“You have to ask?”
“Yes.”