Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Byron stared at the egg and released a long, low sigh. His shoulders slumped ever farther. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do. The egg can remind me to treat you as a friend, but it can’t force me to talk about things I don’t wish to discuss. Some things I just need to work out on my own.”
He stepped past me and continued to the door, but he didn’t get more than a step before he stopped again. I looked past him to see Declan standing in the opening watching us.
“Forgive me, Mr. Foster. Is there anything I can get you?” Byron asked, snapping into perfect assistant mode.
“No, thank you. I just needed to talk to Sebastian.”
Byron nodded. “Have a good evening.” He slipped past Declan and closed the door behind my friend.
The moment we were alone, Declan turned his glare full force onto me. “What did you do?”
“What the hell! Why do you assume I did something? I haven’t done anything.” At least, I didn’t think I’d done anything to him. Fuck, I hope I hadn’t. “This has nothing to do with us dating,” I added, because I was sure it was exactly what he was thinking.
Declan stood in front of me, his arms folded over his chest as he continued to glare. “What’s wrong?”
“We had a small misunderstanding this morning when I chose to have Kaylan in the meetings instead of him, but I explained it was to train Kaylan ahead of moving Byron to another position because we’re dating. He said he understood, but he’s been distracted. I’m guessing something happened this past weekend that he’s not telling me about.”
“That’s it?”
I shrugged one shoulder as I walked to my desk and dropped into his chair. “I turned down his proposal.”
“The proposal about focusing on mini blockbuster, limited edition products for each of our divisions?” Declan inquired.
That question jolted me upright in my chair. “He showed it to you?” Byron had made it sound like he’d not showed any of the other members of the executive team.
“We discussed it. He came to me to get some specific financial numbers to make sure his idea was workable to match our needs.”
“And it’s not,” I stated, relaxing again.
“It is, but it wouldn’t be easy. There are risks.”
“Exactly!” I said, waving a hand at Declan. I’d known my CFO would back me on this. Declan was all logic and common sense.
“However, there are fewer risks involved than with your plan.”
I lunged forward in my chair, almost coming out of my seat as I shrieked, “What?”
Declan shrugged and raised a hand. “Your plan of putting everything on a single home-run product comes with inherent problems. If it bombs, if we misread the market, we’re in a worse position than we are in now. If it wins, we win big, which will help carry us comfortably into the new year.”
My friend then lifted his other hand, holding it next to the other like a set of scales. “By contrast, Byron’s plan hinges on modifications to existing, successful products. It’s a lower-cost investment for the company. If his plan fails, we don’t have the cushion to carry us into the new year, but we will still finish in a better position than we are in now. If his plan wins, it can be easily expanded, and our marketing departments can mobilize fast enough to turn it into a home run.”
“So, you agree with him?”
My friend glared at me, his frown deepening. “I didn’t say that.”
I tried not to snarl at my oldest friend. Sometimes getting him to spit out what he was thinking was exhausting. Byron already wasn’t talking to me. Declan’s reticence was not helping.
“Two things. First, maybe part of the reason Byron came up with the proposal was to prove that he is capable of holding a more important position in the company than just being your executive assistant. You do recall that he has a master’s degree, correct? You’re talking about moving him to another department. Even as my assistant, it’s something of a demotion compared to working for the CEO, and all because he made the mistake of dating you.”
“Fuck.” I exhaled. That had never crossed my mind. In truth, the best option would be for Byron to leave Courtland and find another position somewhere else, but I didn’t want to force him out. If I were a good, thoughtful boyfriend, though, I’d be helping him to make that transition if it was what he wanted.
“Second,” Declan continued, as if he hadn’t just rocked my poor little world. “As his boyfriend, you should have left with him, taken him home, and done things to make sure he felt cared for and safe until he was willing to tell you what was wrong. Then you would solve the problem together instead of leaving him to deal with it alone.”