Chapter 21: The CEO’s Son
Cassandra’s POV
“Now that we’ve made our introductions, I’ll leave you three alone to discuss the details of the collaboration,” Damion said, pushing back his chair. He waltzed out of the room, leaving Stella, Dillon and I alone. (1)
“The CEO of Fox Finch Holding is your father?” I asked, turning to Dillon. He must have seen the shock on my face because he
chuckled.
“You got me!” He threw his hands up in the air. “The ruse is up! Yes, that’s my father. And yes, I’m next in line for CEO.”
“I thought you were a lawyer,” I shook my head.
He smiled, the corner of his brown eyes crinkling. “I am,” he confirmed. “But I also have an MBA. I didn’t tell you about any of this because I wasn’t sure if I was going to take over the company. It’s a lot of pressure. Sometimes I feel like, from the moment I was born, my father was talking about his ‘son’ taking over the family business. But I had to sort it out for myself. You know? Make sure it was something I wanted. And not just something I was doing to please my father.”
“And?” I asked.
“I want this. I really do.”
“Does my brother know about this?” Surely he didn’t. He would have mentioned it!
“He does,” Dillon said, to my surprise. “Cameron knows all about this. But I made him promise to keep it a secret. Lips sealed.” He made a cute zip motion on his lips.
“He knew about the collaboration, too?” This was a lot to process. I was shocked they’d both kept this from me.
“Yup. I wanted to surprise you. I was the one who convinced my father to consider collaborating with your company. So I figured I deserved to see the look on your face when my father accepted.”
“That’s not fair,” I said teasingly, shaking my finger at him. “You’ve always known my true identity. But I had no idea about yours.” I smiled good-naturedly at him.
“So wait a minute,” Stella jumped in. For a moment, I’d almost forgotten she was there. “Just so I’m straight on this. Your childhood friend is actually the CEO’s son at a massive company you’ve been chasing for the past few months?”
Dillon nodded sheepishly.
“And you only just found out about this now?”
This time, I nodded.
“Huh. Well that’s an interesting turn of events.” Stella cast me a wicked smile as if to imply there was something romantic between Dylan and I. I shook her off.
“Honestly, Cass, I was afraid you’d be a bit mad when you found out,” Dillon confessed nervously.
He looked so sincere. It was endearing.
“I’m not upset. Honestly. Just surprised. It’s still sinking in I think.”
“Well good then. I’m glad. So, should we get right to it then? I have the terms of the collaboration all drawn up and ready to go.” He playfully patted the briefcase he was holding.
But the moment the official meeting started, his demeanor changed. He was all business, professional and firm. All his charming playfulness disappeared.
1/3
Chapter 21: The CEO’s Son
We listened as he detailed the conditions of the collaboration. They were tough. And I mean TOUGH.
Once or twice, Stella kicked me under the table. I’d been so thrilled to collaborate with Fox Finch Holding. But now that the collaboration was so close we could touch it, I was surprised by the conditions.
Their demands were really high. Their expectations seemed almost unobtainable. I listened to Dillon yammer on and on about the terms, and a knot formed in my stomach.
Was this really something we wanted? Was this even something we could do? I was pretty sure Stella was thinking the same
thing.
For the longest time, this collaboration was all that I’d wanted. But did I have stars in my eyes? Was I blinded to the reality of what working with a company THIS big really meant?
Stella and I were going to have to talk this over. Currently, I wasn’t sure if this was the right move for Hot House Flower. Not after hearing terms like those.
Dillon finished and closed up his briefcase.
“I’ll have all this info sent over to your office so you can look it over more closely. But that’s the gist of it.”
His light and airy demeanor was back, just like that. He glanced at his Apple Watch.
“Time to clock out,” he smiled. “Can I interest you ladies in some dinner? My treat. Somewhere fancy? Where the food has strange names and they never give you enough portions? We can call it a business meal and I’ll charge it to my company card.” He winked at us.
My stomach rumbled. It had been a long day and I was famished. Dinner sounded great. And a free one?
Even better!
“What do you say, Stella? I know you can’t turn down a good cream puff,” I said jokingly.
Stella narrowed her eyes and glanced back and forth between us.
“Thank you for your invite,” she smiled slyly at Dillon. “But I have a feeling I’d be a third wheel.”
“Stella,” I gasped. But she wasn’t finished.
“I’m going to sit this one out. But if I were you, Dillon, I’d dropped the whole ‘business dinner front’ and just ask Cassandra out on a real date.”
“Enough,” I hissed at Stella. “It’s not like that. It’s…work.” I felt my cheeks flush. He wasn’t asking me out on a real date. It was just business. Like he said.
Wasn’t it?
“Okay, okay,” she waved her hand dismissively. Then she pushed back her chair. “Whatever you say. But I’m still not going. So call it whatever you want.” She shook Dillon’s hand in a very professional way. But at the door, she turned and blew me a kiss.
I rolled my eyes.
But
my cheeks were still hot.
“Well,” Dillon said. He seemed as awkward as me. “If you don’t want to go, that’s totally fine.” 1
“No. I mean yes. I do. I want to,” I stammered.
“Good,” he smiled. “Good. Me too. Then let’s do it. Let’s go to dinner.”
2/3
“A business dinner,” I replied. For a moment he looked disappointed. But then he chuckled.
“Yes. Sure. A business dinner. Let me just snag us a reservation. Meet me out front in ten minutes?”
“Great!” I said too enthusiastically.
Dillon walked out. What the hell just happened there? Why had I felt unexpectedly awkward? It was just Dillon.
‘Get over yourself,’ I chastised. ‘You’re being silly.’
Then I scurried off to the bathroom to fix my make-up.
3/3
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