At home, Calliope plugged in her cell phone, when she glanced at the clock. Noon. There was something she was supposed to do this afternoon.
She unzipped her dress from the previous night and made her way into the bedroom. Once there, she saw the bank statements she had placed on her desk. She threw her dress in the hamper to drop it off at the dry cleaners later. As she continued on her path toward the shower, she stopped and realized.
Today was the vote for Michael's company. Her phone rang, interrupting her thought before she could start worrying. She glanced at her brother’s number and then answered it. "Brandon, hey."
"You need to get to this board meeting for Morgan Enterprises today."
She hugged her stomach and stared out the window. Her bay view was nothing compared to Michael's oceanfront. She swayed and shook her head. "I promised I wouldn't go."
"Chris wants to sabotage Michael's deal because you slept with him for revenge."
"That's not true." She dropped her arms and stood straight.
"He just told me on my way up. Get here. Fast."
"On my way." Her heart raced. She had to help him. Then she raced through her house to dress and called a car to pick her up.
As she pulled up to Morgan Enterprises, which wasn't that far from her home, she stood and ensured her business skirt had no wrinkles in it as she adjusted her sunglasses. Today she took money seriously and it was time she exercised her seat on the board. She rolled her shoulders and made her way inside the front door.
As she flung open the door to the professional building, she blinked as she took off her glasses. Where in the world did she go for this? She turned and walked toward the front desk. The receptionist referred her to the forty-second floor. Her feet clamored as her heels met the marble, and she swore she smelled Chris' aftershave. Her stomach flipped. He wasn't close though. She went to the elevator and made her way to the offices. On the floor, she stopped at the receptionist and said, "I'm here for the board meeting. I'm Calliope Campbell."
The woman pushed her glasses off her face and stood to show her where to go. The posh building that overlooked downtown Miami smelled modern and new. The walls and furniture was spotless though she knew this bank offices existed here for years. As she turned the corner, the receptionist pointed toward doors that must lead to a conference room as they both walked. "How strange? Both you and your brother decided to come today."
The woman opened the door as Calliope asked, "Brandon's here?"
Then she pointed toward the double doors that led to a conference room. A few people milled around outside it. The girl nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sure Mr. Morgan will be pleased his board of directors came today.”
"Thanks." She waved and without thinking she bounced closer to Brandon as she thought about Michael. The second she opened the door, the ocean breeze cologne that Chris wore filled her lungs. She coughed and then gazed right at him.
For years she’d denied what her brother warned, and now she realized Chris had used her money because he'd rather steal from her than let his family know about his lifestyle. None of that should matter, but she kept her nose high and walked closer to her brother.
As she neared Brandon, he told her, "Calliope, please take your voting placard from Chris. He thought he'd pick it up for you."
Chris followed her and handed her a name card as he said, "You haven't come to meeting, ever."
"I've changed." She took the paper and returned to her brother, who held out a seat for her. She nodded as she joined him. "Brandon."
"How did you find out?" He pushed her chair in as Peter Morgan and his brother John walked into the room.
"Peter told me." She ensured her skirt was smooth and scooted her chair toward the conference table. Outloud Chris had no right to hear that her brother called.
Her brother placed a paper, a folder with Michael Marshall's name attached, and a pen in front of her. "Glad you're here."
Peter Morgan placed his hand on the table the second he sat and started the meeting. "Now we're going to vote on funding Michael Marshall's investment firm according to the contract we drafted."
Chris flipped open the folder and held up his hand. "There are things in this contract, we, as a board, would like to discuss."
She flipped her folder open fast and glanced at the title. This was about the financial investment in Marshall investments. She met Brandon's gaze, took a breathe, and she raised her hand. Peter stared at her and she said, "I'd like to vote in favor of the contract, now."
"Don't be hasty." Chris stated. "Business is best if we discuss it."
She picked up the pen and clutched it while she then stared straight through her former fiancé. "Chris, your hesitation isn't about business and everyone here knows it."
Chris leaned forward. "He did hit me at the party last night, Calliope."
Her forehead heated and she felt it tick while a few of the people near Chris all dropped their heads, to avoid her gaze.
No. She was done making excuses and letting Chris create a fiction where he was the victim. She leaned forward and her face felt hot. "You left me at the altar, impregnated two women, and then insulted me at the party. If anyone was out of line last night, it was you."
The men near Chris glared at him.
Brandon elbowed her and asked under his breath, "Two women?"
With a nod, she simple said, "You missed quite a party Brandon."
Chris crossed his arms and then unfolded them as he pointed toward the folder. "Calliope, your need for revenge against me doesn't fit with the paperwork."
Her legs shook, and it was a good thing she wasn’t standing. Her brother’s presence was a comfort and his nearness helped her breathe easier as she said, "Chris, your jealousy has no place in a boardroom."
Brandon then added, "I think we should call for a vote and approve the contract without any further discussion."
She craned her neck and broke all eye contact with Chris as she asked, "Already?"
He nodded and said under his breath, "Sis, you made your point."
"I second the call." Peter said. He sat back in his chair and asked, "All those in favor of supporting Michael Marshall's company at the agreed upon structure, say aye."
Most of the room made noise.
Peter said, "All those in favor, say nay."
Chris was the lone voice of dissension. She turned and glared at him while Peter wrote on a piece of paper. "The ayes have it."
Brandon then added, "Second point, not on the minutes, but we should discuss restructuring the board and removing Chris Sommers from any position."
What? She sat farther back in her seat.
John Morgan, the guy next to Peter, cracked a smile as he said, "I second that."
Chris said, "You would."
The other men and women in the room all murmured. Peter said, "All those in favor..."
"Aye." The room called out all at once.
John Morgan stood and went to the door as Peter said, "It seems to be unanimous."
John spoke to someone outside the door. "Security, please have Mr. Sommers removed."
Calliope sat again as Chris stood with guards behind him to force him to leave. She recognized a few of the people in the room she, but she had no idea who most of them were, but she was happy to have their support. She paid half the attention she had before while the adrenaline in her veins pumped, but she listened enough to vote on the other concerns in the meeting.
A half an hour later, the meeting was concluded. She put her pen down and as she stood, she straightened her skirt. Her brother shook hands with the Morgans, so she joined him and shook hands of the group as well. Peter Morgan said, "Thanks for coming."
"No problem." She heard Michael's voice in her head that she should stay away. She blinked and shook his brother's hand.
Her brother held open the door for her and she walked out with the crowd of others. While they made it to the elevator, she said, "Brandon, now that this is over, I should go home too."
The elevator doors opened as he said, "First let's grab a coffee. I want to talk to you."
Michael had said tonight. He'd absolutely hear about this meeting. She pressed her lips together and prayed he’d understand. The moment the doors opened, she followed her brother into the nearby coffee shop and ordered a cinnamon latte. As they grabbed their drinks and sat at a nearby table, she told her brother, "Okay, what?"
He sipped his drink and stared at her for a second. Then he put it down and asked, "How involved with Michael are you?"
She almost choked on her small sip. She swallowed and put her cup down. Then she stared at the lid as she kept her hands around the cup. "I love him. He loves me. I'm happy."
"That's fast."
She glanced up. Her brother had never interfered with her choices. She shrugged, picked up her cup and said, "But I'm sure. I denied my heart for years and settled for Chris. I don’t want to do that anymore."
He reached out for her hand and then said, "It's your life so I'll stay out. However I do have to say I like him better, but I will kill him if he hurts you."
She tilted her head. Her brother had the look of a heartbreaker. Perhaps he was too good-looking for his own good, but then again so had been their father. She sipped her latte and then said, "Brandon, one day you'll find someone special."
He drank his black coffee and then placed the cup on the table. "What did you mean earlier when you said two women are pregnant?"
Her brother and Eva ran in the same circles professionally. She hedged and then reminded herself she trusted him. She still lowered her gaze as she said, "Chris slept with Eva and she's having his baby too. He tried to let me think it was Michael's at the party."
Her brother cracked his knuckles on the table. "I'm glad Michael hit him. If I had been there, I'd have helped him."
Michael had done enough. She finished her latte, stood, hugged her brother and said, "Michael has been a rock in my life, much like you. One day I’ll support the lucky woman you bring home to be my sister-in-law."
Now she had to convince Michael that he deserved to be trusted and that she had come to this meeting to help him.