Chapter 35

The following morning, I strut into Mercer Industries' headquarters not nearly rested enough but still feeling on top of the world. Reese loves me. The smartest, most beautiful woman on the planet has chosen me. Is in love with me. I stroll past the entrance, parading myself like a king.

The extra spring in my gait, however, comes to a screeching halt the second I push past the turnstiles, and my father's personal assistant zeros in on me from across the lobby. Monica's heels clack loudly on the marble floors as she marches toward me and, not so gently, grabs me by the elbow to steer me toward the elevators. "Your father wants to see you in his office."

I check my watch. "Our appointment isn't for another half an hour."

"This cannot wait, Thomas."

Uh-oh. If Monica is using my first name, then something terrible must've happened.

The ride up to the fiftieth floor is silent and tension-ridden.

When I can no longer bear suspense, I mouth, "A heads-up would be nice."

Monica stares up at me and blushes, subtly shaking her head.

Okay, I should be in for an interesting meeting, then.

When we get to my father's office, the door is open.

Monica signals for me to go in then she bolts for the safety of her desk.

I knock on the open door to make my presence known and step into the office.

The head of Human Resources is sitting in a chair, back ramrod straight while my dad is standing, shoulders tense as he faces the wall-wide windows.

Keeping his back turned, he speaks. "Imagine my surprise this morning, son, when the head of security called me saying we had a situation that needed my attention."

I know better than to ask what the situation is; he's going to tell me.

Instead of speaking, my dad turns and with a remote in his hand, points at a flat screen mounted on a transportable cart.

As soon as he pushes play, the screen lights up on black and white footage of the robotics RD lab.

Initially, K-2P and I are the only ones in the frame, then Reese joins us and I wince, knowing what comes next.

The footage is muted, but if there ever was no need for sound in a motion picture, this is it.

"Do we have to watch the whole thing?" I ask, gritting my teeth.

"Both Grant and I"—he gestures at the HR director—"the security guards on duty last night, and the head of security have already watched it. I thought a replay might bring you up to speed on the delicacy of my conundrum."

"If you really need a father-son teachable moment."

I have mixed feelings as I watch Reese on the screen as she removes her hoodie. On one side, damn, she's sexy, and she's mine. On the other, I really don't appreciate how many people have seen this.

After Reese and I barrel into the office, my dad pushes the fast-forward button and keeps it pressed. For. A. Long. Time.

He raises an eyebrow. "At least you did the Mercer stamina justice."

The recording ends with Reese and I walking out of the lab.

Another push of a button and the screen goes dark.

My dad drops the remote on his desk with a loud clunk. He's still standing, and that doesn't bode well.

"While fraternization among employees who are not in a direct reporting line to each other isn't forbidden, you'll be Dr. Campbell's supervisor soon. Regardless, the usage of office facilities for dalliances is highly proscribed. A fireable offense."

Dread creeps down my spine like a stream of molten lava. "Dad?—"

He raises a hand to silence me.

"Now, I can't very well fire you, nor Dr. Campbell it seems, at least if I don't want to leave this company open to several potential lawsuits?—"

"Reese would never?—"

"You don't know what she would or wouldn't do." He's not shouting, but the deadly calm in his voice is far worse. "When I assigned you to her division a month ago, I didn't imagine her foolhardy enough to become involved with my son. Or to have sex with him in her office.

"Now, Grant assures me that as long as you both sign a module saying the relations were consensual and no harassment has taken place, we should be covered from the brunt of potential legal repercussions.

"The head of security has already wiped the company drives of all recordings, the phones of the security guards on duty last night were checked for eventual second-hand footage, and they both came out clean. I'm confident we can keep the video from being leaked to the press. The tabloids would surely have a field day with such material."

My dad nods at the head of HR, and Grant stands up, handing me two sheets of paper. "Please sign one, and have Dr. Campbell sign the other."

"Thank you, Grant." My dad dismisses him. "Please close the door on the way out."

Once my dad and I are alone, there's a long beat of silence before he sighs and finally sits at his desk. "I expected better from you." He lets the words sink in, lets them hurt a little before he continues, "I get it, you're young and hot-blooded, Thomas, but she's an employee. And you have responsibilities, or you will have them soon once you sit in this chair. You can't keep on acting like an unruly teenager whose actions have no consequences."

I take the chair opposite him. "Dad, this is not what it looks like."

"No? Then what is it, Thomas?" His voice is hard, but there's a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "Didn't you just get caught on camera having sex with an employee? How do you suppose anyone is going to respect you—or her—if news gets around? Already getting the heads of production and sales at Mercer Robotics to accept you as the new CEO was going to be hard, now it's going to be near damn impossible."

"Good."

His eyes narrow. "What do you mean good?"

"I don't want to be CEO of Mercer Robotics."

He leans back in his chair. "Let me guess, something to do with Dr. Campbell."

"She won't date me if I'm her boss."

"I have substantial video evidence to the contrary."

I wince again. "Last night was a lapse in judgment, I'll give you that, but it wasn't just sex. I'm in love with her, Dad. That's why I wanted to see you this morning because I can't be at Mercer Robotics. I want to move to a different division."

"You've just been announced to the board."

"Then unannounce me."

Dad massages his temples. "Have you any idea how immature that sounds? I can't present a succession plan to the board and then call them a month later and say I've changed my mind. That's no way of conducting business, it'd make me—us—look ridiculous."

I take a deep breath and steady my nerves. "Dad, I understand that, but a board of crusty old men is not my priority right now. I love Reese, and I can't lose her."

My dad leans back in his chair; I can practically see the cogs whirring furiously in his head. He thought he'd brought me here for a scolding and instead, I'm the one dishing out the medicine.

"Okay," he finally concedes. "But you can't leave right away."

"Why not?"

"I need to come up with a presentable alternative before you switch divisions."

"How long are we talking here? How much time do you need?"

"Give me six months."