Finn accepted a bottle of local Florida lager and offered his thanks to the flight attendant. She turned to Jared. “May I get you anything, Mr. Mitchell?”
Jared shook his head and turned his attention to his computer screen. He logged onto the plane’s Wifi and opened his email. The first message caught his attention. The subject line held a single word: resignation. He double-checked the sender’s email ad
dress. He didn’t need to read the rest of the email. The Tico CEO had followed through on his threat to leave the company. The man slated to introduce the new software to the world would not be a part of the company come Wednesday.
I’ll make the presentation, he thought. I’ll launch the product myself.
But the harsh reality felt like a rock pinning him against a wall. How the hell had he come this far only to feel trapped by his own success?
He stared out the window. He knew how he reached this place. One sound choice had led to another. But no matter how many companies he bought or how much he added to The Mitchell Fund’s bottom line, he had never escaped the feeling that the ground might slip out from under him if he didn’t fix every problem that came his way.
Until Lucy.
He wanted to spend forever with her. He wasn’t looking beyond Date One to a full battle plan. He’d already launched the campaign and won the girl. Now he was ready to live in her magical world and love her.
But she’d kicked him out.
I need to go back and fight for her.
“We are next in line for take off,” the captain announced. “Please take your seats.”
No!
His gut clenched as the plane picked up speed. He glanced out the window as they lifted off the ground. For the first time in years, he’d made the wrong choice.
But if he turned the flight around, would she listen?
She will if I deliver magic, fireworks, and happy ever after.
“Put down the beer,” Jared ordered without looking up at his business partner.
“I’m sending you all the information for the launch.”
“I already have most of the materials.” Finn raised his beer to his lips.
“You’ll need everything.” Jared sent the email and looked up at his friend. “You’re going to lead the presentation.”
“What?” Finn bellowed.
“Our CEO resigned,” Jared explained.
“Then you do it,” Finn said. “Tico is your baby.”
“I can’t. I won’t be there. I’m requesting an unplanned stop on the way to New York.”
Finn raised an eyebrow. “You’re going back for her.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Jared said softly. “She’s more important than a new software, a new company, and the fund.”
Finn slowly set aside his bottle. “I won’t mess up this launch.”
“There’s very little chance a sex tape will ruin this product,” Jared said dryly. “Hell, it might draw more attention than our marketing group has managed to set up. They’re still convinced the software team won’t be ready by Wednesday.”
“Will they?” Finn asked.
“It’s now your job to make sure they are.”
Finn nodded. “While you’re . . . ?”