“And I’m going to be early to leave.” He was done with all of this. “You all have a choice to make. I firmly intend to keep the company on a steady course. I cannot guarantee you wild revenues, but neither can Charles. He hates this family. He hates this company and he hates me. I’m not going to argue with him or fight to prove myself to you. Vote for me or vote for him. I don’t care anymore.”
“This is not a becoming speech from the head of the family,” Roberta said. “This is not the way we do things.”
“Then maybe it’s time to change the way we do things. This family has used the company and money to control everyone. I’m done with that. If you keep me on as CEO, things will change, and you might not like those changes. I’m going to do what’s best for the company, and that means I’m not going to hire every family member who needs a job. I’ll help them find one, but Darois Industries isn’t a place to put your kids who don’t even like business.”
“That sounds like what I would expect from you.” Charles had his hands on his hips and a sneer on his face. “I told you he didn’t care about the family.”
“I care about it far more than you do, but I’m not going to bleed to prove my loyalty. I’m done playing the way I have. If my record as the CEO doesn’t earn me the job in your eyes, then so be it.” It felt good to lay it out. “You all decide what you want to risk, what’s important to you, and let me know. I’ve figured out what’s important to me. Roberta, I hope you have a lovely birthday. Ashley declines to drive you back to Houston, so you’re going to have to find your own way.”
“Damn straight,” a feminine voice yelled from the back. “I’m going to college!”
It was good to know Gabriel had already talked to his sister.
Roberta’s eyes flared. “Rene, we will have a proper meeting. Someone find the blond girl and tell her we need a conference room.”
Oh, that was not happening. He wasn’t going to work tonight. He had other things to do. “Can’t. I have a more important meeting.” He swept his wife up against his chest.
Sylvie wound her arms around his neck. “You know I love it when you carry me.”
He did. He nodded his aunt’s way. “Good-bye. I think I’ll take the rest of the week off. Y’all let me know if I should show up next Monday. Until then, I’m on my honeymoon.”
He heard Charles shouting after him, but it didn’t matter.
He had everything he needed in his arms.
* * *
* * *
Sylvie had no idea what had gotten into her husband, but she liked it. He started to carry her around the back of the house and toward the parking lot. “My car’s here.”
“Sera won’t mind.” He strode right past her car.
Oh, she thought Sera might mind leaving her there with Rene’s whole family, but this one time her bestie would have to take one for the team, because Rene had had a breakthrough and she wasn’t going to stop him now. “Are we going home?”
He stopped at his Land Rover and she suddenly found herself sitting on the hood of his car, her husband moving between her legs and hauling her close to him. “If I go home, I have to deal with my mom. I will text her and tell her we’ll both be home tomorrow. I’ll let her know if Louis decides to stay the night so she has some company, I won’t have a problem with that at all. Do you think that will be enough for now?”
She let her hands find his chest. “Your mom has a lot to say to you, too, but I think that will put her mind at ease. Are we going to your hotel?”
“We’re going to where I slept last night, or rather didn’t sleep because I can’t sleep when we’re not together. And we should be ready to stay there for a while because I think we need to get used to not living at Darois House. I’m sorry about that, and I’ll apologize to Mom, too, but I can’t go on like this.” One of his big strong hands cupped the nape of her neck. “I want to be your husband, Sylvie. I want to concentrate on you and on our family. I’m sorry I walked away. I should never have done that, and I promise you tonight was the last time I will ever make a decision without your input.”
“I told you I would stay with you no matter what,” Sylvie said. “Sometimes you have to make a call. I think you made a spectacular one.”