of resorts in Mexico. We are midway through the development of the plans to remodel and rebrand these properties. Once remodeled, we were going to roll them out with grand re-openings under the umbrella of our resort brand."
Well, that seems straight forward enough, thought Ellie.
Ellie looked back out her window and the rest of the ride was in silence, though Ellie's head was swirling.
Another man has just seen my chest in all its glory. And I responded! My body. It was aroused. I love Jacob. How will I ever explain to him that it was an accident? And, this inheritance. The business. The money. Jacob. Oh, Jacob. Things were already so tense, and now another man has not only seen me but touched me.
Ellie had to rest her head against the car window. She didn't have the strength to hold it up any longer. The outside world seemed to be spinning. Her nerves were still pulsing at the memory of Nick's touch. She had not experienced this feeling since she and Jacob dated, years ago.
When they entered the board room at corporate headquarters, Ellie just saw a blur of color. She was grateful for Mr. Bennett's hand on the small of her back, otherwise she may have walked in circles. The first concrete, identifiable thing she noticed was a chair. Mr. Bennett pulled it out for her, and she took a seat, with stiff, robotic moves. She turned to him, hoping the familiarity of his face would anchor her in the room. With a nod in her direction and a squeeze of her arm, he took the seat next to her, at the head of the table.
Ellie focused on her breath, specifically her lungs. She tried to feel the air filling that cavity within her, then leaving again. Filling, and leaving. Ellie vaguely became aware of a sound. First, it was a distance buzzing. She continued to breathe long and slow, but turned her attention to the buzz.
Bees? No.It isn't Bees. Voices? Yes. Conversation through a long, narrow tunnel. Wait. Are the conversations in this room? Ellie looked around. For the first time, she saw faces. Many faces. They were all looking toward... toward Mr. Bennett.
"After we vote, Miss Sanderson will sign off and we can begin liquidating." Clarity. Mr. Bennett's face. Mr. Bennett's voice. Ellie was so grateful to be out of the fog.
But, shit. What did he just say? A vote?
She leaned to him. "A vote on what?" she inquired with a hushed tone.
"To liquidate the business holdings." Mr. Bennett was clearly annoyed.
With this, Ellie suddenly regained feeling to her leg muscles. Somehow, the pampering, the penthouse, the event in the elevator had empowered her. Her legs moved against her better judgment, lifting her up and out of her seat.
What are you doing, girl? Sit back down, s aid Miss Sensibility, but her body wouldn't obey.
"No need to vote. I will not be selling." Ellie heard her own voice echo through the room.
With horror at her own actions, she momentarily froze and glanced at the room. All those faces had now turned to her. Not knowing what else to do, she lifted her chin and walked out of the room. She was careful to avoid the only eyes she knew, those of Mr. Bennett. Instead, she focused on her feet, feeling the floor with first one foot, then the other.
Don't fall. Don't fall, she repeated to herself.
On the energy of adrenalin alone, she found her way to the lobby. Once there, the rush of energy was fading quickly and she focused on finding the nearest chair. She collapsed into the soft cushions.
Holy Fuck. What was I thinking? She leaned forward and placed her head between her knees, so as to stop the impending vomit. Is it even possible? Can I stop a vote like that? Where did it even come from? Why wouldn't I want to sell?
But the answer came clearly from deep within her. She loved her uncle. She missed him dearly. She would keep his business in the family, she would honor him in this way, and she would be good at it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a warm touch on her shoulder. The
Well, that seems straight forward enough, thought Ellie.
Ellie looked back out her window and the rest of the ride was in silence, though Ellie's head was swirling.
Another man has just seen my chest in all its glory. And I responded! My body. It was aroused. I love Jacob. How will I ever explain to him that it was an accident? And, this inheritance. The business. The money. Jacob. Oh, Jacob. Things were already so tense, and now another man has not only seen me but touched me.
Ellie had to rest her head against the car window. She didn't have the strength to hold it up any longer. The outside world seemed to be spinning. Her nerves were still pulsing at the memory of Nick's touch. She had not experienced this feeling since she and Jacob dated, years ago.
When they entered the board room at corporate headquarters, Ellie just saw a blur of color. She was grateful for Mr. Bennett's hand on the small of her back, otherwise she may have walked in circles. The first concrete, identifiable thing she noticed was a chair. Mr. Bennett pulled it out for her, and she took a seat, with stiff, robotic moves. She turned to him, hoping the familiarity of his face would anchor her in the room. With a nod in her direction and a squeeze of her arm, he took the seat next to her, at the head of the table.
Ellie focused on her breath, specifically her lungs. She tried to feel the air filling that cavity within her, then leaving again. Filling, and leaving. Ellie vaguely became aware of a sound. First, it was a distance buzzing. She continued to breathe long and slow, but turned her attention to the buzz.
Bees? No.It isn't Bees. Voices? Yes. Conversation through a long, narrow tunnel. Wait. Are the conversations in this room? Ellie looked around. For the first time, she saw faces. Many faces. They were all looking toward... toward Mr. Bennett.
"After we vote, Miss Sanderson will sign off and we can begin liquidating." Clarity. Mr. Bennett's face. Mr. Bennett's voice. Ellie was so grateful to be out of the fog.
But, shit. What did he just say? A vote?
She leaned to him. "A vote on what?" she inquired with a hushed tone.
"To liquidate the business holdings." Mr. Bennett was clearly annoyed.
With this, Ellie suddenly regained feeling to her leg muscles. Somehow, the pampering, the penthouse, the event in the elevator had empowered her. Her legs moved against her better judgment, lifting her up and out of her seat.
What are you doing, girl? Sit back down, s aid Miss Sensibility, but her body wouldn't obey.
"No need to vote. I will not be selling." Ellie heard her own voice echo through the room.
With horror at her own actions, she momentarily froze and glanced at the room. All those faces had now turned to her. Not knowing what else to do, she lifted her chin and walked out of the room. She was careful to avoid the only eyes she knew, those of Mr. Bennett. Instead, she focused on her feet, feeling the floor with first one foot, then the other.
Don't fall. Don't fall, she repeated to herself.
On the energy of adrenalin alone, she found her way to the lobby. Once there, the rush of energy was fading quickly and she focused on finding the nearest chair. She collapsed into the soft cushions.
Holy Fuck. What was I thinking? She leaned forward and placed her head between her knees, so as to stop the impending vomit. Is it even possible? Can I stop a vote like that? Where did it even come from? Why wouldn't I want to sell?
But the answer came clearly from deep within her. She loved her uncle. She missed him dearly. She would keep his business in the family, she would honor him in this way, and she would be good at it.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a warm touch on her shoulder. The
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