"Excuse me, but you can't go in there," a blonde secretary warned.
"Watch me," the dark-haired beauty ground out.
"Who the hell is barging into my office?" Alistair's voice boomed in anger.
"Sir, I tried to stop her!" the secretary whined.
"Theresa," he acknowledged. "Leave us," he commanded.
After the secretary had left and the door had been slid closed, Alistair folded his hands, eagerly waiting for Theresa to speak.
"You're going to give me back my old job."
He laughed mockingly. "And just why would I do something like that, Theresa?"
"Because Crane Industries needs somebody with a brain. Julian's growing soft. Fox is entranced with a jazz singer. He can't see past his zipper to ever do you justice. And my son just isn't old enough to take on the responsibilities yet."
"My dear, that's all irrelevant. You were never married to Julian. You have no connection to the Crane family."
"That's where you're wrong, Alistair. I have Little Ethan. I'm the mother of a Crane."
"But where is your son, now?" he asked cruelly. "Oh, yes, that's right—with Ethan and Gwen."
"You still can't get over how Ivy duped you, can you? You still treat Ethan as if he were a Crane. He's not. Whether or not they have my son in their custody doesn't change the fact that he's my biological son. You really want him raised by those two? Ethan, who is too moral and upstanding to ever make it in business, and Gwen who has no self-respect—ergo, no ego, no arrogance, no confidence in her own abilities—these are not the candidates fit to raise the Crane heir."
"And I am to suppose that you are much better?"
"I have the determination, drive, and gall. I don't fight as dirty as you Alistair, but at least I can play the game if I have to."
"You certainly have gall storming into my private office."
"If you'd get over yourself, you'd realize that I'm being quite logical. Fox is never going to be ready to run the Crane empire. Looks like he's following in his father's footsteps... So, if not Fox, then my son becomes your next available heir. Clearly, he's not of age yet, but if you have me until he's ready, you'll have a real successor at your disposal."
Although Alistair's facial expression was masked, the gears inside his devious mind were beginning to move and click. He was beginning to like her idea. And so he did something he never thought he'd do.
"You can have your job back," he paused and noticed her eyes were lit up, "on one condition."
"What?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Never make me regret my decision," he replied coldly.
Theresa sat at her desk, remembering the various reactions she encountered by her friends, family, and foes over her position at Crane Industries.
Her family couldn't understand her desire to work for 'that evil man,' as her mother had put it. Luis nearly shot his head off when he had found out that she would be working with the man that continued to ruin his happiness with Sheridan.
Theresa understood their reactions, though. She didn't expect them to act any differently—she knew that they wouldn't be able to comprehend her actions.
Gwen had accused her of trying to snare Ethan again. Which was far from the truth, but Theresa never attempted to allay Gwen's fears. Ethan seemed confused, but remained silent. Not that he would have said anything of consequence, she assured herself.
Fox's reaction was the least expected, she realized. He had been calm and simply wished her all the happiness in the world.
She suspected that he had given up trying to renew their friendship, and that alone made her glad—not having to see and deal with Fox was making it easier for her to move on.
Because without a doubt, every time he pleaded with her to forgive him for lying to her, she'd look into those sad brown eyes and feel the urge to run into his strong arms.