Bride 2 Be

Chapter 21 -

Chapter Twenty-One
Title




"NOT THAT IT'S ANY of your business, but yes, Lisa is part of the reason. We are together, and I love her," Calvin announced, his eyes pinning her in place, almost daring her to deny it.

And there it was, for the entirety of their business circle to hear. A wave of surprise swept through the room as all eyes turned to Lisa. She struggled to suppress her shock, joy, and the intense urge to jump out of her chair and rush into his arms. True to her nature, Lisa could've sworn she heard a squeal from Anna, though she couldn't look at the screen to see if she was right. Cal still stared at her, a smile tugging the corner of his mouth, and she was so overwhelmed with emotions that she was at a total loss for words.

She couldn't remember another time in her life when someone had professed their love for her in front of others, and to bear witness to his confidence in clueing everyone in, Calvin Grayburg wasn't bothered in the least. Lisa was stunned and speechless. His declaration deserved acknowledgment, and all she could do at that moment was smile at him across the room. She would've never divulged that information before the board, though she knew the board was his entire family, except for Grace. Still, it was out in the open, and there was no going back. Lisa was glad she wouldn't have to hide the relationship any longer, especially with Carol's earlier questions.

"We are getting off track here," Edward said. "In your grand plan, you didn't mention who'd be running the show from Michigan. One of us will no doubt have to uproot and move there."

"Yes, I realize that, and since this is my project, I intend to see it through."

"You can't be serious," Isabel interjected, her mouth hanging open, staring at her oldest brother.

Kurt reached out and squeezed her hand. "I believe he is."

"You cannot move to Michigan!"

"Izzy," Calvin said, his voice so soft and sweet like a gentle caress. She crossed her arms and turned her face away from him.

Lisa knew the Grayburgs were close, but she had no idea how close all siblings were. It pained her to see Isabel's disappointment toward her brother. The siblings argued back and forth, some making it clear that the shift in the company if both plans were accepted, would disadvantage the others.

John Grayburg stood at the head of the table, slammed his palms into the wood, and shouted, "Enough."

Lisa jumped as shock rushed through her. She had never seen anger or irritation cross the soft features of that man's face, but today, this meeting seemed to bring out everyone's colorful behavior.

All eyes turned to him. "Everyone sit."

Lisa was close enough to hear the sigh, though John tried to cover it well.

"If you think about it, you'll see that you've all reached the age where your lives will start shifting in other directions, including marriages and starting families, and that is exactly what your mother and I want for all of you. This is our family company. We've always worked well with one another, and there is only one way I can see us taking our company forward as you all spread your wings."

"I don't think I like the sound of this," Kurt muttered, raking a hand through his thick blonde hair.

Carol stood, "We've offered you this opportunity in the past, and except for one of you, the rest of you turned us down, dividing your time and energies. It's time. It's time to move forward and for each of you to make your mark, with each heading a specific division."

John nodded to his wife, and the situation made Lisa uncomfortable; though she believed Calvin's parents were on track and could see their growth potential if they accepted this course of action, she also knew it had been a sore spot over the last year. This felt more like a private family matter than a meeting where their business acumen were decided.

"Excuse me," Lisa said. "While I encourage all of you to delve into the possibilities of what you could accomplish individually while honing your talents in one direction, and with this being a family company, I don't feel it's necessary for me to be here until you decide which direction you're going in."

"I agree," Anna chimed in. Lisa glanced at the screen and smiled at her partner.

"On the contrary," Carol interjected. "You and Anna are very much a part of Grayburg Corporation. Lisa, we wouldn't be here without Anna's Originals and your business ingenuity. You have a say in how we proceed now that you are full partners in the Boutique and AO."

"Calvin," John began, "What do you intend to do with the warehouse here in New York?"

"Originally, I thought we should ride out our lease agreement for the next year and look for other space to acquire once things were situated in Endurance, but if we are going forward with Edward's purchasing and expansion, then I'm afraid we will not have enough space to accommodate all that we intend to do."

John nodded and leaned forward. "Your mother and I have spoken extensively about this, so before you start dismissing the idea, we'd like you to think before you object."

Carol moved to the long table where meals were usually brought in and spread out, returned with folder packets, and handed one to each of her children.

"As you can see, we've already delegated where we believe you will all do your best work. We've taken into consideration your strengths and weaknesses."

She made her way around the table and stood beside Lisa. "We weren't expecting to do this until after Calvin made his presentation and before we knew that you and Anna had become full partners, but we all know you two are a strong team, and we do not want to do anything to disrupt that balance of creativity or your working relationship."

She turned toward Anna. "Anna, you are the creative genius behind AO; there's no doubt about it. As your line expands and you venture into new areas, we think it would be good to enlist other designers to help, which is why John and I believe so strongly that you should head up the Design division and Lisa take on retail development."

"Mother," Isabel said, "you can't be serious? You cannot bring them on to head divisions of Grayburg. You said it yourself: this is a family company and should be run by family."


Carol looked at her daughter. "Did you not even look at what I've handed you?"

Isabel sat in her chair with her arms crossed, the ponytail so tight pulling the hair from her face that Lisa could see her temples throbbing.

Lisa didn't know what to say. Her world had flipped for the third time within twenty-four hours. Never once had she considered working for the Grayburgs in this capacity. She always assumed the Boutique would be enough for her, but working alongside Cal sent a warm shiver down her spine.

"If you will just look over the list, it's primarily what each of you is doing now, but you will have the final say for each department unless the board overrules you," Carol said, retaking her seat.

"Anna and Lisa have already put in all the work for design and retail; we see no reason why they shouldn't continue in that capacity," John said.

Carol nodded. "Your father and I will remain in product development, where we started. Just as Edward and Calvin have always had a head for Manufacturing and Distribution, we see no need to pull them away from their areas of expertise."

"Izzy, you have enough followers with your combined platforms to give us the edge. Young people look up to you for your style, sense of self, and your sense of humor in your posts," John stated

Isabel looked toward her parents. "You follow my posts?"

Lisa would've laughed if Isabel hadn't been so completely flabbergasted by the admission.

"Kurt, you've had the unique advantage of earning your degree in marketing, and yet you never put it to good use. Dabbling here and there in the company doesn't suit you. Therefore, we've decided that PR and marketing is the perfect place for you," Carol stated.

"I see," Kurt said, his eyes moving from his parents to the papers before him and then back again. "It is where my heart is."

"You all think we don't pay attention to what you want out of life, where you excel, what thrills you, but now you can see that your mother and I have been paying close attention. This leads me to Penny and Grace."

Penny drew a deep breath. Clearly, she was afraid of what they would say about her, but if she'd bothered to open the folder, she'd see that her in-laws knew her well enough to see that she had a knack for certain aspects of this business.

"Penny, we know your contributions to Anna's shows. You have a flair for colors and style and a way of capturing the essence of the line, which is why we believe you are perfect for Photography and Runway. Because Grace loves to travel, she is our key to going International. With her worldwide contacts and ties with every magazine from New York to Paris, AO will fly off the shelves quickly."

Calvin looked at his parents. "I swear, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd had this planned all along and knew exactly what Edward and I would propose today."

Calvin's parents looked at one another knowingly, and Lisa wondered if Cal wasn't on to something. It did feel a bit fishy. Had they been tailing everyone? Did they have spies who watched their children's endeavors?

"What we need to know now is if you are in or out before we vote for Calvin and Edward's visions," Carol said.

"I doubt Grace had any idea this would happen, but I agree with you about her aspirations and where she's most comfortable. We are both in," Penny said.

"I'm in," Kurt said.

"Me too," Calvin said.

Edward scanned every face in the room and then sighed. "Okay, as long we get a trial run to make sure everything runs as smoothly as you hope."

"Agreed," John said. He then turned his full attention to Lisa. "That just leaves Lisa and Anna."

"I do have two questions," Anna said. "Do I get to choose who I want to work with when bringing in other designers? And how often will I need to be in New York?"

Lisa thought the same thing and couldn't wait to hear the answer. If both she and Anna were on board, she saw nothing stopping them from voting for both proposals.

"We realize that AO is your baby, but with your talent and vision, we know you can expand on what you've started, and to do that, you will need a team," Carol said. "Yes, you will have creative control over the hiring and firing. We may suggest things, but the call is yours."

"As far as New York, we have no problem holding an apartment for you and Lisa, and for right now, things are running smoothly as they are," John said. "I think it's best we revisit this issue when everything falls into place, and then we can decide what works best for everyone."

"Lisa?" Anna asked. "What do you think?"

This was it. The moment would catapult her career to a place Lisa never imagined. The Grayburgs were handing her so much. What if her relationship with Calvin fizzled out? Would they regret this decision? How would it affect business if they broke up? She closed her eyes momentarily as every fear she'd ever had came crashing down upon her. She needed to walk it off; she always thought well when she paced and ranted; it gave her clarity, and she desperately needed it.

Lisa stood. "I'm sorry, I need a minute." She bolted for the door, unsure of which way to go. She definitely didn't want anyone to see her this way. Only Penny, Anna, and Calvin had seen her when she worked off steam. Everyone assumed she was calm and collected, the exact opposite of what drove her in these moments.

Cal was there when she reached the elevator bank. He took her hand and escorted her into his office. He closed the door and turned to her.

"What's wrong?"

The urge to pace took over. "It's a lot to process."

"I realize that, but what are your objections?" he asked.

The pacing started as she circled his office, but the words wouldn't come. How could she tell him that her misgivings revolved around him? That their relationship was the reason she was having second thoughts? Everything hinged on her decision, and she was scared, plain and simple.

She couldn't look at him; it would be her undoing if she did. Knowing that, Lisa turned back in the direction she came, trying to work this out in her head. All that did was add more questions than answers. Her mind was like an out-of-control freight car about to go off the rails.

"Lisa," he said in that breathy way that sent delicious shivers down her spine.

When she circled back, he stood in her path and waited.

"What are you so afraid of, Love?"

"You," she uttered.

He grabbed her arms to prevent her from turning around and continuing on her obsessive path of pacing. "Me?" He cupped her chin and raised her face so they were eye to eye.

"What happens when we find out we shouldn't have gotten involved with one another?"

Calvin laughed. "That's what's got you so worked up?"

Lisa could only nod.

He inched closer and kissed her. Hard, demanding, his tongue sweeping into her mouth and searching, leaving her breathless. Just when she thought he would pull away, he deepened the kiss, his hands running down her back, pulling her closer until they rested on her bottom, and she couldn't mistake his growing erection. Only then, with that awareness, did he break the searing kiss.

Calvin caught her eyes and stared at her. He raised his hand and rested it on her heart. "Close your eyes and tell me what you feel, Love."

Lisa did as he asked. "I feel everything."

"Do you think this happens to everyone every single day?"

She opened her eyes, her mind searching for the answer.

"I love you, and I know you love me too."

"Things are happening so fast. We hardly know one another."

Calvin shook his head and laughed again. "According to my mother, everyone knew this was in the cards from the moment we met."

Lisa's eyes widened. "She said that?"

He nodded. "Think about it. We've known each other for years. We may not have been aware of what we could have been together back then, but there's no doubt in my mind now. You are where I'm meant to be. Wherever you go, I will follow."

Was this crazy? "I would never hold you to that," she whispered.

"You don't have to; I'm holding myself to that."

"Cal," she said. Her head was spinning again.

He smiled, "I love the way you say my name. No one has ever called me Cal—until you."

Lisa laughed. "Isn't that amazing?"

"Yes, it is. What kind of reassurance are you looking for? Tell me, and I'll make it happen," he said, catching her eyes again. "Tell me now. Unless you don't want to be with me."