Free Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Roadside Assistance (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Casey Hagen Page A

means it can likely be undone. Just a word of caution: we don’t know if Conroy involved your corporate attorney. Not without seeing the paperwork. You may want to consider hiring an outside attorney to look into it.”
    “You’re right. I’m willing to bet the company that you have the name of someone I can trust.”
    Everett laughed. “Never bet the company, but, yes, I do; he’s also on my payroll. I’ll call him, too.”
    Lathan came around the desk and held out his hand to Everett. “I can’t thank you enough for this. I don’t know how I missed this, but I’m going to make it right.”
    Everett took the offered hand. “You know, I sense that you feel a bit like you’re chasing your tail running the family business. A piece of advice…you care about the details, and I would guess you care about people. That’s your strength. You don’t have to be a carbon copy of your brother to run this company successfully. You just need to delegate what you hate to others, and focus on your strengths. Build a team of people you can trust and you’ll thrive at the head of this company, as much as, and possibly more so, than Liam.”
    “I’m not competing with him.”
    “I’m not so sure about that. Think about it. I’m going to make those calls.”
    Everett was right. Lathan knew it the minute the words came out of his mouth, but acknowledging it made him feel stupid and childish. Which meant he needed to change that shit. Competing with a ghost was ridiculous. At this point, he wasn’t even sure why he was doing it. Sure, his parents were never going to accept him as an equal, but he was going to meet their criteria, and he was going to head this company; not just to the best of his ability, but successfully. It’s the least he owed his brother. After all, if it weren’t for him keeping Liam’s secret, his brother might still be here.

    Jack had never ridden in a limo before, but was beginning to think she could get used to it. Annette had arrived, and they got into the luxurious vehicle loaded with snacks, drinks, and two sisters, glaring at each other.
    “Good morning, ladies!” Corrine chirped as if Edie and Francine weren’t shooting daggers with their eyes.
    A lifetime of manners must have kicked in, prompting Francine, at least, into ending the glaring contest and plastering a bright, albeit fake, smile on her face. “Good morning, Corrine.” Francine nodded. She then locked eyes with Jack. “Jack.”
    Well, that was chilly. Good thing Jack didn’t judge her self-worth by the measuring stick of others. “Good morning, Francine.”
    Jack turned her attention to Edie. “How are you today, Eddie?”
    Edie hitched a thumb toward Francine. “I was fine until this lump decided to go with us.”
    Annette shook her head. “Edie, please behave.”
    “Someone capable of handling you had to come along,” Francine said with her chin hitched into the air.
    “I behave just fine, thank you very much!” Edie crossed her arms and huffed.
    “You run roughshod over everyone, and they let you get away with it because they’re terrified those loose lips of yours will spill that stockpile of secrets you store, like a squirrel does nuts.”
    Edie sneered. “And you think you’re exempt from these loose lips?”
    “I have no secrets,” Francine said with her nose in the air.
    “Really? I seem to remember just last year, seeing you behind the gardenias with—”
    Francine slammed a perfectly manicured, veined hand over Edie’s big mouth and held it there.
    Until Edie licked it.
    “Careful, Francine. I have no husband, no kids, nothing to do with my time but watch people. That includes you.”
    “Noted,” Francine ground out.
    Jack and Corrine glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Annette hid a smile behind her hand.
    “Well, now that that unpleasantness is over, what do you think, Jack? Ready to be pampered?” Edie asked.
    Jack grinned and patted Edie’s knee. “I think we’re all your