Free My Exception (My Escort #2) by Kia Carrington-Russell Page B

said sternly. “My mind has been made up and the preparations have been made. You’re the CEO of this company. Start acting like it,” she ordered as she stood up. She gathered her things and began to leave the room.
    “Clover, I will talk to you later, dear,” she said, smiling and closing the door behind her.
    After a long suspenseful pause, Damon broke the silence. “I’m sorry. It isn’t because I don’t trust you. It’s just between Michelle and I… she didn’t tell me of this until now. That’s all. I can’t run a company if I don’t know where my employees are. I’m sorry, Clover,” he said, stepping forward.
    I knew he was stressed with the takeover and I took that into consideration. “Damon, please understand. Hayden and I have known one another for a long time. He even knows my family. I cannot treat him indifferently,” I said calmly. Damon studied me for a moment before looking over me at the scenery behind me. After a loud sigh he came over and sat on the edge of the desk, grabbing my hand and rubbing his thumb over my hand. “I know. I am sorry. Perhaps I am too greedy,” he sighed as his shoulders sagged. I pressed my hand over his.
    “I know you are stressed, but you are doing great. Just breathe,” I said evenly, hoping that he would take my lead.
    He smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Thank you, Clover,” he whispered. Damon caught a glance of my laptop screen, noticing that I had postage tracking up on my screen.
    “Hasn’t your mother’s parcel come in?” he asked.
    I sighed, “No not yet. I don’t know what else to get Mom. I was really relying on that necklace to come in on time.” I sagged back into my leather chair. I knew I should’ve checked on it sooner. In two days’ time I was going back to my hometown in Ithaca to celebrate my mother’s fifty-second birthday. The parcel that I had been so patiently waiting for hadn’t yet arrived.
    “Maybe we could get her another one?” he suggested. I could tell that he was stressed; his tone sounded dull and exhausted.
    “I don’t think it is one I can so easily replace, Damon. That one would have meant a lot to her. It is very similar to one of the necklaces my father bought her many years ago, but it broke about a year ago. It’s the only one I have seen in that same shape and color.” I didn’t want to sound like a whining child, but it really made me upset. I missed my father so much.
    “Can you forward me the tracking details through your email and I will see if Heidi can follow up on it. Clover, about your mother’s birthday...” he began. My gut clenched as instantly I knew what he would say and yet I couldn’t reproach him for it. “I’ve just been informed that one of our main sponsors will in the area and has organised a meeting. Unfortunately it isn’t one I can so easily skip out on. On top of that, Michelle is leaving for her business trip tomorrow and isn’t expected to come back for another three days. So I cannot depend on her to arrive in my stead…”
    “I understand,” I said abruptly before I realised I had even said it. I felt like I had to say it or I might have stayed silent for a very long time. My heart ached. I really wanted him to finally meet my family. I was disappointed because this man that I loved and adored and gloated about so much was finally going to be that step closer to being a part of my family, and now that opportunity was slipping away.
    “Clover? I honestly wanted to come. You have no idea how much this has upset me as well. I really wanted to meet your family,” he said earnestly.
    “I know, Damon, I understand. There isn’t really anything we can do. I will call them now and let them know,” I said trying to sound nonchalant. I knew that hearing my hurt tone would only make him feel guilty.
    “Are you sure it’s okay?”
    “Really Damon, it is. Just bad luck this round.” I sat up, pressing a kiss to his lips and considering the new agenda. I