He Broke My Heart So I Marry His Father

Chapter Seven

Ashton:

"Every program, every software with Pike Industries on the copyright is available on your iPad." Mr. Burke explained excitedly as I flipped through the apps, looking for the one this meeting was about. When I found it, I was engrossed in it. I was tinkering away happily when the car stopped, and Mr. Pike opened my door, holding his hand out for me. When I took it, his warm, rough hand in mine excited me.

"I'll take that for you." He said lowly, taking my computer bag.

"Thank you, sir. You really do not have to do that." I know my cheeks erupted in blush. It was gentlemanly, sure. But I felt like I was not doing my job correctly, letting him carry my things. Shouldn't I be carrying his things?

"Keep playing. I would love to hear your thoughts after the meeting." His slight smirk made my stomach heat like his hand in mine did.

They led me inside a gorgeous building to the highest floor and into a conference room, where we waited at a massive table. I set my computer up to take the notes that Mr. Pike asked for. Then, I got back to playing with the app.

"This is so impressive." I rumbled never looking up.

"Thank you, Ashton. I created that one myself." Mr. Pike smiled pridefully.

I looked up again when Mr. Burke sat a coffee in front of me and then handed one to Mr. Pike. My face flushed again.

"I'm so sorry! I should have—I wasn't thinking." I was almost in a panic, ready to run in circles, when Mr. Pike placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it, pushing me back into my seat.

"Relax, no one asked you to do anything. It is the kind thing to do when you get yourself a drink to get your friends one as well. No need to panic, Ms. Baylor. You are doing great!" I was so taken aback by my feelings being addressed. Benjamin always just blew me off in any way he could.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you for the coffee, Mr. Burke. That was very kind of you."

I decided to put the iPad away and be more present as we waited for the others to arrive.

Mr. Pike exuded masculinity. He looked so calm, so sure of himself.

What does that feel like?

Before I could eyeball my boss anymore, an older man in a fitted suit came in with two others at his side.

"It's him!"

I silently fangirled at the man I had spent so much time in school learning about. I learned of his advancements in medicine and the many breakthroughs with antivirals.

I was speechless!

"Baptiste. It never gets old seeing your grouchy a.s.s." Mr. Pike laughed, and my jaw dropped when Baptiste laughed with him. They shook hands, and everyone sat. I typed away silently. Making myself as helpful as possible and taking perfect notes. I was so excited for literally anyone to see them that I almost missed this meeting going in a direction that would end badly for Pike Industries.

"The software used in my labs does the same thing yours does for half the money, Arden. You must understand my reluctance. It is not personal; it is just business."

"It doesn't do half of what the program Pike Industries offers can do." I rolled my eyes in my head, fearful someone would notice and I would be called out for my unprofessionalism.

"Excuse me? And who are you?" Baptiste asked.

But I didn't think he was talking to me, so when the room went silent, and there was nothing for me to type, I looked up to see if it was over, and everyone in the room looked at me, including Mr. Pike, whose eyes were lit with a sneaky gleam.

"Huh?" I muttered.

"Real elegant dumb a.s.s," I thought as the two people who had joined Baptiste snickered at me.

"You said my program does not do half. How would you know?" I saw Mr. Burke ready to jump to my defense. He would probably tell him about my credentials, but Mr. Pike stopped him.

"S.h.i.t. I am so fired."

Quickly, I pulled up the app and air-played it to the big screen that had been playing pictures of nature.

With one deep breath, I stood and walked toward the screen.

"First, but far from most important, this part of the program here called reports would allow Courtemanche labs to ditch the paper reports they use during testing and upgrade to digital."

Dr. Courtemanche held his hand up like a child in a classroom.

"Yes, sir?" I fought the urge to wipe my sweating palms on my skirt.

"How do you know my labs don't use digital charts?"

I wanted to scoff so badly.

"I worked seven hundred and fifty clinical hours in three different Courtemanche labs in school. I did countless of those charts for your scientists. This app makes that process so much more efficient. Not to mention, there will be no mistakes made in testing because of poor handwriting."

I knew I had his attention. I had all their attention.

"Then, this is so much fun; check this out. This part of the app, here, is designed with your scientists in mind. It keeps track of every lab hour; it asked me once in the hour of playing on the app how I felt mentally. My curiosity got the better of me, and I chose the lower mood setting, and then this fun little screen popped up that offered suggestions on avoiding burnout, breathing exercises, and so on. Since the pandemic, so many employees just like yours have begun to suffer burnout, depression, and anxiety. There is a lot of pressure on them for vaccines and antivirals that are effective. When was the last time you checked on your employees, Mr. Baptiste?"

He did not answer, so I continued, knowing I would strike a nerve with this next bit.

"I also logged hours with Paxton Labs. They use a program like this one to check the mental health of their scientists, and they use two other programs to do everything else… Do you know how many employees you lose yearly to Paxton Labs, Mr. Baptiste? Because I do… Sixty-Seven percent. Wanna know why?"

I watched him lean back and confirm that number with the two people who had tagged along for this meeting, and when he turned his attention back to me, I let him have it. If it goes south, I still have three jobs waiting for me back in the States.

"Your labs are stuck in the stone age, sir. You still have paper charts, and your company has nothing to offer their employees that says you care. If you chose Pike Industries, you would be up to date with the latest technology. You may spend extra, but your turnover rate will drop, you will not have to worry about storing those paper charts anymore, and you will never lose them because they all go to the company cloud that is included with your purchase. Paxton Labs uses three programs to do what Mr. Pike's one program can do and more. This program pays for itself, sir."

I sat back down when the silence was overwhelming.

Mr. Pike turned to Baptiste, and what he said felt like lifting a cement block from my chest.

"You drive a hard bargain, Arden. But I'm in." He held his hand out, and Mr. Pike took it, shaking it firmly.

"Mr. Burke will escort you to the office to get everything in order. You are making the right choice, Baptiste."

I sat silently, still typing, determined not to stick my nose anywhere else it did not belong.

"Come along, Ms. Baylor." Mr. Pike said, retaking my electronic bag from my hands. My body broke out in chills at the animalistic snarl in his tone. But I followed.

"Yes, sir."

I kept my head down as the elevator closed on us.

My air caught in my chest when he hit the emergency stop button and slowly turned to me.

"I have been trying to land that deal for seven months, Ashton."

"I'm sorry, my brain makes me say things out loud that I shouldn't. It will NOT happen again—" He came closer, caging me against the wall with his hands on either side of my head, his face dropped to meet mine.

"Stop talking."

"Yes, sir."

"What you did in there was incredible. I would like to thank you by taking you out tonight, dinner, theatre." He paused as if waiting for an answer. The only thing running through my mind was if this god just asked me on a… date…

"Okay," I shrugged, biting back a grin.

"Okay," he smiled, picked my bag off the floor, and released the emergency stop.

My heart worked hard to escape my chest as we parted ways back at the hotel. He told me to be ready at seven, and he would come to get me.

I suddenly realize I have no idea how to dress for this type of thing. But I know someone who does, and the only way I can talk to her is to turn on my phone.

I flipped my cell over in my hand until I got the nerve to turn it on.

I wish I had not. I wish I would have left it with Syd and Lex.

Forty-seven missed calls.

Ninety-two text messages.

Every single one was from Benjamin, and every ounce of excitement I had for tonight powered off like my cell phone as I tucked it neatly into my suitcase, trying to forget the things I glanced at in the text messages.

"I love you,"

"Talk to me, you b.i.t.c.h!"

"I'm sorry, Ash. Come home."