Babysitting The Boss

10. Board Meeting

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Heath was late.

It was half past ten. Thirty minutes since the board members arrived.

But the CEO was yet to show up.

And he was not picking up June's calls either.

"Where is he?" grumbled Mr. Jenkins, the board's most vocal member, his graying mustache twitching with impatience. "Can't he even bother to be on time for the most important meeting of the quarter?"

"You all should not have let him take over George's position in the first place." Another member voiced.

June felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

This was not good.

June did not know how to deal with a situation like this. She had previously worked for George and he never let something like this happen.

Heath was very much different from his brother. The man was brilliant but he was unconventional and June did not think that the conservative board members appreciated that.

The whispers grew louder. The tension in the boardroom thickened. June could almost feel it pressing down on her, making it harder to breathe. She had to find Heath. She had to make him understand the gravity of the situation.

Standing up, she excused herself and dashed out of the room, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she made her way to Heath's office. She found it empty.

Of course it was empty. What else did she expect?

As she turned around, her fingers pressing on his contact number, she bumped into a hard chest, inhaling the cologne that she had gotten all too familiar with.

Heath looked down at her, his piercing eyes filled with a lazy amusement. "Looking for me?"

June's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen him look so... unbothered. "Yes, Heath, the board is waiting."

Heath's smirk grew wider. "Oh, the board. How quaint."

June's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a joke. The investors are here. They need to hear your strategy for the company's expansion. Your being absent is not a good look."

Heath shrugged, his tie hanging loosely around his neck, and his shirt untucked. "They can wait."

June's jaw clenched. "You can't be serious. This is your company now, and you need to act like it."

Heath's amusement did not waver. "Oh, I am serious. But so is my golf game."

June's frustration boiled over. "Golf? Now? The future of the company is at stake!"

Heath leaned against the wall, his arms folded over his chest. "Why so tense, June? It's just a game."

June's eyes flashed with annoyance. "This isn't just a game, Heath. This is your responsibility."

Heath's amusement grew into a full-blown chuckle. "Ah, sweet, naive June. When will you learn that the world of business is just a bigger playground?"

"This isn't a playground, Heath!" June's voice echoed through the empty corridor. "You can't just ignore your duties like this. Your brother may have tolerated your antics, but the board won't."

Heath's smile never left his face. "And why do you care so much, June?"

"Because I care about this company," she retorted, "and I care about my job."

Heath's eyes searched hers for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. Then he leaned closer, his breath warm on her cheek. "Or is it because you care about me?"

June's heart hammered in her chest, and she took a step back, flustered. "That's irrelevant," she said, trying to regain her composure.

Heath just chuckled, his eyes still holding hers. "Is it, though?"

June's cheeks flushed. "You're not taking this seriously," she accused, her voice tight with exasperation.

Heath just shrugged, his amusement unwavering. "Why should I? They're just a bunch of old stiffs in suits."

June took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. "Because if you don't, they'll think you're not capable of running this company. And I know you are."

Heath's smile remained, but the amusement in his eyes was replaced with something more serious. "Do you, now?"

June nodded, her voice firm. "I've seen your ideas. They're brilliant. If you just apply yourself."

Heath pushed off the wall, his gaze still locked on hers. "Alright, then prove it."

June blinked. "Prove what?"

Heath took a step closer to her, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Prove that you believe in me. That you think I can handle this."

June felt the heat from his body, and she knew he was referring to more than just the meeting.

But she couldn't let herself be distracted by their secret affair. The company was at stake.

"Heath, please," she begged, her voice strained. "You need to be in that boardroom. Now."

Heath leaned in closer, his breath tickling her ear. "And what's in it for me?"

June's mind raced. What could she possibly offer him that would be worth his attention?

"Fine," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "If you go to the meeting, I'll... I'll owe you one."

Heath's grin widened, and he stepped back, giving her space. "Now, that's the kind of incentive I can get behind."

June had a really bad feeling. It felt like she had gotten herself to something that she should not have.

But she had no choice. The company was in jeopardy and she had to do something.

"One meeting, Heath," she said firmly. "That's all I'm asking."

Heath's smirk didn't fade as he leaned closer to her. "One meeting, and you owe me one favor, anything I want?"

June's stomach flipped. She hadn't meant it that way, but she had no time to rephrase her offer. "Yes, anything within reason."

Heath wiggled his eyebrows. "Strike that condition off."

June's heart raced as she realized the gravity of what she had just agreed to. "Fine," she relented, "but this is for the good of the company."

Heath chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Whatever you say, June." He turned and sauntered towards the boardroom, leaving her to follow in his wake.

As they entered the boardroom, the murmurs of the waiting members grew quiet.

Heath took his seat at the head of the table without so much as a nod to acknowledge their presence. June took her place beside him, her hands clenched into fists on the polished wood.

The board members looked at him expectantly, their expressions a mix of annoyance and curiosity. Mr. Jenkins cleared his throat, his eyes boring into Heath. "We've been waiting."

Heath leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. "My apologies for keeping you all from your morning coffee," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "But I assure you, the wait will be worth it."

June could feel the tension in the room shift. The board members leaned in, their curiosity piqued despite their frustration. Heath had always had that effect on people.

He began to speak, his words flowing like a river of pure confidence. He talked about the company's future, his vision, and the unconventional strategies he had in mind.

He talked about the endorsement deal with Alex Romano which was almost finalized.

The room was dead silent as Heath laid out his plans for the company's digital expansion. June felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could pull this off.

"And with the Romano endorsement deal," Heath continued, "we'll be reaching markets we've only dreamed of. The merger will revolutionize our industry."

Mr. Jenkins leaned back, his skepticism palpable. "But at what cost?"

Heath's smile remained unruffled. "The cost of innovation, of course. But the returns will be astronomical."

The room was tense, a heavy silence hanging in the air like a thick fog. June could almost feel the doubt in the board members' eyes.

"How can we be sure that these 'astronomical returns' will materialize?" another board member spoke up, her voice filled with skepticism.

Heath's smile remained unwavering. "Trust me, I've done the numbers. The potential for growth is there. And with Alex Romano's influence and our combined resources, we'll be unstoppable."

The board members exchanged glances, some of them visibly unconvinced. June felt the weight of their doubt pressing down on her. She knew Heath could be impulsive, but she also knew he was brilliant. She had to make them see that.

Summoning all her courage, she stepped forward. "If I may, Mr. Jenkins," she said, her voice calm despite the turmoil inside her. "I've been working closely with Heath on these plans. I can assure you that every detail has been thoroughly researched and calculated."

The board members turned to her, their expressions questioning. They had no faith in Heath but June had a reputation of her own. One everyone respected.

Heath shot her a look of surprise, but she ignored it, focusing instead on the PowerPoint presentation she had prepared for this exact moment.

As the slides switched to show the projected growth statistics and market analysis, June's voice grew stronger, each word carefully chosen to convey her belief in Heath's vision.

She highlighted the innovative aspects of the digital strategy, the potential benefits of the merger, and the meticulous planning that had gone into the deal.

The tension in the room began to ease as the board members studied the data, their skepticism slowly giving way to interest. They hadn't expected such a well-crafted plan from the new, inexperienced CEO who had inherited his position.

June's heart pounded as she watched them nod in approval.

One by one, the board members began to ask questions, some of them still skeptical, but the tone had shifted. They were listening now, really listening.

"Very impressive, Mr. Robbins," Mr. Jenkins said, stroking his mustache. "I must admit, I was quite skeptical when George appointed you as his successor. But it seems you might have a better head for business than we gave you credit for."

Heath's smirk grew into a full-blown smile. "Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I assure you, I take this position very seriously."

June felt a sense of relief wash over her. Heath was finally rising to the occasion.

The board members' questions grew more focused. June fielded some of them, her voice steady and her answers precise, while Heath took the lead on the bigger picture.

"Ms. Rivers, your expertise in market analysis is well-respected," one of the board members said, looking at June. "How do you anticipate the market responding to this digital pivot?"

June took a deep breath, her heart racing. "The market is ripe for innovation. Our competitors are lagging in this area, which presents a significant opportunity for us. Alex Romano will not only boost our brand image but also introduce us to a younger, tech-savvy population that is crucial for long-term growth."

The board members nodded. They had been convinced.

June had never felt more relieved.

Heath had done it. He had managed to win them over with his charm and her data-backed strategy.

The rest of the meeting went smoother than June had ever dared to hope. The board members grilled Heath, but he was unflappable. His answers were sharp, witty, and always supported by the numbers.

As the meeting drew to a close, the tension in the room had transformed into optimism. Even Mr. Jenkins looked somewhat appeased, his mustache no longer quivering with annoyance.

"Thank you for your time, everyone," Heath said, rising from his chair. "June will be handling the finer details of the merger. She's quite the asset to have around."

The board members nodded in agreement. She felt a warmth spread through her chest.

"Thank you, Ms. Rivers," Mr. Jenkins said, standing up and offering her a firm handshake. "Your dedication is appreciated."

June's cheeks flushed with pride as she nodded, accepting the compliment. She had always worked hard, but it felt good to be recognized, especially when it meant saving the company.

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