Showing His Real Self

Dane

You're enough.

The words echoed in Dane's chest in a way that stopped him cold. She kept talking, kept telling him things that he guessed were probably pretty important, but as he watched Lila's lips move, her kind eyes fixed on him, only a few things landed in his head and stuck. But he'd spent the night taking them out and looking at them, examining them. In one breath hating himself for the emotion that welled up when he did, and in another marveling at what she'd said and that it . . . filled him.

You shine.

He'd tried to remember whether he'd ever heard something like that before. Whether anyone had ever told him that. And damned if he couldn't. Not even his mother. Dane huffed. Especially not his mother.

Yet, there was this woman—this strong, pushy, irritating, beautiful and successful woman telling him that he stood out, that he shined, so matter of fact. As if it was no big deal. As if he should just accept it as truth.

The only thing this needs is you, Dane. You. The man. Not the CEO.

That was the one that brought tears to his eyes at two in the morning. He hadn't known he'd needed it. Hadn't ever really thought about it. But as if she had some kind of sword, with that one comment she'd cut through everything that was true—and sad—about his life. Everything he felt: Without his company, he wasn't important to anyone. Wasn't needed. Had, in fact, only hurt people.

He knew people would argue. Even Chris would probably make some joke about needing him around so he could feel better about himself. But Dane wasn't going to ask him, because Lila's simple words were . . . they were like little bombs that kept going off in his chest and he didn't know what to do about it.

Whatever's true, just say that. I'll handle the rest.

He knew she would. And even though he couldn't tell why, for some reason that made the rest even more true.

She believed in him. And she believed in herself. And she was saying that together they could meet this.

Dane had finally slept after that, though he didn't know how late it was.

So, he'd slept in, then had to rush. Hadn't had time, really, to talk to anyone in any depth.

But he reminded himself of her last promise as he and the team filed into the lobby. He reminded himself of that part and found it helped him feel less nervous. He hated cameras, but he knew she was right. This was his company, his failure. Only he could answer it. So he stepped up to the podium where Lila had strategically set the conference, with the high vaulted ceilings and marble floor, the high security gates, and all the staff—all of them that weren't actively out with clients—in a half-circle behind him. Staring at him. Some of them were even smiling.

Chris stayed at his right, but slightly behind. For once he was wearing a suit. They'd never looked more like brothers—something else Lila said was important. People needed to know this was a family affair. And that the men leading it were united.

She'd given them both a sharp look when she'd said that. Chris snorted and Dane elbowed him.

Before he said anything he looked behind him, noted every face that was there—except Lila. Where had she gone? But there wasn't time.

With a slight frown, Dane leaned closer to the microphones. "Can you all hear me?" he asked the crowd of reporters crammed in front of him. They all nodded or gave a thumbs up so he'd know he could start.

Dane looked at his paper, all the notes he'd made and all the ways he was trying to make sure they understood. Then her words echoed in his head again.

The only thing this needs is you, Dane. You. The man. Not the CEO…Whatever's true, just say that. I'll handle the rest…

Chris gave him a subtle nudge with his elbow, but Dane was thinking. So he didn't respond.

Whatever's true, just say that. I'll handle the rest.

Fuck it.

"Thank you for coming everyone," he started and threw a prayer towards the heavens, toward whoever might be listening. Because for once he was going to throw caution to the wind and he'd have Lila to thank for whatever happened. No matter which way it went.

*****

Lila

Lila positioned herself beside and behind the reporters so she could get a good feel for what they were seeing. She held her breath as Dane stepped up, checked in with the reporters, then hesitated. He'd spent the whole morning looking slightly stunned, and here he was, blank faced and apparently off his game. She bit her lip and prayed she hadn't done the wrong thing telling him to be himself. What if he couldn't? If he faked emotion, it would be a disaster. But was he capable of expressing anything that wasn't anger?

She saw the moment Chris nudged him, and saw the irritation cross his features. In any other circumstances it would be funny. But the entire empire he'd built was riding on this moment. He needed to give people the truth about himself here.

Then his chin came up and he stared straight into the crowd of reporters, crumpled up the page of notes in front of him and started to speak.

"The first and most important thing I need to tell you all today is that I care about Becky. I care about her safety, and the fact there was any window that included even a question that she might not have been safe in our hands makes me sick to my stomach."

He swallowed like he was sick right then, and Lila's heart leapt.

"The second thing you need to know is that our systems wouldn't allow for our teams to be taken by surprise. We have backups and backups to our backups. Our systems did not fail that night. What failed was our communication with the client. And for that, I am deeply sorry." He looked like he was about to go on, but then his eyes found hers, just behind the reporters and widened. He blinked, looked down, then returned to her.

And kept his eyes locked on hers from that moment.