The Beauty and the CEO

“I tried to tell her y’all were in a meeting.”

“It’s okay, Tracey,” said Donovan.

Will moved around the table to greet Zoe with a kiss on the cheek while she and Tracey faced off in the war of smirks. “What’s going on, Zoe?”

“We’re in a meeting,” said Katie, rising to her feet with her arms across her chest. “A family meeting.”

“Key word, ‘family,’” Dixon enunciated.

In true Zoe-dramatic form, Zoe pressed her hand to her chest and took a bow. Will bit back a proud grin. “Well, I do apologize for interrupting this family meeting, but since you said it’s a family thing…” She waltzed back over to the door and opened it.

Though the walls were glass, Will’s angle didn’t allow him to see who she was ushering inside. He was more caught off guard by the gasp coming from anti-cousins Katie, Charles and Dixon.

“Zoe?” Will asked, focusing back on the door. An older woman close to his father’s age stepped inside. She was tall like a Ravens, with silky gray hair like his grandmother’s and almond-shaped eyes like his grandfather Joe’s. Blood pounded between his ears. He knew the answer of her identity before Zoe introduced the guest.

“I figured you would want another shareholder here,” Zoe said, giving Will a wink. His heart fluttered back to life. “Everyone, in case you didn’t realize it, this is your Aunt Octavia.”

“How in the hell?” Dixon growled.

“Hello, everyone,” Octavia said. Her voice was like a melody. “Katie, how nice to see you again.”

“Again?” the pro-cousins cried.

Katie sat back in her seat as her face turned beet red. “I was going to send for you.”

“What is going on here?” Marcus asked. He came over and extended his hand to his aunt. “I’m Marcus Ravens, Mark’s son.”

One by one everyone introduced themselves to their long-lost family member. Will stood off to the side, his arm wrapped around Zoe’s waist. “How on Earth did you find her?”

“Actually your cousins did,” Zoe beamed. “I overheard them at the pageant a few weeks back. I knew your cousin Katie found your aunt at a nail shop in Pennsylvania.”

“I thought you flew to Pennsylvania for an interview at Pink Stiletto Cosmetics in Aston.” Will distinctly recalled the trip. It was the first time he’d become nervous about Zoe moving farther away for a job.

“I was,” Zoe nodded, “but I recalled the conversation I overheard and went out to find your aunt. When I heard how your cousins wanted to reintroduce her to the family after a vote had been made, I thought I’d better see if she was interested in coming back and visiting before anything happened to the company.”

Will bent down and kissed Zoe. His lips locked with hers and there was no way he wanted to let go. He cupped her face, breaking only to remind her of what he’d said every day since they returned from Southwood. “I love you.”

“Uh, it still doesn’t matter,” Charles began, knocking his knuckles against the tabletop. Everyone surrounding Octavia turned to give him their attention. “No offense, Aunt Octavia, but your generation only acts to advise the board, and we’re the board.”

“Aunt Octavia’s vote still counts,” Eva announced as she wrapped her arm around their aunt’s shoulders. “Grandma still has her down as a shareholder. Our folks still have their shares, which we control, and we also have shares, as well.”

“Be sure to explain how her vote has counted. You know, the abstaining kind,” Katie sneered with glee. “Even if she voted, you’re still outnumbered since J.J. and Cora have agreed with us.”

“You’re short,” said Brandon.

Spunky as Grandma Naomi, Octavia frowned. “Oh, dear,” Octavia’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I worked close with my father. I understand any grandchildren would be given shares at their birth. I’m sure we’ll have to get the lawyers in here to double check. But I know it’s fact. If you guys want a rough vote right now, I wonder if I can advise my son, Joseph, to vote to keep Ravens Cosmetics running.” She tiptoed to the glass door and ushered in the damn-near splitting image of Donovan, minus the scar. “This is my son, Joseph. I kept him away from the family for a reason and clearly I was wrong. Y’all need each other.”