After Seeing the Comments, I Forced the Male Lead to Love Me novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Rosalind's Offer

Tobias's POV

Rosalind asked me to tea, which is how she has started every important conversation since my father's funeral.

She served it in her sitting room, in the good cups, with a plate of the lemon tarts from the bakery on Delancey.

Hallie's tarts. She knew that.

"You look well," Rosalind said. "Rested."

"I am."

"I'm so glad. I worried about you, Tobias. You've been alone in that wing for years."

I took a tart. I did not eat it.

"I'll be direct," she said, "because you like it. The board votes the week after the Founders' Dinner. Four of the seven have told me they'll follow your father's family, whichever way I lean."

"You want the chair."

"I want it done properly." She poured. "You'd keep your seat, your salary and your title. Chairman emeritus. You could spend more time at home."

"With my wife."

"Yes, that's the other half."

She set the pot down.

On the table between us was a single sheet in a plain folder. I did not need to open it. I could see the ruler-straight line of a signature.

"The petition," I said.

"The real one this time. Clean, and quite kind to her. A generous settlement. She leaves with her shop and her dignity."

"And in return?"

"You sign at the dinner, before the family. You're seen to do it of your own free will. The board will be sentimental, and they'll want a quiet transition."

She smiled.

"It is not a cruel offer, Tobias. She isn't what you think."

"What do I think?"

"That she's honest."

She turned a small silver spoon over in her fingers.

"She's a clever girl. She was raised to find a rich husband after her father's firm collapsed, and she did, and she has been very patient. Forgive me, but the speech at dinner was a lovely performance."

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