The two of them stood there, shoulder to shoulder.
Theo Delgado had gone red all the way to the tips of his ears. Cora Mason was perfectly composed.
She glanced at him and picked up the cake knife. "Sweet, or do you like it savory?"
Theo smiled. "Whatever you cut for me, Ms. Mason. I like it all..."
"Ooh."
The teasing started up at once, low and suggestive.
Sylvia Mason couldn't hold back a laugh. "Look at the two of them."
Cora cut a slice for Theo herself. "You like grapes, don't you? I saved this piece just for you."
As she said it, she looked over in my direction. I turned away and walked back into the conference room without looking back.
I was gathering my files when Theo opened the door, humming. When he saw me, the smile froze on his face. "Mr... Mr. Gilbert."
I didn't answer. I picked up the folder and stood.
"Mr. Gilbert, don't go!" He grabbed at me in a panic. "I never thought it would turn out like this! I got pushed into it too. There was no way to say no! I... I'll give the ring back to you right now!"
He started tugging hard at the signet ring. But the band was clearly wider than his finger, and pull as he might, again and again, it just wouldn't come off.
"Stop the act." I kept my voice flat. "Keep it on."
"Mr. Gilbert!" He grabbed me again. "I really didn't mean anything by it. Just wait, I'll have it off in a second!"
"What's going on? What's all this shouting in here?"
Sylvia pushed the door open. She saw me and Theo locked together, pulling at each other, and her brow drew tight at once. "So you're that Director Gilbert. The one with the bad temper, always picking on Theo."
I went blank for a moment. Was that really how Sylvia saw me? I looked at Theo, and he cut his eyes away from me, fast. Now I knew who'd been talking.
"I've heard about you, Duncan Gilbert." Sylvia looked at me coldly. "Ruthless, the way you operate. You've got every subordinate under you trained to fall in line. What is it? Do you think Mason Group is yours now, or do you think you're the family's future son-in-law?"
My breath stalled. This was the first time Theo had ever met Sylvia—so where had she heard any of this? Unless... I clenched my fist. No... it couldn't really have been Cora?
The door opened. Cora appeared in the doorway. "What's the matter?"
Sylvia turned to her daughter. "You really need to get the people in your company under control. Something your father and I gave to Theo, and this one has the nerve to take it from him."
Cora looked at me.
I gritted my teeth. "I did not!"
It was at that moment Theo finally worked the ring free. He pulled my wrist toward him and slid it back on. "Don't be angry, Mr. Gilbert. I'm giving the ring back to you."
Sylvia gasped. "What are you doing, child! How can you give that away!"
Theo's eyes reddened. "But... Mr. Gilbert did love Ms. Mason for so long."
"So that gives him the right to take whatever's yours? Bullying you on an ordinary day is one thing, but how can you back down at a time like this!"
Sylvia caught hold of Theo. "Don't worry. This time, Cora and I have got your back!"
"But... I'm only an intern. How could I ever wear a ring like that..."
"Who says you can't?"
Cora's hand closed around my wrist. She slipped the jade signet ring off it without effort and held it out to Theo. "If I say you can wear it, then you can wear it."
