All the Things You Didn't Say

La Quan Lark

Description

Nicknamed Elle, Laura Langston is a notorious ball buster known for getting the job done, on time and always correct. With her education, reputation, and track record, she is perfectly positioned to become the next CEO of The Lark Corporation, until thee Mr. Lark himself great grandson of the founder James Henry III, Morehouse grad, boy genius, Blake snatches the job right out from under her simply because of family ties.
Blake has no experience for the CEO job, and knows that Laura deserves it, but there is little either of them can do when faced with Politics and the board that Laura refers to as “The old boys club.” In truth, the only thing that Blake has his eyes set on, is her. But when she abruptly quits, Blake has no other choice but to fight for her heart. Prayerfully he can convince her that despite their differences he knows that they are perfect for one another, until she discovers that he is a liar and cheat, and he winds up losing her for good. Be it now resolved that this is the story about "All The Things He Didn't Say!"

Sujets

• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 22 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669860570
• Langue: English

Extrait

ALL THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T SAY
Be It Now Resolved
La Quan Lark

 
Copyright © 2023 by La Quan Lark.
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-6698-6059-4

Softcover
978-1-6698-6058-7

eBook
978-1-6698-6057-0
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 12/22/2022
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
840976
CONTENTS
The Introduction
 
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
 
The End, Yet The Beginning
THE INTRODUCTION
Lunar Opposites
Nicknamed the Elle, Laura Langston is a notorious ball buster known for getting the job done, on time and always correct. With her education, reputation and track record, she is perfectly positioned to become the next CEO of The Lark Corporation, until the Mr. Lark himself great grandson of the founder James Henry III, Morehouse grad, boy genius, Blake snatches the job right out from under her simply because of family ties.
Blake has no experience for the CEO job, and knows that Laura deserves it, but there is little either of them can do when faced with Politics and the board that Laura refers to as “The old boys club.” In truth, the only thing that Blake has his eyes set on, is her. But when she abruptly quits, Blake has no other choice but to fight for her heart. Prayerfully he can convince her that despite their differences he knows that they are perfect for one another, until she discovers that he is a liar and cheat, and he winds up losing her for good.
CHAPTER ONE
Still operating as Vice President, Laura Langston stomped angrily past her buzzing employees as they stared and snickered, some in bewilderment as she passed. They could barely contain their joy. The Ice Princess was finally out of their hair. They thought she didn’t know what they whispered behind her back, but she did. She knew everything that her staff whispered about her. They thought she was a bitter, harsh. lonely, pathetic frigid woman who needed a man immediately. And maybe they were right in some ways. She’d worked for the Lark Corporation ever since she’d graduated college. And over the past twenty years or so, she hasn’t stopped climbing the corporate ladder, sacrificing nearly everything to achieve her one goal which was to become CEO of one of the largest corporate chains in the world. She had always remained professional and distant from her employees, creating boundaries while running her division with accuracy, efficiency, and precision. The marketing division was undoubtedly the most productive leg of the company. So, when Jacob Robinson retired earlier that year from his role as CEO, Laura was sure the job was hers. She slid open the door to her corner office with the amazing view of downtown Chicago, stepped inside and slowly leaned against the door as she closed it behind her. She wasted no time in grabbing a box, dumping packets to the floor, as she began to clean out her desk. As she haphazardly stuffed her most personal belongings into the box, she replayed the words that just changed her life forever. “... So, it is with great pride and enthusiasm that I introduce to you all Lark’s newest CEO, my great grandson, Blake Chadwick Lark.” She had sat there stunned when the founder, Mr. James Henry III, had delivered the news to the twelve-member Board of Directors and herself, the new CEO, Blake. She gritted her teeth at the sight of him. She was being usurped by a thirty-two-year-old Morehouse Business graduate who’d only been with the company for two years one as an intern. He was barely out of grad school and now he was the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company? How could this be? The sound of her office door closing caught her attention, and she whirled around to face the last person she wanted to see. “Laura, I’m sorry. I didn’t know—” She held up her hand to paus his next words. “It’s fine Blake. I could tell from your shocked expression that it was news to you too, and it is something that your grandfather has long dreamed. Still, congratulations,” she said stiffly, before twisting back around to finish packing. “I couldn’t believe you stormed out of there—hey, what are you doing?” “You tell me, what does it look like I’m doing?” she snapped as she continued to dump her things into the box. She clinched at the touch of his hand against her arm. Blowing out a long, jagged breath she turned around to face him. And as soon as she met his gaze, and glimpsed the hurt look on his handsome yet confused face, she instantly regretted her terse words. It wasn’t his fault. Blake didn’t deserve any of her anger. Ever since he’d come aboard two years ago as the CFO, he’d been nothing but kind toward her, even though she’d always kept him at arm’s length. “Laura, don’t quit,” he said softly. She shrugged his hand from her arm, giving him a weak smile. “I have to. There is no future for me here.” “But I need you—,” he said, and she almost swore she saw something flash in his eyes that hinted at a more intimate need, but then it disappeared. She figured it was just her imagination. He cleared his throat. “Stay—to advise me. You have the most experience of any of the senior staff and I need your expertise.” “I’m sorry, Blake, but you know I can’t stay,” she said quietly, holding his penetrating sweet gaze. “So, what will you do?” She shrugged and curled her lips into a made-up smile. “I don’t know yet, and for the first time in my life, I don’t care.” It was true. She had lived her life for so long always striving to accomplish her next goal. Now, for the first time ever she had no goal and it felt good. The disappointment on his face pulled at her, and for just a moment she experienced a tinge of guilt. Feeling compelled to do something she was sure she would regret later; she grabbed one of her business cards and scribbled on the back.
“Here is my cell number. If you think you have a question, just call me.” She shoved her card into his hand and whirled back around to finish what she had started. She heard him mumble “thanks” followed by the soft click of the door closing behind him. Contrary to what the employees thought, she did have feelings and she felt bad for dumping her anger on Blake when he had nothing to do with what transpired earlier. But she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of resentment. He now held the position that she’d coveted for the last four to five years. Still, that had been no excuse for her abrupt dismissal and downright rude behavior. She toyed with the thought of apologizing to him, but quickly abandoned that. He’d be fine. She on the other hand wouldn’t. What she had fought so hard for was clearly out of the window. The knowledge that she’d given up so much for a dream that had been snatched so cruelly from her was enough to send her spiraling into regret and nearly depression. Painful memories from the past twenty years of all the sacrifices she’d made replayed themselves in her head. The main one being from three years ago when Thornton (her ex-fiancé), walked out on her shortly after she’d miscarried, while hurling accusations at her that her workaholic schedule had been the cause of them losing the child. She knew now that he was nothing but a butthole and a jerk, but at the time the pain and guilt had only driven her to work harder, making her even more determined to achieve the goal that had cost her the family she’d always wanted. Tears filled her eyes as she drew in a deep breath, trying to force them not to fall. She needed to hurry up and finish packing and get out of there before she did what she so desperately longed to do—sink to the floor and indulge in a good cry. But her pride wouldn’t allow her to give in. The Ice Princess as they called her, did not crack, and she certainly wasn’t going to melt. Blake flopped down onto the plush leather cushions of his office chair and blew out a long breath. How could his grandfather do this to Laura and make him the bad guy? He angrily ran his fingers through his close-cropped, jet-black hair, disheveling it into wild spikes. When Jake retired, his grandfather assured him that Laura would be promoted to CEO. So, it had been a shock to him when his name was announced instead. Right after Laura stormed out, he’d pulled granddad aside for an explanation. “What was that about? You told me Ms. Langston was going to be promoted,” he’d exclaimed. His grandfather had shrugged his stocky shoulders and the lines of his face deepened when he spoke.
He at least had the decency to appear remorseful. “I wanted to promote her, but the Board refused to support her bid for CEO. They were very uncomfortable with having someone from outside the family in the position again. I had no choice but to appoint you. I’m sorry Blake, but I am sure you will do well.” “It’s not me you should be apologizing to,” he said angrily befor