Embrace Me (12 page)

“
Shannon, I really don’t know why you are so nervous. You are only taking over half of a multi-billion dollar business on Monday,” Bradley laughed.

“
Good one, Brad.” Charlie glared at him.

“
What? Shannon will be fine. She is going to Texas straight after. What is going to happen to her? Apart from falling in love with a cowboy,” Bradley sniggered, messing Charlie’s hair up from across the table.

“
You can be a real asshole sometimes, Bradley,” Charlie replied, putting his hair straight.

“
You love me, really,” Bradley joked.

“
Well, I sure do, Baby,” Lorna beamed, kissing him.

“
Are we going to a club after this?” I asked, downing another drink. Charlie shook his head at me. “Sorry, I forgot to drink that one slowly,” I replied innocently.

“
I don’t think a nightclub is a good idea,” Charlie replied, watching me.

“
But who knows when all of us will be together again? We have to make the most of tonight,” I replied, looking around at everyone.

“
She does have a point, Charlie,” Lorna added.

“
I haven’t been to a nightclub in New York yet,” Grace smiled. It was good having the girls on my side.

Charlie rolled his eyes at all of us. “Well, you all better drink up,” Charlie smiled before turning to me. “And you better slow down, or you won’t last the night.”

“
I promise,” I replied, kissing him softly before resting my head on his shoulder.

We managed to get into the popular nightclub called Selection all thanks to Charlie and his contacts.

I did get a case of the green-eyed monster while I watched Cindy, the owner of the nightclub, drool all over Charlie. Didn’t she realise he was with me?

We made our way into the VIP area and I grabbed a glass of champagne on the way.

“
Not so fast,” Charlie called, taking the glass from me. “I don’t think mixing is a good idea.”

“
Why not?” I pouted.

“
I don’t think Cindy will be too happy if you are sick in her VIP area.”

“
Do you see a lot of Cindy?” I blurted out. Why did alcohol always made me speak my mind and act like a half-crazed, jealous girlfriend?

“
I did some shots of the nightclub for her website,” Charlie smirked. “Why do you ask?”

“
No reason,” I replied, turning round. I wasn’t playing that game tonight. I knew it was the drink making me act this way.

Charlie spun me around to face him. “Please tell me you’re not jealous,” he teased, running his hands down my back. I could feel my body begin to tingle and yearn for him.

“
I’m not,” I replied, trying to pull away from him. How did he do this to me? I was almost weak at the knees with my love for him.

“
Shannon Downing, you know you are my entire world.” Charlie brushed my long brown hair back behind my shoulders. “It’s good to know you get just as jealous as me, but you have nothing to worry about.”

“
I love you, Charlie,” I whimpered into his chest. “I’m going to miss you so much when I leave for Texas.”

“
I will miss you, too, Sweetheart, but we have our iPhones, and I will be down every weekend that I’m not working.”

“
I hate that everything is going to change. I love my life as it is.”

“
Shannon, you can’t run from who you are. You deserve this life, and I want to make sure you don’t miss a moment of it. You and your mother are going to achieve amazing things together, I just know it.”

“
How can you have such faith in me?”

“
Because I love you,” Charlie whispered, kissing me softly.

“
As much as I love to watch you guys act like Romeo and Juliet, can we please do some serious drinking now?” Bradley asked, interrupting our kiss. I giggled against Charlie’s mouth before Bradley dragged him to the bar for the next round.

We drank and laughed, and by the end of the night, I danced away all my fears. I was a free soul, just simple Shannon for one last night.

By the end of the evening, Grace was busy in the corner of the bar getting a guy’s number while Lorna was almost straddling Bradley in one of the VIP booths by the dance floor.

“
Are you having a good night?” Charlie whispered into my ear.

“
I’m going to miss all of this,” I sighed.

“
You will only be gone for a few months, Shan.”

“
I know, but do you realise once everything becomes official, we won’t be able to do this? Not after what has happened to Maisy Field. Do you really think my mother would allow it?”

“
Yes, because I will keep you safe.” Charlie placed his hand in mine.

“
I don’t think it will be that easy,” I muttered, looking around for the last time at all this freedom.

“
What are you so scared about, Sweetheart?” Charlie asked, tilting my chin to face him.

“
I don’t want to lose myself. I know what this life style did to Megan.” Charlie rolled his eyes at me. “I know you hate me talking about her, but I never wanted her lifestyle, and now I have that and more.”

“
Shannon, you are nothing like Megan. Just because your mother is a multi-billionaire, that doesn’t mean you will end up like her. You have the most beautiful soul in the world and that will never change.”

“
How do you know that?” I whispered inches away from his stunning face.

“
I have been in love with you for over two years, Shannon, and every day you become sweeter and kinder. You have no idea how amazing you are.”

I sighed into Charlie’s lips as he kissed me tenderly. “I’m going to miss you so much,” I breathed.

“
I’ll write you a letter every day,” he smirked. My heart inflated just at the thought of his beautiful words. I had the feeling Charlie’s love would be all I needed to stay grounded in the months to come.

Chapter Nine

I couldn’t control the tremors in my body as I waited for my mother in her office. This was it—the beginning of my new life. In an hour, the whole world would know who I was.

The grand doors opened and my mother flew in like a whirlwind, quickly followed by five lawyers.

“
Lizzie, it’s time,” she stated, taking my hand. My mouth was so dry that I couldn’t speak. Where had all the time gone? Why couldn’t I still be on the beach in Dubai with Charlie?

I could hear the loud chatter of the press and the directors of Downing International as we drew nearer the boardroom.
Just breathe, Shannon.
Now was not the time to have my first panic attack in years.

All eyes were on me as we entered the room. I was too afraid to look around, but as I caught a pair of loving blue-green eyes watching me from the back, I breathed in deep, knowing that whatever happened now, Charlie would always be mine.

My mother cleared her throat before she spoke. “I would like to thank everyone for joining me today. I understand a lot of you have been concerned about this unexpected meeting, but I want to put you all at ease and tell you no one’s job is in danger. Downing International has never been stronger, and I have all of you here to thank for that.” I was so in awe of my mother as she spoke; everyone in the room was hanging on her every word. “I have brought everyone here on a more personal note, and would like to introduce you all to…my daughter, Shannon Elizabeth Downing.” Everyone’s eyes fell on me and I could hear gasps of shock. Some clapped, while others just watched me with their mouths open wide.  “I know you all recognise Shannon from Headcom, but I have called you here today to confirm the rumours. Shannon is my flesh and blood and will be controlling Downing International with me. I will not be taking personal questions about Shannon, but I want each and every one of you to treat her with the same respect you treat me. Do I make myself clear?”

I knew my time was coming, so I kept my eyes focused on Charlie as my mother welcomed me to speak.

“
Please welcome my daughter, Shannon Elizabeth Downing.” She nodded, which was my cue.

With a blush covering my face, I got up woodenly as I pulled out the small speech I had prepared. I cleared my throat by taking a sip of water, and then searched the crowd for Charlie once more before I began to speak. His smile took my breath away and put me at ease instantly. It could have been just the two of us in this room for all I cared.

“
My mother and I would like to thank you for taking the time to join us today. I am sure you are all as surprised as I was to find out Jennet Downing has a daughter, and I can understand the shock you must all be feeling. All we ask is that you give us the support and time to adjust to this change. I will be taking control of the sales and marketing of Downing International, and am look forward to working with all of you. If you have any questions concerning work matters, you can contact my PA, Grace Perkins.”

“
Are there any questions?” my mother asked once I had finished. Suddenly, arms flew up in the air, camera flashes were going off, and voices began to chatter again. My heart thudded deep in my chest as I took it all in. “I will take only a few questions.” She nodded towards the journalists in the front row.

“
Thank you, Ms. Downing,” a male journalist smiled. “Are you not concerned

for your daughter’s safety, considering the events of Miss Maisy Field? Surely going public has made your daughter a number one target?”

“
We are not hiding, Mr. Hall. I am more than capable of looking after my own daughter,” my mother glared. I scanned the crowd for Charlie, who was now a lot closer the front, watching me.

“
Did you stop your daughter from marrying William Field? Why would you not want to merge the two companies? You would be unstoppable!” Mr. Hall called.

“
I said no personal questions! I will not have my daughter pulled through a media circus, do you understand me?!” my mother yelled. The whole room fell silent. How she held these people at bay was incredible.

“
What are your plans for the company now with your daughter by your side?” another journalist called.

“
I will be teaching Shannon everything I know and am looking forward to finally sharing my empire with someone.” My mother turned, smiling warmly at me.

“
Is it true you are working on a replacement for oil?” a fair haired woman called from the middle row. The discussions turned towards Downing International research until my mother had had enough of the questions.

“
No further questions. Thank you for your time.” She gently pulled me into her office as the whole boardroom erupted behind us.

My head was still spinning as she handed me a crystal glass with brandy in it.

“
Sorry, Darling,” she smiled, touching my face gently. “I know that must have been hard for you.”

“
Well, I am going to have to get used to people knowing who I am now.”

“
I’m here every step of the way.” My mother wrapped her arms around me in a hug. “Anyway, by the time you get back from Texas, the worst will have blown over.”

“
I hope I’m not front page news in the morning,” I sighed, knowing it was unavoidable.

There was a knock at the door that interrupted us. I breathed in relief as my mother’s lawyer walked in, followed by Charlie.

“
Well, Jennet, I guess we can say the cat is well and truly out of the bag now,” her lawyer chuckled, looking at me.

“
Yes, James, I would say so,” my mother smiled. “Do you have the papers?” James pulled out the legal papers and my stomach churned. This was where I signed my old life away.

Charlie put his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“
This is life changing stuff,” I whispered back, watching my mother and James get everything ready.

“
I’m here,” Charlie encouraged, kissing my neck softly, “and I’m not going anywhere.” I turned to smile at him before I walked towards my mother’s desk to sign
away every single trace of Shannon Davis. It was time to embrace who I was, and that was…Shannon Elizabeth Downing.