Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I hadn’t planned on going into the supply closet in the hall to fuck her. But I had missed seeing her at her desk, the office feeling strangely empty without her in it. Walking into the small room, I was, as usual, amazed at her capacity for turning a disaster into an organized space. I wanted to apologize to her, coax her back into the office. I only meant to kiss her, but as usual, as soon as I was close to her, I wanted closer. One thing led to another, and before I knew it once again, my body had taken over my mind and we were suddenly a cliché. The boss fucking his assistant in the supply closet.
Except it wasn’t only fucking, and she wasn’t only my assistant.
My partners had been surprised when I’d shown up on their floor, asking for an immediate meeting. Their shock at my informing them I planned to marry Magnolia was immense. They had a few questions, and Lawson had asked how long the relationship had been going on.
I shrugged. “A while. It’s private.” I paused. “Or it was until Jessica saw us together earlier in a slightly less-than-welcome moment.” I explained about the closet, omitting the graphic details and skimming over the truth. I informed them I had been kissing her rather aggressively before we realized the door was locked, and we were attempting to get out when Jessica heard us. They withheld their disbelief since none of us wanted to delve too deeply into my story.
Jessica and Laura appeared, and we discussed office protocol. I assured them it wouldn’t happen again, and I was extremely grateful for their discretion.
I was also thankful that no one else had an office on my floor or that there hadn’t been a meeting going on in the boardroom that took up the other half of the floor—but I kept that to myself.
I glanced at Magnolia, wondering how she would take it when I told her HR had been informed of our new status.
And how she was going to feel when I told her I wasn’t backing down. I wanted to marry her. I had a feeling I was in for a long night of arguments.
But I planned on winning.
Hedgy was all over us when we entered the condo. He hated being alone and was effusive with his greeting. Purring, doing figure eights around our legs, climbing my pants to burrow in my neck as quickly as possible.
“Maybe we should get a cat sitter. Or I could bring him to the office.”
Magnolia looked over her shoulder. “That would not fly with HR, and I think we’re on thin ice there already.”
I laughed. “I could put it to a vote. I’d win.”
“So cocky,” she muttered, taking off her jacket and slinging it over the back of a stool. I sat at the island, watching her move around the kitchen as if she owned it. Which, really, she already did.
“No. Fact. I own fifty-one percent of the company, so I’d always win if pushed.”
She gaped at me. “You own the majority share? How?”
I pulled Hedgy’s treats close, giving him one and listening to him crunch and purr in my ear simultaneously. I scratched the top of his head thoughtfully. “When we were planning the company, we needed capital. I had it, so I became the majority shareholder. I rarely flex that muscle, but I would if I had to. Lawson and Anderson are great partners. We work.”
“Where did you get the money?”
“I told you before. I come from old money. My grandfather was a smart man. The money he left my father couldn’t be touched by my mother. It was left in a trust for me that was looked after by someone he could rely on. Tom and I got along, and he stayed in touch, always checking on me. When I was only fourteen, I had done a project at school about investing. I found it fascinating and told him I wanted to help him invest it. He gave me some money to try. I doubled it. He gave me more. I doubled that. I kept going through the years, and when I turned twenty-one, my fund was millions. It’s gone up more with my holdings and investments.”
“Why do you work?”
“I like working. I also like being able to back projects that I believe in.” He grinned. “Some clients who hire me have no idea I have also invested in their venture at all. My mother has no idea of my true wealth. I tried to tell her once, but she didn’t believe me. She never believed in me at all.”
Magnolia’s eyes were sad as she slid her hand over mine. “I’m sorry.”
I met her gaze. “You’ve believed in me since the day you met me. Why?”
“I could see your passion when you talked about your designs. I looked up your work.”