Simone’s eyes didn’t leave hers.
“The two companies would combine into a single entity, with equal representation on the board. We'd serve as co-CEOs, with leadership distributed by domain rather than hierarchy. You'dtake the international portfolio and the acquisition pipeline, since those are your strengths, and I'd take North American operations and the civic commitments division. Neither of us reports to the other. We both report to the board, which is built from equal numbers of seats on each side. Headquarters stays in Phoenix Ridge, but London becomes a true second-home office rather than a satellite, and we'd shift somewhere between twelve and fifteen percent of the executive function there over the next three years.
“The civic commitments would double. Phoenix Ridge gets thirty million annually instead of fifteen, and the schools, the hospital wing, the housing fund all expanded. And sustainable energy moves from a peripheral division to a core line of business. Forty percent of capital expenditure over the next five years goes there. That's the part Vivian was right about, and I'm willing to say so on the record.”
Simone let out a small, quick exhale that didn’t quite form into a laugh.
“And our relationship is acknowledged in the announcement. The press release we’ll put out tomorrow morning, jointly, says we're in a personal relationship, that we became aware over the course of the original takeover negotiations that our professional vision aligned, and that we are presenting this combined entity as a deliberate choice. The conflict of interest gets disclosed up front, and the deal stands on its merits.” She slid the portfolio across the table. “That's the deal. The document has the rest. Take as long as you need.”
Simone stared at her. Her jaw was set, and tears formed in her eyes. She opened the portfolio. Alexandra picked up her glass and took another sip.
Simone read. The first pass was fast, then she went back to the first page and started over, slowly. The second page was where Simone actually processed. Simone’s jaw kept tensing andreleasing, and her breathing was uneven. She turned the page and paused. Her hand came up to her cheek and brushed at it, and Alexandra realized Simone was crying, quietly, while she read. Alexandra’s chest squeezed, but she didn’t say anything.
Simone got to the last page, then looked up without closing the portfolio. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you create this version? Why did you double the commitments, why London, why announce us?”
“Because I love you,” she said plainly. Her voice was lower than she’d meant. She hadn’t said the words aloud to anyone in a long time, and they felt strange in her mouth.
Simone closed her eyes, and her chest rose and fell with her breath. When she opened her eyes, more tears had fallen. “Say it again.”
“I love you, Simone.”
Simone kept looking at her but didn’t say anything.
“Since October,” Alexandra continued. “I didn’t know it then, of course, but I knew it on the trail. Tuesday night, I admitted it to myself, and I knew if I didn’t tell you, I would spend the rest of my life knowing I let you go without giving this a chance.”
Simone put a hand over her mouth and held it there. When she took it down, she said, very quietly, “I love you too.”
“Come here.”
“What?”
“Come here, please.”
Simone stood, and Alexandra stood too. The round table was small enough that the distance was nothing, and they met beside the chair. Alexandra raised her hand and put it against the side of Simone’s face, caressing it softly, and Simone leaned into it. Alexandra drew her in and kissed her slowly. When they pulled apart, Simone rested her forehead against Alexandra’s.
“Yes,” Simone said, her voice cracking.
“What?”
“Yes. To the deal, to staying, to you.”
Alexandra exhaled, and her body slumped slightly. Simone moved her chair around the curve of the table and sat next to Alexandra, the candle in front of them now rather than between them. They ate their dinner side by side.
They left Elements at a quarter past ten. Ruby held the door for them at the front entrance, and they stepped into the covered driveway where the valet had pulled Alexandra’s car around.
“I’ll follow you home,” Simone said.
“All right.”
“My bags are still at the apartment. I’ll cancel my flight and get them tomorrow.”
Alexandra nodded. They stood under the awning for a moment, then Simone reached for Alexandra’s hand.
24
