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In fact, it was definitely the only way she spoke to me anymore. Emma’s work was still impeccable, she seemed to anticipate my needs before even I knew what was going on and twice now she’d come to me with a property she thought I should buy. She was, of course, right both times. She’d gotten two huge bouses for that and was on tract to become an executive herself.
“Thank you, Emma,” I said, handing her pen back. She quickly tucked it into a decorative cup on her desk. Nothing was ever out of place.
I was hesitant to promote her because I knew it would be the final nail in the coffin of our relationship, but I knew when the time came I would. We’d never speak again if we didn’t have to, though. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying on my part. I started bringing her coffee and pastries every morning. I started catering in lunch for her every afternoon. When the food wasn’t working, I knew I had to think bigger, and since I was me, Kyle Beckford, billionaire CEO, I thought big.
“You’re welcome,” Emma said without an ounce of warmth.
I headed back to my office. I needed a calming minute before I revealed to Emma what I’d been working on.
I was going to grand gesture her, but in the sincerest way possible. Telling her how I felt wasn’t enough, I needed to show her I’d changed. I needed to prove to her that I was ready, willing, able, and most importantly eager to be a parent. This wasn’t a maybe thing. I knew that when we both admitted our feelings and let ourselves explore them, we were a forever thing.
If the past six weeks were any indication, living the rest of my life without her would be torture and I had no intension of finding out. Emma was my woman, I was her man, and we were going to live happily ever after.
It had been almost six weeks since my birthday. That meant it was six weeks since I had Emma in my arms, six weeks since I had anyone in my bed, and six weeks since she looked at me with love in her eyes. Because that’s what it was—love.
Maybe turning thirty brought me some clarity, maybe I knew long, long before my birthday, but Emma was the only woman for me. The models, the fleeting encounters that were nothing more than sex, those had been leaving me feeling empty for a long time. I was just too scared to do anything about it. Yah, Emma came with Lily, but Lily was an extra, unexpected gift. I hadn’t met her yet, I didn’t blame Emma for never introducing us, but I knew I loved her already. She was too cute not to. Krista never hesitated to share pictures, videos, and stories with me when asked. She couldn’t have loved that little girl more than if she was already her niece.
I picked up the phone on my desk an dialed the number that I have memorized over the last month, since I thought of my plan.
“Hey, boss,” Joe, head of construction said on the other end of the line.
“Tell me good news, Joe,” I said. I clutched the phone so tightly in my hand I was surprised I didn’t crush it. I wasn’t sure if I was nervous or excited. I guessed a little of both.
“Everything is ready to go, just as you requested. The crew is cleaning up and moving out as we speak. We’ll have the place cleared in ten minutes or less,” Joe said in his gravelly voice.
“I have to admit, I half expected you to say you weren’t done.” Or maybe I was almost hoping he would. As much as I wanted to move forward with Emma, I still wasn’t positive it was what she wanted. A lot of time had passed, what if she didn’t want me anymore. What if I fucked up so badly, I was too late.
I pushed those thoughts aside. Big risks reap big rewards, and nothing was bigger than having the family I wanted.
“Well, when you pay triple time, you get exactly what you want, boss.”
I laughed. I knew my money would eventually come in handy. “I guess that makes sense. Thanks, Joe.”
“Any time, boss.”
I hung up the phone and stood from my chair. I brushed a non-existent piece of lint off buy navy blue suit and then ran my fingers though my shaggy hair. I never was good at keeping it in a more corporate looking cut, but I guessed that didn’t matter anymore.
When I exited my office, I found Emma sitting at her desk, labeling mail that needed to be sent out.
“Emma,” I said, and then cleared my throat because my voice sounded all wrong. I needed to relax. This was going to work. “Emma, will you come downstairs with me?”
She raised an eyebrow at me, but I couldn’t tell if it was because she was annoyed or curious. Knowing Emma, probably both.
“O-okay,” she said hesitantly, standing from her desk. “Should I be packing all my stuff up into a box for this walk?”
I laughed. “No, I’m not firing you if that’s what you’re thinking.
She smiled, but only a little. “Okay, good.”
It brought me some relief that she still wanted to be around me…or at least keep her job with my company.
We made our way down the hall and over to the elevator and I hated the way the air between us was tense instead of filled with electricity. We’d get it back, I had to be confident in that.
“This is a good thing…a surprise really,” I told her once we were closed inside the sleek silver doors of the elevator. “I’m sorry I’m making you feel like it’s not.”
Emma shook her head, her blond hair moving across her shoulders. “I should apologize. I’ve been…I’ve been difficult, to say the least. What happened that night—the night of your birthday party—”
“Emma, I know what night you mean. It’s all I’ve been thinking about all this time.”
