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“Hear me out,” he cuts me off. “It’s standard for executives to have to complete. Consider it a CEO training of sorts. It’s a few classes during the week on management training that’s more extensive to what you’re doing now, finances, employee management and the mundane things that downright suck.”
I’ve wanted this opportunity for so long, becoming CEO in the real estate business—becoming the CEO ofthisreal estate business, the one that jump-started my entire career. I’m confident in my abilities to be able to do this, which is why I brought Avery into this mess with me in the first place. I knew I could do it.
But I’m also entirely invested in the man sitting in front of me at this point. If Bill says jump, I’m going to say, ‘how high?’ So despite my reluctance to go to Austin, I’m going.
I swallow past the dryness in my throat. “I understand.”
“Excellent. I’m so proud of you, son.”
Thesonout of his mouth has my chest tightening. I have looked up to this man for as long as I’ve worked here, desired to be just like him and as successful as he’s been.
“That means a lot.”
He stands with a nod before he starts to walk towards the door. “I’ll touch base with you tomorrow morning with your flight schedule and hotel accommodations. Is Avery going to travel with you?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll ask her.”
I heard the creak of my office door open, and Avery peaks her head over the side of the door.
“Oh my god.” Her eyes go wide. “I’m so sorry. I’ll come back.”
“No, Avery. Come on in.” Bill waves her in. “Speak of the devil.”
Her eyes bounce between Bill and me, worry etched on her face as if she’s just blown the cover of the whole thing by showing up to work when he wasn’t supposed to know.
“It’s all good, Avery. He knows everything.”
Her mouth parts and she stops dead in her tracks. The color drains from her face like she’s just seen a ghost and her eyes are fixed on me. After a few seconds that feel like minutes, she hesitantly continues her walk until she’s sitting on the opposite chair of Bill in front of my desk.
“I’m going to leave you to it,” Bill announces. “We’ll touch base tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Avery watches as he walks out the door over her shoulder, and when the door clicks shut, her face is still twisted towards the door.
“Avery,” I say, my voice is hoarse with emotion.
She turns to me and I see her glassy eyes looking back at me. My heart cracks under my rib cage at the thoughts that must be going through her head right now.
She shakes her head, snapping herself out of her daze, blinking rapidly to hold back anything from spilling over. “How did it go?”
I pause a beat as I look over her beautiful facial features. She’s so fucking perfect in every way. Her long blonde hair has a natural wave to it today. As if she had no interest in doing something with it and is letting it hang free.
“He gave me the company.”
“That’s amazing, Marc. Congratulations,” she says without an ounce of excited energy in her body.
“Avery. Talk to me please.”
She pauses for a beat. “What does this mean now? For us?”
I launch off the chair to round the desk, bringing myself face to face with her. I don’t waste another minute before I grip the sides of her face, angling her head to meet my eyes.
“It means not a damn thing. I’ve made it pretty clear that I want you. Outside of this entire thing we’ve had to do this summer. I want you as a permanent place in my life.”
A tear trickles down her cheek. I brush my thumb to swipe away and her eyes fall closed.
“Can I tell you something?”
