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Did he stumble over his words? Weren’t drive and determination kind of the same?
“Thank you, Mark.”
Royce tilted up his chin, and Desiree clenched her hands together on her lap while her heart thumped in her chest.
Mark smiled at her. “Desiree, you have similar qualities. You have drive, you’re intelligent, you take initiative, and I’ve seen you flourish over the years. You’ve helped the company grow with brilliant suggestions and strategies, including some you probably didn’t get credit for.”
Holy crap, did he know Royce stole her campaign idea?
“That’s why, though choosing a new senior vice president was a tough decision, I have chosen you. You, Desiree, are our new senior vice president of marketing.”
Royce stiffened.
Desiree gasped. “Mark, thank you!” Though she had desperately wanted the position, hearing she had actually received the job surprised her.
“Thankyoufor all your hard work.” He turned to her ex. “Royce, you do a great job, and I’m sure other opportunities will be available for you later.”
Royce cleared his throat. “Thank you, sir. Congratulations, Desiree.”
Mark came around the desk and shook Royce’s hand, effectively dismissing him. After he left, Desiree came to her feet, and he shook her hand too.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” she said.
“Keep up the great work, and let me know if you have any problems in the future,” he said in a meaningful tone.
He must know, but how? Perhaps Gertrude told him?
“I will,” Desiree promised.
“Good. I’m expecting big things from you.”
“I won’t let you down.”
On the walk back to her office, Desiree fielded congratulations and applause. Standing in the middle of the hall, she lifted a hand to quiet her coworkers.
“Thank you for your support and well-wishes. I promise I won’t change after I move to my brand new, big old corner office with lots of windows.”
There were a series of chuckles, and someone at the back yelled, “You deserve it!”
“Thank you.”
She headed to her office on cloud nine, and when she entered inside received another surprise. Montez stood with his hands in his pockets, reading one of the certificates hanging on the wall.
“Montez,” she whispered.
He turned to face her. “Gertrude let me in—”
Desiree flung herself into his arms, and he laughed as he lifted her off her feet into a bear hug.
When he set her down, she gazed up at him. “What are you doing here?”
“This is your big day. Whether you got the promotion or not, I wanted to be here for you.”
She patted his chest. “You’re a big softy, you know that?”
“Shh. Keep that between us.”
She laughed. He was here. He was reallyhere, and their angry words seemed like a distant memory.
