“Yes, very conservative,” Maggie adds, coming over to stand next to Becca. “First impressions are critical and one of the things we do…” She waves a finger between her and the brunette, “is make sure the image is there for the forward-facing face of the company. That’s you.”
“You trust us?” Becca asks, and I want to scream no fucking way, but I’m out of my element.
I nod and see the way their eyes light up.
“Great. Just follow us.”
Reid
Fuck, I’m late.
The most important meeting of my life and she’s probably thinking I abandoned her.
I charge down the hall, ignoring the incessant questions and calls for my attention.
Nothing matters but getting to her, making sure she’s okay and we get her what she needs in a way that makes her feel empowered.
By the time I come up to the glass walls and door of the conference room, I see all the players already in their places around the table. There are my heads of departments for social media, web development, finance, marketing…everyone. I wanted all of my best people here to make sure my little starling knew we would take good care of her baby and make sure she got to the next level and beyond.
The knots in my neck are tight from being away from her already when I hit the door and spin, seeing her sitting at the head of the table in one of the huge leather chairs, looking so fucking small.
And not like herself at all.
Beige pant suit, white blouse with a Burberry scarf, hair in a tight bun, high heels instead of boots and the piece de resistance? Pearls. Like Coco Chanel pearls. Ten strands. It’s an abomination on her.
She looks as uncomfortable as if the clothes were made from sandpaper.
I look around then back to her and see the fear on her face. The pink flush on her chest, the way her hands are shaking.
“Where are we at?” I pull up a chair and take a seat right next to my girl, taking her hands as I watch my entire staff give each other looks. Normally I would never sit next to a client, and definitely not hold their hands but she’s not just a client, she’s going to be my wife, the mother of my children.
But they don’t need to know that right now.
I listen as Becca starts to give me a synopsis of what’s happened since they started, then hear Elliot, the head of the risk assessment team interject.
“I was just asking Miss Finch what her growth projections were for the next four quarters. I wanted to see the profit and loss account but she’s not sure she has one?”
“I…” Milly starts. “I’m sorry, I probably have it, I’m just…”
She stammers and fidgets, and I have no idea what she’s wearing but I hate it because I can tell she hates it as well and that coiled rage starts to knot inside me, wondering what the fuck happened since I left.
Elliot seems not to have noticed any of that, and I get it. He’s a finance nerd, that’s why I hired him. Milly could have walked in here in her birthday suit and he still would have started asking her about profits and loss, oblivious to anything else.
But somebody knows what happened here.
“We looked at the—”
“Becca.” I ignore Elliot, guessing already what happened and I’m going to run this train right off the fucking tracks. “Does she look happy? Does she look comfortable?” I sniff, looking at Milly. “You’re in charge of publicity. Image. This your idea?”
“Reid, don’t worry, it’s—”
I hold my hand up as Milly tries to smooth over whatever this disaster is, but I’m having none of it.
I glare at Becca and Maggie. “You think this is a fucking game? This is the most important person that’s ever, ever been in this room and you thought you’d have a little fun at her expense? Is that it?”
“Mr. Andrew, no, I—” Becca’s back peddling but it’s not going to help.
I shake my head, and pound a fist onto the table. “Everyone out. Out!” The team scrambles but I’m not done. “You and you.” I point to Becca and Maggie. “You stand right outside the door. Security will come and walk you out. You’re fired.”
I grab Milly and put my arm around her. Everyone needs to get used to seeing us like this and I’m not wasting another second of my life not touching her. I round the corner, barking at my security officer to walk the women out as we make our way to my office and I close the door behind me and lock us inside.
“I’m sorry—” she starts, but I cut her off with my mouth.
I kiss her until I feel her body soften, then pull back and settle this once and for all. We’re partners, she’s just a little slow to understand how it’s going to work but I have the rest of my life to show her and that life starts right now.