11
Ellen is right, I find Cora on the roof, looking out at the same view as I have in my office, but it’s better with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. She doesn’t react as I come up next to her, just continues to stare into the distance.
“Are you all right?”
“I will be,” she says. “I was hoping that maybe meeting me, he would change. I ignored the stuff at the bar because I thought it was just a business tactic. I just…I didn’t want it to be this way.”
“Neither did I. Jack came to me earlier, he’d found out about us from someone at The Palace. He said that if I didn’t sign the papers that he would spread the word that I had harassed and assaulted you. I couldn’t let that happen to you, so I thought that if you weren’t at the company, I could spin it. That’s why I fired you.”
She nods. “I get it. I do. When I confronted him about the money today he basically said the same thing, that he would ruin me if I spoke out. I was coming to talk to you about it.”
“I’m sorry about him.”
She shrugs. “I had hope, but honestly, I didn’t know him well enough for this to hurt. He’s shown what’s important to him now. It’s more…a loss of what I had hoped for.” Leaning against the railing of the roof, she sighs. “I understand why you did it, but Michael, don’t ever lie to me again. I’ve had enough of it in my life, and I’m sick of it. I refuse to be involved with any more liars.”
I put my hand on her shoulder, and thankfully she doesn’t pull away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I didn’t know any other way to protect you.”
She laughs, finally looking at me. “I hope you finally understand that I don’t need protection. I can take care of myself. I’m not with you because I need you to coddle me or shelter me. I’m with you because you make me happy.”
“And are you? With me?”
There’s hope in her face and it crushes me that she might think I don’t want her. “Am I?”
“Yes,” I say, pulling her against me, “you matter to me. You were right before, in my office, but I couldn’t tell you because you left so quickly. I do love you. I’m an idiot that it had to take us being threatened to realize it, but I do. For a while now.”
I kiss her, and she melts into me, and the relief I feel is the sweetest damn thing in the world. Cora kisses me back, arms twining around my neck, and then she’s laughing and I’m laughing, and I feel like I can fly.
“I guess that means that I’m not fired.”
“No, Ma’am. In fact, if you want, I’d like to offer you a job far, far, in advance after you graduate.”
Cora’s jaw drops open. “Are you serious?”
“Turns out I’m going to need someone to help me navigate the balance between new and old. Someone to help me expand this company the right way, one step at a time, but fast enough that we never fall behind. I, for one, think you’d be perfect, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes, of course that’s what I want!” she says, jumping into my arms.
I spin her around like we’re in an old time romance movie, kissing her as I do.
“It’s only lunchtime,” I say, “but what do you say we take the rest of the day off and celebrate?”
She smiles, her red hair blowing around us in the wind. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“After all,” I say, “you caused a lot of trouble this morning. Do you know what happens to naughty girls who cause trouble?”
Cora pouts, but her eyes are still twinkling. “Am I going to be punished? I really am awfully sorry for all the trouble I caused, Sir.”
“Then hopefully you’ll learn your lesson and not do it again.” I lean closer so that I can whisper in her ear. “Because I’m not letting you go. Ever.”
She grins up at me. “That sounds perfect.”