The Contract (The Contract 1)

“Your reaction told me everything I needed to know. You were upset, yet you immediately reached out to comfort Katy. I knew you had really changed.” He grinned. “Sorry for the subterfuge.”

I stuck out my hand, which he took, shaking it hard. “I understand.”

He flipped the lid shut. “Use it and bring a few more things into the office. Make it yours, Richard.”

“Does anyone know?”

“Outside the family, no. The staff thinks you’ve been off with Katy. You come in on Monday and start again. No one else is the wiser.”

“Thank you. I won’t let you down this time.”

“I know,” he said and nodded emphatically. “I know.”A short while later, Graham shook my hand goodbye. “I’ll see you Monday.”

Laura gave Katy one last hug, then turned to me. “We expect great things of you, Richard.”

“I’ll deliver.”

She patted my cheek. “I know you will.”

“I have a lot to make up for, and I’ll do my best.”

“We’re starting fresh. You come in on Monday with a clean slate with Graham and me.” She smiled ruefully. “You can work through your relationships with Adam, Jenna, and Adrian on your own. They had equal say in keeping you on, and they all were for it.” She arched an eyebrow at me knowingly. “Although, I think one of my children may have more to say on the subject than the other.”

I snickered. “Of that I have no doubt, and I’ll take whatever anger Jenna wants to direct my way. I’ll make sure to talk to all of them in private next week.”

“Welcome back on board, Richard.”

“Thank you.”

I walked them to the elevator, returning a few moments later. Katy wasn’t inside the door, or in the living room. I hurried up the stairs, surprised when I found her sitting on the chaise in her old room.

“Sweetheart?”

She looked up, a somber look on her face.

“What is it? Why are you in here?”

She shrugged. “I was thinking.”

I sat down in front of her, cupping her face. “About?”

“How nervous and scared I was the first night I spent here.”

“About being here—with me?”

“That and the future. In one move, you had changed my entire life. I wasn’t in that horrid little apartment, I was leaving my job, and I had no idea how we were going to pull off such an elaborate charade. All I could think was how bad it was going to fail, and I didn’t know how I was going to pick up the pieces when it did.” She paused, her finger tracing the pattern on the cushion. “My thoughts were chaotic and I was so uncertain.”

“I wasn’t any help either, was I?”

She tilted her head, studying me. “No, actually, your calmness, the way you took control of everything was a help. You were so certain, so intent on your goal; I had only to follow your lead.”

“Would it help to know I was in awe of you even then, Katy? You showed me so much bravery.” I smirked as I remembered our earlier conversations. “The first time you told me to go fuck myself—I saw a spark you kept hidden. You stopped being the doormat I mistakenly thought you were and became a force.” I pushed her hair away from her shoulder, caressing the silky strands. “You became my force. My light.”

“You became my everything,” she whispered.

I bent low, brushing my mouth over hers. “How far we’ve come.”

“Today was a good day.”

“It was. I’ve signed a new contract; I get to go back to work on Monday to a place where I really want to be. We can stay in Victoria, and the best part of all, is that I have you. We can make a life together.”

“I think I want to go back to work.”

I was somewhat surprised. “Why? You don’t have to.”

“I know, but what am I going to do all day, Richard? Wander around an empty condo? Paint and repaint rooms? I want to be useful.” She sighed. “I don’t have Penny to fill my days anymore.”

The sadness of her words made my heart tighten.

“What about some volunteer work besides the shelter? You know so many of the residents at Golden Oaks—maybe you could spend some time there. I’m sure they’d appreciate the help.”

“I thought of that.”

I shifted forward, pulling her close. “Katy, I want you to do whatever you want to do. Volunteer, work, whatever makes you happy. But, listen to me, sweetheart. The past few months have been one thing after another for you. Everything you said earlier about how I changed your life is true.” I stroked the softness of her cheek with my knuckles. “And although it’s turned out well, I know how stressful it all was on you. Everything changed in your life, and you lost Penny. I know, at times, it must overwhelm you, so I’m going to ask you to think about it. Don’t rush into anything. Please.”