Claimed (For Her 3)

“Am I going to have to move your desk to this floor?” I pull back at the sound of Miles’s voice.

“Sir,” I greet him. Normally I know when he’s coming, but this time I was distracted. Mallory’s standing next to him with a giant smile on her face.

“Miles,” he corrects.

“I, ah—”

“Don’t worry about it, Jay. If anyone gets it, it’s him,” Mallory says before turning and kissing Miles. “Glad everything is okay,” she tells me, pulling me into a hug before heading to her office.

“When you’re done…” Miles nods toward his office door and then walks away, leaving us alone.

“I’m so getting fired,” I mumble to Jordan, who looks happy at the idea.

I know I’m not really getting fired, but I’m not on my A-game anymore. Something in me has shifted. I used to be crazy about work, making sure everything is done and perfect, but that spark isn’t there anymore.

“Look at me.” Jordan tilts my face up to meet his eyes. “If anyone knows life is short, it’s us. Quit. I know you want to. You don’t have to be out of here today, but you can start that path. I have more money than we’ll ever need.”

“I’ll talk to him.” I glance over at Miles’s office doors.

“I’m going to talk to Ryan and Paige, too. A lot of what I do can be done from home. I want to be a hands-on dad like mine was. I want to be a part of all the firsts we have.” His hand slides to my stomach. In this moment I know what I have to do. My passion for work has shifted. I know I’m a driven person, but my drive is now somewhere else, not here.

“Kiss me.” I use his own words. He leans down and does as I ask. “Go to work,” I tell him.

He stares down at me, and I know he doesn’t want to leave me. “I promise I won’t leave this floor until you come get me for lunch.” I lift up the bracelet. “Go listen to me quit my job.”

He smiles and gives me another kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I say instantly. He straightens and pulls out his wallet, getting his elevator card out. I snatch it from him. “Lost mine.”

He gives a little chuckle. “Guess I’ll wait like a commoner.” He winks at me as he makes his way to the elevator.

I smile, watching him leave. Letting out a deep sigh, I pick up my notepad and make my way to Miles’s office. I give a small knock before opening the door.

“Come in.” He motions for me to sit in the chair in front of his desk. I take my seat, unsure of where to start. Luckily Miles goes first.

“We’ve worked side by side for a while, and I know what’s coming,” he says, taking me by surprise. “I know we aren’t what people might call friends, but you’ve been with me making sure anything and everything Osbourne Corp. might need is handled. You’ve been my right hand a lot of times. You might not see it, but to me you have been my friend. I don’t get close to a lot of people. If anyone knows that, it’s you. But you are my friend, and that’s why I’m letting you go.” He pauses for a second. “You’re fired,” he says, tossing an envelope in front of me.

“I…” I’m shocked. Was I given a compliment and fired at the same time?

“Pick it up,” Miles says, gesturing to the envelope. I reach out and pick it up. “It’s your severance package.”

I open the envelope and see there’s a check inside. I glance over the zeros, and all the air leaves my lungs. It’s for five million dollars.

“Sir!” I scream.

“And she’s still calling me sir,” Miles says with a laugh.

“Well, technically I don’t work for you anymore, so I can do as I wish,” I tell him, only making him laugh more. My heart is in my throat. This is way too much money.

“Don’t fight it. Take the check,” he says. “You know it’s a drop in the bucket for me, and you earned it. You’ve helped the company become what it is.” I look across the desk at him and feel my eyes moisten. Stupid pregnancy hormones.

“Thank you, Miles. You’ve always taken good care of me.” I tuck the check away and put it in my lap. “I’d like to stay on to train someone new. Someone to replace me,” I tell him.

He smiles and shakes his head slightly. “No one could ever replace you, Jay.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Jay

“Little bird,” Jordan says to me, placing a hand on my leg. I can’t stop from bouncing it. I feel like I’m going to burst with excitement. Today has gone better than I thought it would. Between Miles being okay with me wanting to leave, to seeing Pop… I know he’s going to be just as excited as we are about my being pregnant.