Fat Cat Liar
“Do you like it?” she asks cautiously.
“I love it. When did you decide to do this? I thought you didn’t know what you wanted to do with this side of the house.”
“We discussed doing an office.”
“This is more than an office; it’s a suite. It’s also larger than three-quarters of the apartments in this building.”
“I’ve decided to bring my work here. It’s been—”
“Wait,” I interrupt. “When did you make this decision, and why didn’t you tell me?”
“Let me finish. I knew me returning to work was stressing you out, and honestly, it began to weigh on my mind as well. I love my job and have no plans to quit or slow down, but that’s the beauty of having my own business. I call the shots, so I set the plan in motion. First thing I had to do was discuss it with Dad because he’s my business partner, and Hayley because she’s my employee. As suspected, neither of them had a problem and were thrilled with the idea. There are a lot of moving parts, but my idea is to be in Blakely’s a few days a week and work from home the other. It may take some time to work out the kinks, especially when my clients have evening or weekend events, but we’ll figure it out. Hayley has done an excellent job keeping the business thriving during my maternity leave. She’s flexible with coming here if needed. As far as Jade goes, she’s with me until we have to make a decision on a nanny.”
“All of that sounds fantastic, but what’s with this?” I jerk my chin to indicate my office.
“This is because my uber-talented husband, whom also happens to the be the Vice President of Architecture at the most sought-after firm in New York, needs a space to design.”
“I have an office.”
“Yes, but you also have a possessive, protective, and controlling streak that’s seeping into the business.”
I jerk my chin, narrowing my eyes and feeling the rumbling low in my gut. “Who got to you?”
“Do you need the list?”
“People need to keep their mouth shut. I’m handling it.”
“No, you’re not. You turned down another RFP last week. That’s unlike you.”
“No, that’s unlike the old me. Now, my priorities are different.”
“No, that’s the controlling Lawson Hall, the man who hasn’t found his replacement and refuses to appoint an
yone to take the load off his shoulders.”
“Morris is doing better than it has in a decade. Our profits are skyrocketing and business is booming. We can afford to skip over a few RFPs. If we bid on all the projects coming in, I’d be working twenty-four seven and I’m not prepared to do that. That side of me almost lost you, and I’ll never go back there.”
Her eyes soften, and she brings her hand to wave in front of my face. The radiant diamond set sparkles. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t actually lose me.”
“Greer, my personal life is not going to be jeopardized for the sake of business. Grandpa, Rob, Dad, and everyone else knows how I feel. They knew it when I took the promotion.”
“Nothing is going to be jeopardized. That’s why I’m stepping in, taking my own control, and making decisions. You’re not going to fight me on this.”
“I’m not fighting you on anything.”
“I know how much you love me and Jade, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be the powerful business executive, too. You don’t have to choose. You can actually have it all.”
I want to argue with her, but there’s a buzz of excitement that through my bloodstream. It’s not lost on me that I’ve made some decisions that affect the company based on my fear of the job taking away from my family. Rumblings around the office are that I’ve gone soft, my drive disappearing. At her words, I realize how the fire that once fueled me still lives inside. Only now, it’s stronger than ever because I have her.
“Have it all, huh? You gonna be able to live with that?”
“Hell yes, I miss the cocky arrogance and egotistical asshole that was once known as Lawson Hall. I heard the stories and I think it’s hot.” She emphasizes hot in a seductive whisper and leans in, pulling my bottom lip between her teeth. “I chose to marry that man for a reason.”
She backs away before I can react, bouncing in my lap. “Before we get to the last part of your surprise, open this.”
I take the package from her and rip it open, freezing at the picture frame inside. Staring back at me is a photo of Greer and Jade, both wearing NYU shirts, and Greer in my favorite ragged hat that she loves.
Their green eyes shine so bright, so blinding, my throat starts to close. It wasn’t long after she was born that Jade’s eyes started to transform into the same shade as her mother’s. It was something I’d hoped for but immediately knew would haunt me later in life, because they are a mesmerizing crystal green that will one day attract attention from assholes like me.