12. Grayson
12
The sound of the jet engines fades away as Amara and I step onto the tarmac, the harsh reality of our return to the city hitting me like a punch to the gut. The blissful bubble of our romantic getaway has burst, and now we're back in the real world, where deadlines loom and the pressure to succeed never lets up.
I glance over at Amara, taking in the soft curve of her smile and the way the sunlight glints off her hair. I can still smell the salt water on her skin, and savor it, a souvenir of our romantic getaway. The first of many, I hope.
She looks relaxed, happy, and I feel a surge of possessiveness wash over me. I want her to feel this way all the time. Sophia’s threats to come between us could cause lines between her brows with worry, and I can’t have that. She’s too beautiful to worry.
She's mine, and I'll be damned if I let anyone or anything come between us.
The moment I step back into the office, my worst nightmare comes true. I'm immediately bombarded with a barrage of messages and urgent requests. It seems that in my absence, a major deal has fallen through, and now the entire company is scrambling to pick up the pieces.
I feel a surge of anger wash over me, hot and prickly beneath my skin. This is the trade-off for my sun soaked days with Amara. But no good deed goes unpunished, and now it's all blown up in my face.
But as I storm into my office, barking orders and demanding answers, I feel a gentle hand on my arm. It's her, her brown eyes soft and understanding as she looks up at me.
"Grayson," she says quietly, her voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon in the night. "Take a deep breath, sir. We'll untangle this mess together."
I want to push her away, to tell her that I don't need her help, that I can handle this on my own. But as I look into her eyes, I feel something inside me surrender.
She's right.
We're a team now, and we'll face this challenge together.
And the thought drives me wild.
I think I’m really falling for this woman.
“Let’s start with something simple.” She says, distracting me from my growing list of needs, if only for a second.
“Like what?” I ask quickly.
“We need coffee, don’t we?” She suggests with a half smile. She’s right. One thing at a time.
We work side by side, pouring over contracts and financial statements, looking for any way to salvage the deal and keep the company afloat. The stress and intensity of the situation bring us even closer, and I find myself relying on her calm demeanor and quick thinking more than ever before.
It turns late as we're hunched over a pile of papers in my office, I feel a sudden surge of desire wash over me. The way the lamplight plays off her skin, the soft curve of her neck, the intensity of her focus - it's all too much to resist.
She’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. Hardworking, driven, knows I’m a grumpy workaholic. And what’s more, she’s been in the financial trenches with me all day, she knows how tense this work can be, and it doesn’t scare her.
Before I can stop myself, I'm pulling her into my arms, my lips crashing down on hers in a passionate kiss. She responds instantly, her body melting into mine as we lose ourselves in the heat of the moment.
But even as we come up for air, gasping, I feel a flicker of doubt in the back of my mind. What are we doing? We're supposed to be keeping our relationship under wraps, not making out like teenagers in my office.
I pull away, running a hand through my hair as I try to collect my thoughts. "Amara," I say roughly, my voice hoarse with emotion. "We can't do this here. We have to be careful."
She cocks her head to the side, one hand on her hip, and says, “Then you probably shouldn't kiss me like that, sir.”
Her voice sends a quiver through me. But she’s right. I should control myself. I’m the boss here, aren't I? Doesn’t that mean I can do what I want?
But I also know that going public with our relationship could have serious consequences for our careers. I'm the CEO of a major company, and she's my subordinate. There are rules against this kind of thing, and I don't want to put her in a position where she feels like she has to choose between me and her job.
I sigh, my mind spinning with the weight of the decision before me. I need some advice, some perspective from someone I trust.
Later that day, I find myself sitting across from Ethan, my best friend and closest confidant. He's been by my side through every major milestone, every upheaval in my career.
"I need your counsel on a...personal matter," I begin, rubbing my temples wearily.
He arches an eyebrow but says nothing, allowing me to gather my thoughts.
"It's about Amara. My assistant..." I trail off, unsure of how to label the depth of my feelings for her. "She's become more than just an employee. We've grown extremely close during our time together."
Understanding dawns in Ethan’s eyes. "You finally found an assistant who can handle you, huh? How bad is it?"
I nod, feeling like a weight has been lifted by giving voice to the truth. "Worse than I could have imagined. Amara...she's remarkable. Intelligent, driven, insightful. And beautiful, good god, is she beautiful. I’ve got it bad.”
The hint of a smile plays across his lips. "I'm not surprised. You two have incredible chemistry - anyone with eyes could see that."
"Yes, well..." I shift in my seat. "The fact is, we took our relationship to more...intimate levels during the recent trip. And now I find myself utterly incapable of going back to how things were."
He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "I can't say I'm shocked you finally acted on those lingering sparks. What I want to know is, what are your intentions with Miss Amara?"
"My intentions?" The words catch in my throat. "Ethan, I've never felt this way about anyone before. What I have with Amara goes far beyond a casual dalliance. She's...everything."
He holds up a hand. "Everything she may be, Grayson. But she's also an employee of your company. This relationship carries tremendous risk to both your professional and personal lives."
I stiffen, his words striking a nerve. "You think I don't realize that? I'm well aware of the potential consequences for both of us. But I'll be damned if I'll let stuffy corporate rules deny me someone who makes me feel like she does."
His eyes flash with sympathy and concern. "Take a breath, my friend. You know I only want what's best for you."
Exhaling slowly, I nod. "You're right...you're right. I'm sorry. It's just...Amara sets my soul on fire in a way I didn't think was possible anymore. Not after..."
The unspoken name of my ex hangs heavy in the air between us. He reaches across and grips my shoulder firmly.
"Listen to me. My man. I've seen the look in your eyes when you're with that young woman. It's the look of a man who has found his life's great love. And if that's the truth of what you feel, then you must fight for it with every breath. To hell with propriety!"
His words resonate deep within me, shoring up my resolve. "You're right. I can't let this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime connection slip away due to fear or obligation. Amara is the one. And I'll be damned if I don't move heaven and earth to make her mine."
He slaps me squarely between the shoulder blades, his expression one of unbridled pride. "That's the spirit, my friend! It's time the great Grayson Winthrop stopped giving a damn what others think and finally put his own desires first for once."
I stand, newfound determination coursing through me. "You're right. It's time to stop hiding, to stop denying what's so plainly true. I'm going to make Amara mine, rules and reputation be damned."
He rises with me, his eyes shining. "Then go get her, you magnificent bastard!”
We embrace firmly, two men bonded by decades of struggle and triumph in the office, and out. As I turn to leave, I feel a lightness in my steps that hasn't been there in years.
No more hiding, no more doubts.
It's time to make my move and seize the passionate oblivion we've both craved.
My feet jump into Amara’s office a few moments later, pulling her from her monitor with surprise.
“I need to talk to you.” I say, palms sweating. “Let’s do this for real. Let’s go public.”