Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Case
I sit Emma back down in the chair because all the color has drained from her beautiful face.
A dozen thoughts crowd my mind, but all I can focus on is the fact that I can tell her that the job is based in San Francisco.
I could build a life with her.
We’d take Cabbott to the next level hand-in-hand.
“Are you mad at Drake?” Her question breaks through my fantasy.
“Disappointed,” I answer truthfully.
I was seething a few minutes ago, but I’ve placed the weight of the world on my best friend’s shoulders. I dropped my business into his lap seven years ago and expected him to take the reins until I found my footing again.
I gave him the impossible task of sorting through details of the life I left behind here in New York. No one should expect another to take care of some of the things I pushed at him.
But he did it. He never complained or questioned me.
He cared enough to give me a clear path to heal after the worst experience of my life.
How can I rail on him for this?
“I don’t think he meant to steal anything from me,” Emma says quietly. “Drake isn’t like that.”
Drake is as devoted to Cabbott as I am. Breaking into the educational app space is a big step for us.
He looked to his sister for inspiration, so it’s on him to sort that out with her on a personal level.
I won’t get into the middle of that, but I will do what I can do to look out for Emma’s best interests.
I can fool myself into believing I’m doing this to cover Cabbott Mobile’s ass since Drake took her idea and ran to the bank with it.
That’s not why I’m going to have contracts drawn up that guarantee Emma will be well compensated for her creative ingenuity.
I want her to get what is due to her.
She deserves this.
“I’ll talk to Drake about this,” I offer. “You’ll get to work finding a lawyer. I want all of this handled as soon as possible.”
Her gaze drops to her lap. “I know a lawyer in Seattle. He helped me with my contract when I signed on with the Garrington Academy.”
“Did Archie recommend him?”
She glances at me with perked brows. “Yes. Beauregard said he handled the estate planning for his grandparents too.”
“He’s not going to work for this.” I lean against the edge of the desk, crossing my feet at the ankles. “You need someone who specializes in contract work. I can have Elias put together a list of attorneys in Manhattan who are skilled in that area.”
“Someone in your back pocket?” She winks, or her nervous tic has got a hold of her.
“The only lawyers in my back pocket work for Cabbott.” I look her in the eye, so she understands I’m serious. “I won’t steer you wrong on this, Emma. I want this above board for obvious reasons.”
She drops her head into her hands, shielding her face from my view. “Is this really happening?”
“It is.”
Her hands fall to the desk, but she keeps her head bowed. “Where will I work? I mean, what city will I work in? I know you have different offices.”
With expectation swimming in them, her eyes meet mine as she waits for me to answer.
The urge to say ‘San Francisco’ is almost overwhelming, but I stop myself.
“We’ll figure out those details in the contract.”
With a faint nod of her head, she glances at the desk. “When I came to New York, I didn’t think my entire life would change.”
Neither did I.
The moment breaks with a knock on the door.
Fuck.
“What?” I bark out, knowing that it has to be Elias on the other side.
He opens the door with a flourish and a smile. “We got it, sir! The framework issue on Letter Leap is fixed.”
“Thank Christ,” I mutter under my breath.
Emma slides to her feet. “We should celebrate.”
Elias nods a little too exuberantly for someone who isn’t getting near any celebration that involves Emma. “I’ll get some champagne.”
“You’ll get the hell out of the office.” I shoot him a look. “Give Emma and I a minute alone, and then I’ll head down to check out the fix.”
He laughs like I’m jesting.
Fool.
“Out, Elias.” I take a step toward him. “Get Drake on the phone. I want him informed of where we are on this.”
“On it, sir.”
Once the door is shut, I tug Emma closer to me. “I need some time to check on this.”
“I need some time too.”
She doesn’t expand, and I don’t pry. I just dropped a future in her lap that she didn’t see coming.
I wish to fuck I could offer more. I want to give her everything she deserves.
“I’ll see you at the apartment later?” She runs a hand over my bicep. “Or do I need to steer clear of the place?”
“Maya won’t show up today,” I assure her with a smile. “You are more than welcome to get naked and wait for me.”
Her lips brush mine in a soft kiss. “I might have to put that on my agenda.”
I scan the watch on my wrist. “I’ll do my best to make it back by seven.”
“I’ll do my best to not touch myself until then.”
A groan escapes me. “Fuck. You’ll make me hard if you talk like that.”
“Just think about it.” Her finger trails a path over my chin. “I’d give almost anything to feel this on my thighs again.”
I grab her hand and press it to the light beard covering my jaw. “This?”
With a perch up to her tiptoes, she kisses me again. Her tongue strokes mine, tempting me. “And that. I want to feel that again.”
“You have yourself a deal.” I cup the back of her neck with my hand. “I’ll see you later, Freckles.”
“You can count on it, Rush.”