Chapter 38
ELI
Transfixed by Sapphire as she sings at the top of her lungs, badly, I might add, I move through her office toward her as her passionate employees gather around her like she’s a fucking pop star, singing along with her, their hands in the air.
Sapphire might look like a pop star, but she can’t sing like one; it’s about the only thing she can’t do, and yet she isn’t giving up—she’s giving it all she has.
It isn’t very good; it sounds like a screeching cat’s choir, and at the same time, it’s utterly brilliant, my smile growing with every step toward her.
As she spins around, her dress swooshes out to the sides like a flamenco dancer, the soft tones of her pink-and-yellow dress catching the light, making her look mystical and so fucking beautiful. I almost can’t believe she’s mine.
Belting out the second verse of “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, Sapphire croons, arching her neck back, delivering a stellar impression of a pop star, microphone in hand, her eyes closed, completely lost in the music.
When she invited me to her office after our most successful staff conference ever, I had no idea this was her plan: karaoke with the staff. Knowing her and her business as I do now, this is what they do when they pull off something big, win an award, or they simply do it because they love karaoke.
Between these singing sessions, ping-pong tables, and the smoothie station they have, it didn’t make sense to me at first. But after watching her team in action today and seeing the buzz they created all day—motivating staff and delivering boring business theories in the most incredible way—I understand now. I get it all.
I get her.
My Sapphire.
Where she gets the energy to sing after a long day of delivering workshops, I have no idea. I’m surprised she still has her voice.
Pointing out into the crowd gathered around her, she looks so serious, fully immersing herself in the beat and the high vibe of the upbeat song I know will be stuck in my head for weeks. I take a mental photo, branding this memory into my mind.
Snapping her eyes open, she spots me through the sea of her employees, throws me a smile—the one made just for me—and beckons me to her.
I point to my chest and mouth, “Me?” She nods enthusiastically, and I shake my head in response and flash her the palm of my hand in a no gesture.
“Yes, Eli. Join me!” She sing-songs with her words, and everyone else joins in and starts chanting my name.
Oh, Jesus Christ. I thought we were going out for dinner, not… well, not a sing-along-with-Sapphire session.
Winking at me, she keeps singing, bouncing up and down, dancing to the infectious song.
Before I know what’s happening, she dances her way toward me, grabs my tie, then drags me by my neck.
She turns around, drapes my tie over her shoulder like I’m on a leash, and pulls me along behind her.
She’s got me exactly where she wants me. She always does.
Whoops and cheers build around as she drags me onto the small stage.
I’m at her mercy as she spins around and tugs me to her by my tie, thrusting the microphone in my face, and I’m forced to sing a line from the song, but I don’t know the words.
“You’re crazy,” I shout instead, causing her employees to cheer even louder.
“Dance, Eli!” Sapphire warbles at the top of her lungs and spins around, letting my tie go and swooshing it away.
With her hands in the air she shakes her ass without a care in the world, a vision of complete happiness.
I can’t help myself but join in, my feet already moving, and I’m dancing, her spirit infectious.
I lace my arms around her waist and pull her to me, sing the chorus, the only words I know, as the clapping, laughing, and singing continue to bellow around us.
“What the fuck are we doing?” I yell with the biggest smile on my face.
She exclaims gleefully, “Having fun, Eli.”
Fun.
I never thought that was meant for me. Now I know how wrong I was about that.
This is the most fun I’ve had in years… Nope, scratch that. Ever.