Chapter 10
The city felt alive as we arrived at the triplex. Easton had never seen it before, and his reaction was everything I’d hoped for. His eyes widened as we stepped into the marble-floored foyer, the elegance of the space making an immediate impact.
“Holy shit, Joey,” he murmured, spinning slowly to take it all in. The place was stunning—high ceilings, modern art on the walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Park Avenue.
I smiled, finally feeling a bit lighter after the tension of the last few months. “It’s something, isn’t it?”
“Something?” He laughed, running his hand along the back of a sleek leather couch. “This place is incredible. I can’t believe you’ve never stayed here before.”
I shrugged, heading toward the terrace. “Colson and I had plans to live here during the winter, but… things didn’t go as planned.”
Easton followed me out to the terrace, and I could see the awe in his eyes as he took in the view.
The terrace was expansive, with a private pool, several seating areas, and a stunning view of the city skyline.
The warmth of the almost-summer air wrapped around us, and I breathed in deeply, the scent of fresh flowers mingling with the city’s energy.
“This is unreal,” Easton said, leaning against the railing. “You could see all of Manhattan from here.”
I nodded, joining him at the railing, the city sprawling out beneath us like a glittering maze. “I love it here. I used to visit Central Park with my parents when I was little, and now I’m just a few blocks away. It feels… exciting. Like I’m starting a new chapter.”
But even as I said the words, a pang of melancholy hit me. The excitement of the city, the thrill of being here—it all felt muted, knowing I couldn’t share it with Colson. I stared out at the park in the distance, the memories flooding back.
Easton noticed my change in mood, his hand resting on my shoulder. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
I sighed, not bothering to deny it. “I can’t help it. He should be here with me, experiencing this. We had so many plans, Easton. And now… now it’s just me.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, just let the silence between us settle. Finally, he spoke, his voice soft. “You know he’d want you to enjoy this, right? He wouldn’t want you to be sad.”
I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn’t lessen. “I know. But it’s hard. I look around, and all I can think about is what we won’t share. This city, this place, it was supposed to be our future. Now it’s just a reminder of what I’ve lost.”
Easton turned to face me, his expression serious. “Joey, you’re allowed to be sad, but you’re also allowed to live. Dad wouldn’t want you to waste away in grief. This triplex, this life—it’s still yours to enjoy. Don’t let Vaughn or anyone else take that away from you.”
I blinked, surprised by the conviction in his voice. “You’re right,” I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I need to start living again. For me.”
“And you will,” Easton said, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “This is just the beginning. You’ve got an entire summer in the city ahead of you. And I’m here, so we’ll make the most of it.”
I smiled, genuinely this time, feeling a spark of hope. “You’re right. It’s time to make some new memories.”
“Damn right,” Easton grinned, stepping back from the railing. “Now, how about we christen this terrace with some drinks? We can toast to new beginnings.”
I nodded, following him inside. The sadness still lingered, but it didn’t feel as heavy anymore. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to move forward—to start living the life I’d envisioned, even if it wasn’t exactly how I’d planned.
As Easton rummaged through the kitchen for a bottle of alcohol, I took one last look out at the city.
I once dreamed of living in Manhattan, but it was out of my reach until I married Colson – now it was all possible.
And as I thought about what the future might hold, I knew I had to make the most of it—for Colson, for myself, and for the life I still had left to live.
The Monday morning light streamed through the tall windows of Vaughn’s office, casting an unwelcome warmth over the polished wood and sleek lines of the space.
I stood just inside the doorway, my eyes sweeping over the room that had once been Colson’s sanctuary.
Vaughn had wasted no time in claiming it for himself after his father died.
I didn’t fight him on it. I knew I had to pick my battles.
Vaughn was at the head of the conference table, his gaze icy as he watched me enter. The other executives were already seated, shuffling papers and pretending not to notice the tension in the air. Vaughn had made it clear from the moment I walked in that he had no interest in civility today.
I took a seat opposite him, carefully arranging my notes in front of me. “Good morning,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. The room offered a chorus of greetings in return, but Vaughn stayed silent, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me.
“So,” Vaughn began, his tone clipped. “Let’s get to it. We have a lot to cover, and I don’t want to waste time.”
He launched into the agenda with the precision of someone looking to prove a point.
Every word out of his mouth was a veiled jab, an attempt to undermine me in front of the team.
He questioned decisions I’d made, insinuated that I was out of touch, and made sure to emphasize every mistake I’d ever made.
But I didn’t take the bait. Instead, I responded with calm, measured answers, refusing to let his barbs rattle me.
Vaughn’s frustration grew with each passing minute. “Josephine,” he finally snapped, his voice louder than necessary. “Maybe you’d like to explain to the team why our Q2 projections are falling short. Or is that beyond your capabilities?”
I met his glare head-on, my voice cool. “The projections are short because we had to pivot our strategy after losing a major client—something we all agreed was necessary to protect our reputation. We’re already seeing positive results from the new approach, and I’m confident we’ll meet our targets by Q3. ”
Vaughn scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Confident? That’s cute. But confidence doesn’t pay dividends, Josephine. Competence does. Maybe if you’d spent more time on the numbers instead of decorating your triplex, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
The room went silent, all eyes shifting nervously between us. Vaughn’s words were designed to provoke, to humiliate me in front of the others.
But I wasn’t going to let him win. Not like this.
I leaned forward, my voice low but firm. “If you have an issue with the way I’m handling things, Vaughn, we can discuss it. But we’re not going to do it in front of the team. So, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to have a private discussion.”
Vaughn’s eyes flashed with anger, his jaw tightening. He hadn’t expected me to stand my ground, especially not in front of everyone. But I saw the flicker of uncertainty in his expression. He knew he was pushing too far, and now he was caught.
The executives exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Vaughn looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew better than to make a scene.
“Fine,” he bit out, his voice dripping with disdain. “Everyone out. Now.”
Chairs scraped against the floor as the executives hurriedly gathered their things and made for the door. No one dared to look at either of us as they filed out. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving me alone with Vaughn in the cavernous room.
He was on his feet the moment they were gone, pacing behind his chair like a caged animal. “You think you can come in here and tell me how to run my own company? You’re delusional, Josephine.”
I stood as well, keeping my posture calm and collected. “This is OUR company, Vaughn. Colson made sure of that. I’m not here to undermine you, but I won’t let you treat me like an outsider.”
“You are an outsider!” he shouted, his face red with fury. “You don’t belong here, you never did! You’re just some charity case my father took pity on, and now you think you can play CEO? You’re pathetic.”
The words stung, but I refused to let them show. “I’m here because I’ve earned my place, Vaughn. And whether you like it or not, I’m not going anywhere.”
He stopped pacing, turning to face me with a look of pure venom. “You’re a fucking joke, Josephine. Everyone knows it. They’re just waiting for you to fail.”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Maybe they are. But I’m not going to fail, Vaughn. And neither will this company. Not if we work together.”
He stared at me for a long moment, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained rage. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the war between his resentment and his fear of losing control.
Finally, he turned away, running a hand through his hair. “Get out,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Just get out.”
I didn’t move right away, watching him struggle with his emotions. “Vaughn,” I said softly, “this doesn’t have to be a battle. We’re on the same side.”
He didn’t respond, his back to me, his shoulders tense. I knew better than to push him any further. So, without another word, I turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind me.
As I walked down the hallway, my heart pounded in my chest. I had held my ground, but I knew this was only the beginning. Vaughn was determined to make my life a living hell, and I would have to be ready.
I spent the rest of the day holed up in my office, my focus waning as the hours ticked by.
I nibbled on a protein bar I found in my drawer, too drained to venture out for anything more substantial.
The morning’s confrontation had drained me, and I wasn’t in the mood to face anyone.
I wished I could talk to Easton or even Simone, but they were both off for the week.
If they’d been here, maybe the morning wouldn’t have been such a disaster.