Chapter 33
DEFENDED YOU
“Well, well,” Noelle said on Monday morning, setting her laptop on the conference table. “I saw pictures of the event West was at on Saturday night.”
Spencer lifted his eyes from his email. Braylon would be in soon along with a few other staff members for their weekly meeting.
“That’s nice,” he said.
“I wasn’t that surprised to see you there. Or even London for that matter,” Noelle said.
“Then what was the comment about?”
“It was the way you had your arm around London,” Noelle said, moving closer. “Did you see this picture?”
He’d seen several pictures of that night. There was one where his arm was around her waist, her leaning close into his ear. Before Ryker came over.
Before their fight.
It was even before West arrived.
What should have been a great night for them turned into one of his worst.
The only good results were the next day when he finally convinced himself that he could be open with the woman he loved.
He could be honest.
He could be raw.
He was accepting her and she did the same of him.
He hadn’t needed his mother to tell him what he already knew. But maybe he needed a reminder of it.
She slid her laptop toward him. “I look pretty good there, don’t you think?” he asked.
Noelle shrank back in confusion. He threw her off.
He never joked like that. Ever.
Everything he did in this office was always professional. Maybe even boring in some people’s eyes.
London made him realize that.
That being freer with his emotions didn’t mean he didn’t take his job seriously.
It didn’t mean he still wouldn’t be respected.
“You do,” Noelle said slowly. “But you and London look a lot cozier there than coworkers.”
“Because we are,” he said and dropped his head back to his email.
“Like, you’re dating?” Noelle asked, her voice rising.
He flicked his gaze back up. “I wasn’t aware my personal life was a concern in this office to anyone.”
“I’m sure it will be to Braylon and West. It’s their cousin. We know that’s why their company was formed.”
Was she threatening him? That was rich.
He looked toward the door that was still closed. Noelle was earlier than normal. He was here trying to get some work done before the meeting and only came in because maintenance was working in his office replacing a light.
“That isn’t why their company was formed. I’m not sure where you get your information from or why you’re judgmental about those things.”
Noelle’s back straightened. “I’m just honest.”
“No. You’re a lot more than that. And not in a good way. Your jealousy isn’t a good look in this office. For you, me, or the company.”
“I’m not jealous of anyone,” Noelle said, damn close to a shout.
“I’m stating a fact. They can get away with anything because of who they are and now it’s because London is dating you.
That’s why you’ve been so harsh with me.
If I’d known you were dating, I wouldn’t have said half of what I have about her.
But you never let on. You never told me.
You let me embarrass myself. That’s a shitty boss if you ask me. ”
Was Noelle right?
He didn’t think so.
“You did that yourself. More than once you’d start saying negative things toward London and I’d correct you. I’d tell you to look at the bigger picture and when you wouldn’t, I’d tell you to just do your job.”
“I’m not sure why this has to be turned around on me. And there is no way Braylon or West knows this. Unless that is why everything is going so smoothly. Because of your relationship with their cousin.”
He wanted to lean back and cross his arms, but he didn’t.
She wasn’t getting the rise out of him she hoped.
But he was damn well going to defend the woman he loved and the career he had worked so hard for.
“Braylon and his entire family are aware of my relationship with London and have been for some time. Not that it’s any concern of yours. As for London’s ability to do her job, she’s great at what she does. Maybe if you opened your eyes some more, you’d see how a true professional acts.”
Noelle laughed. “Now I know you’re joking. London is the least professional person I know.”
“That’s wrong,” he said. “You have your opinion of her and that is your right, but what she has and you lack is her awareness ability. And the fact that when she’s wrong, she’ll own up to it. Being humble goes a long way. And it’s something you could learn from.”
The door opened and Braylon came in, looked between the two of them, and asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Noelle was admiring the pictures of me and London on Saturday night. I was explaining why my girlfriend’s company was doing so well and things Noelle could benefit from in her own professional career.”
Braylon smirked and pulled out a chair. “We’ve been saying that for months.”
“Months?” Noelle said, her voice low, her face bright red.
“Yes,” he said. “I think that at times people need to reevaluate their careers and find what works best for them. It might be time for you to look at that, Noelle, don’t you agree?”
“I guess so.”
She put her head down and sat. “I’ll gladly sit down and go over a few areas of improvement,” he said. “If you’re willing. Otherwise, we can just form a plan of action to move forward for what is best for this company as well as yourself.”
The rest of the staff came in, the meeting went for an hour and Braylon stayed in with Spencer when it ended.
“That calm response to Noelle actually made me want to scratch my skin. I’m not sure how you do that.”
“Years of practice,” he said. “I’ll be meeting with her by the end of the week. That’s my final warning to her and will be documented.”
Braylon nodded. No more conversation needed to be done. He knew how to do his job. “It must drive London insane when you talk like that.”
He laughed. “She’s got my number. Or I’ve got hers.”
“It’s usually the way it works,” Braylon said.
He got up and walked out with his boss, then left the office with a bag in his hand and went to see London.
“Hi, Molly. Is London available?”
“She’s in her office,” Molly said.
He moved past the assistant and down the hall, turned the corner and saw the woman he loved waiting for his entrance.
“What do I owe this surprise to?”
“A couple of things. I wanted you to know that I just defended you.”
“You did?” she asked, her shoulders wiggling some. “To who? Oh never mind. I’m sure it’s Noelle.”
“It was.” He explained what the conversation was about, then Braylon coming in. “You’ll be happy to know Braylon said it annoyed him how professionally I handled it. It’s not just you.”
“Thank God for that,” she said. “But I’m used to you now.”
“That’s what I said. I guess we both have to figure it out in our own ways. What works for us, professionally and personally.”
“We are both getting there. I’m learning to watch my words a little more carefully during the workweek. You have to admit it, right?”
“You have gotten better, but I’m not so sure you were horrible before. I realize now that you just wanted it so fiercely and when you do, sometimes your emotions get the best of you. Like a dog laying its scent down.”
“Spencer! That’s nasty.” She was roaring with laughter. “But so true.”
“See. I know you well.”
“You do. Not many can say that.”
“Or can survive it.”
“Look at you cracking jokes. I feel as if once you expressed your love for me, your professional wall is cracking and the personality I fell in love with is seeping out for others to see.”
“It won’t bother you if that happens?”
“Nope. I like you that way. I like you all ways. I guess each way has a reason and works best for us,” she said, her smile bright.
“That’s how I’m thinking of things. I know that I’m good at what I do.”
“Great at what you do,” she said. “Just like me. I got here with a little help, but I also know that I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have if I weren’t already great.”
He pointed his finger at her. “You’ve got a big ego too.”
“I need it to keep up with yours. Are you going to tell me what is in that bag?”
“Here,” he said, putting it on her desk.
She pulled out the tissue paper, then lifted the box. “Oh wow. It’s the mug that Beau broke during her one day working here. How did you find it?”
“It wasn’t easy. I asked your mother where she got it and she couldn’t remember. But I scoured the internet and finally found one. I’ve had it a few weeks. Right about the time I knew beyond a doubt I loved you.”
“Why haven’t you given it to me?” She took it out of the box, almost hugging it to her chest in happiness.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of scaring you along with myself.”
“We aren’t going to go there again, are we?”
“No. But I wanted you to know, I’ve been struggling for weeks.”
“And I had no clue,” she said. “I don’t know that I like you keeping it all hidden that well.”
“I’m not going to do it anymore.” He moved closer to her desk, put his hand out for her stand and then pulled her into his arms. “That’s why I’m giving this to you now. I need you to know that I’m all in.”
She hugged him tight, their bodies pressing together. “Are you sure you can handle my fieriness?”
“I think I’m the only one who can,” he said, kissing her forehead.
She leaned back and plastered a loud, smacking kiss on his lips. “You’re right. You are!”