Epilogue
MALLORY
A FEW MONTHS LATER
"A h, Mallory, there you are," Roberto calls me into his office after I've returned from lunch.
I lean against his door. "Do you need something?"
"Come in for a moment."
I approach his desk.
"Sit down." When I do, he continues: "I won't beat around the bush. You're fired."
I stare at him, shocked. "Excuse me?"
"You're fired as my assistant." He grins, which I don't understand at all. "But I'm hiring you as the new press spokesperson."
I'm even more shocked by this than by the firing. "Excuse me?" I ask again, very confused.
"I've noticed that you thrive with press-related tasks far more than with your other duties. I honestly don't know what I'll do without you, but I value you and your work, so I want to give you this opportunity. We just decided earlier to create this position, and I'd like to offer it to you."
"Wow, really?" I can hardly believe it.
He smiles. "Yes, really. You deserve it. If you want the position. If not, you're obviously not really fired."
"Of course I want it! Thank you!" I start beaming when I realize he's not joking.
"Very good. Then we need to agree on the details."
He writes a number on a piece of paper.
I swallow. It's almost twice what I'm getting now.
"Is that okay?"
"Um, yes and no."
"That's already quite generous."
"Yes, definitely, and that's not what I mean. But I'd like to leave at two o'clock one day a week."
Brady and I have been thinking that it might be a good idea for me to spend one afternoon alone with Kira. Only if she wants that, of course.
"Okay. But your regular hours on the other days?"
"Yes, exactly."
He nods. "I can agree to that, but if I make this concession, you'll have to give me something too."
"And what would that be?"
"If we're in a pinch, you'll work overtime."
"Paid?"
"Of course."
I think about it before nodding. "Agreed, but only if it's really urgent, otherwise I leave at six."
"Deal."
"How much will you deduct for that?"
He laughs. "It's fine as is."
"Thank you."
"You wouldn't happen to help me find a replacement for you first, would you?"
"Of course! I won't leave you hanging."
"Thank you."
"I should be thanking you."
Since the walls are made of glass, I can't immediately do a happy dance, so I rush to the kitchen where I jump up and down because I've been hoping so much to get this job. My wish has come true.
* * *
When Brady comes to my place that evening, I'm waiting for him with a bottle of champagne.
He raises his eyebrows. "Do we have something to celebrate?"
I nod. "For one thing, of course, that we're together."
"I'll happily drink to that," he says as he takes the bottle and opens it. "And for another?"
"For another, I have a new job. You're looking at JRD's new press spokesperson!"
He grins. "Oh yes, that's definitely a reason to toast!" He fills the glasses so we can clink them and take a sip before he kisses me on the lips. "I'm very proud of you."
"And I even have one afternoon off, so we can ask Kira if she wants to spend it with me."
He smiles contentedly. "Mom just told me that Kira always excitedly tells her about all the cool things you do with her. She apparently said with big eyes that you're super smart." He laughs.
"Hey, what's so funny about that?"
"I'm laughing at how she presented it. The fact that you're super smart isn't news to me."
"Alright..." I wrap my arms around his neck. "So it's okay with you if I'm alone with Kira?"
"Of course. I'd recommend taking Tuesday. She doesn't have any afternoon activities then."
"Then I'll take that day. Is that okay with Finn?"
He shrugs. "I'm sure it is. He does it without complaint, but he probably wouldn't be unhappy if he didn't have to make the trip to Palo Alto."
"He still has one day."
"Exactly."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Brady presses his lips against mine. "And that makes me happy. But now, enough talk about kids." He grabs my hips and lifts me onto the counter of my kitchen. "I haven't seen you naked in far too long."
"Is that so?"
"It is."
I slip my top off one shoulder. "We should do something about that."
"More!"
I slip it off the second shoulder. "Is this enough?"
"Absolutely not."
Laughing, I grab the hem and pull the shirt over my head. "How about now?"
"That's more like it."
I reach behind me, unclasp my bra, and let it slide down my arms. "And what about now?"
Now Brady can't speak because he's busy caressing my breasts. This is definitely not PG-13 anymore.
And then I forget how to think too... Oops.