44. Pepper
FORTY-FOUR
PEPPER
Monday morning arrived bright and early. I stood in the main meeting room with Ellen, Scott, and Tommy, who were seated and ready for what would take place in the next hour.
Despite jet lag and yesterday’s whirlwind of emotions, we’d managed to pull together a plan. After hearing everyone speak, I’d come to realize the situation with Jeff was far worse than I’d ever realized.
Not only had he been completely slacking on his work, I’d learned just how often Kendra, Lee, and Tommy had been doing his tasks over the last few years. The fact that I’d never realized the depth of his ineptitude told me I needed to be a better leader, but that would be my focus after this.
We had to get through step one first.
Ellen sat next to me with a smug smile on her face. After making love, Salt and I had picked up Ellen, and the three of us had shown up on Tommy’s doorstep. The tension ran high until they eventually crumbled, and just like I’d expected—everyone loved Salt.
And they finally understood that what was between us went beyond physical attraction.
Jeff’s voice echoed through the office. My entire body tensed, but Tommy offered me a comforting smile.
“It’s for the best,” he said. “Just remember that. You aren’t alone in this decision, we all voted for him to leave.”
We’d taken a vote early this morning, before the office was even officially open. Everyone had agreed to fire him, and Scott had acted fast with the paperwork.
He’d been preparing for this day for a long time, apparently.
“His severance pay is good, too,” Scott said. “We’re being kind. He should leave without any issue if he’s professional about it.”
Ellen made a face as she tapped her pen on her notepad. “That’s a big if . I’ve got security on standby.”
I reached under the table, giving her hand a squeeze. She squeezed it back, offering me the sort of comfort only we could give to each other.
“Thank you for being here,” I whispered to her.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” she said.
I spotted Jeff through the doorway and steeled myself.
It’s going to be okay. This is for the best.
Here we go.
Jeff’s eyes widened slightly as he stepped through the doorway. “Is this emergency meeting about what I think it is?” he asked as he shut the door behind him. “I flew home early for this.”
“Take a seat, Jeff,” I said.
He ranked his fingers through his hair and then pulled out a chair across from us, sitting down. He looked at Tommy immediately. “Did she finally fess up to her little attachment to the new client?”
“We are here to talk about you,” Tommy said.
“Me?”
“Yes,” I said. “You. Not only was your behavior over the weekend a complete violation of my privacy and a direct sign that you have zero respect for me, it has been brought to my attention that you have not been completing your assigned duties for a very long time. Longer than acceptable. Your severance?—”
“Severance?” Jeff scoffed. “You’re kidding? Right?”
“No,” I said. “No one is joking here.”
Jeff’s expression contorted from anger to laughter. His head tipped back. “This isn’t happening. You can’t fire me.”
“Rosethorn can fire you,” I said. “It was voted on.”
“Everyone would have had to vote for me to be fired then,” he said in disbelief.
The silence in the room told him the truth. And it was taking every ounce of professionalism not to grin like a damn idiot.
His head snapped to the side as he looked at Tommy and Scott. “ You voted against me? After everything I’ve done for you? For all of you?”
Scott cleared his throat and silently slid a stack of papers across the table. “This is your severance package.”
Jeff’s expression went blank. He stared at it for a moment and then shook his head, shoving back from his seat. “This is insane. She’s just doing this because she’s been caught fucking a client?—”
“That language is unacceptable,” Tommy interjected. “You do not speak about her that way.”
“She’s my wife, she’s?—”
“I am not your wife,” I said, raising my voice just enough to interrupt him. “I haven’t been your wife for a long time, and I’ll never be your wife again. You do not know me, Jeff.”
“I know that this is crazy,” he growled. “Is that bastard making you do this? Is he?—”
“Jeff,” Scott interrupted. “The entire board of directors voted against you. Because you have been behaving poorly for years. You’ve taken advantage of your position repeatedly, you have been a poor leader. You’ve disrupted relationships with other clients by being an asshole. You haven’t been doing your job.”
“I founded this fucking place?—”
“I founded this place,” I corrected.
“I own?—”
“The share that you own will still exist,” I said. “You’ll still continue to make money from Rosethorn, although Tommy and I would like to buy you out at a significant amount that would leave you set for a while. We’re being generous.”
He sneered, jamming his finger down on the table. “What is it about him, huh? Is he fucking you?—”
“Alright,” Ellen said, bristling as she stood up. “Jeff, you’re the dumbest motherfucker I’ve ever worked with in my entire life. Everyone here hates you. You’re nothing more than an unlikable idiot tripping on the power you think you have. Get the fuck out of the office or else we’re calling security.”
“You can’t speak to me that way?—”
“Jeff, you’re fired,” I said calmly. “Leave. Any further questions can be emailed to our lawyer—” he tried to speak over me but I continued, “—and you are to turn in your badge to security. You are free to pack your belongings, but we are finished here.”
“You’re such a bitch!” he shouted. “You’ve had it out for me ever since our divorce. You can’t do this.”
“It’s already done,” I said.
Tommy stood up and went around the table. He opened the door to the meeting room and gestured like Jeff was a dog. “Out.”
The rage in the room had a metallic taste to it. The four of us waited as Jeff snatched up the papers and turned to leave. He stormed out, and I sucked in a breath as I spotted Salt standing with Kendra and Lee.
Jeff spotted him too.
“You son of a bitch,” Jeff snarled, rushing towards him.
“ Jeff !” I shouted, following after him.
Salt’s gaze darted past Jeff to me right as he attempted to punch him. It wasn’t a very good attempt, and in one swift motion, Salt grabbed his arm, twisted, and put him in a headlock.
“Call security,” Tommy growled, pushing past me. “Pepper, let me handle this.”
“Get the fuck off me!” Jeff shouted, shoving against Salt.
He released him, but Jeff turned around and tried to punch him again. This time, Lee and Tommy pulled him back, dragging him away.
“My fucking god,” Ellen said next to me. “He’s insane. Good riddance.”
“He is.” I shook my head as Salt slid his arm around my waist and tugged me close, as we watched Jeff get into it with Tommy and Lee, and then the security guards. My mouth dropped as Tommy punched Jeff hard enough that his head snapped back.
“Damn,” Kendra said. “I think he’d been holding that back for a while.”
“Me too,” I said.
Scott rushed past me. “Y’all owe me a goddamn bonus for the legal shit I’m doing this week.”
I snorted. Kendra crossed her arms. Ellen started to pull out her phone to take a picture, and I hissed.
“ Ellen .”
“ What ? You’re telling me you don’t want a record of the trash being taken out?”
Salt laughed. “I do.”
She smirked and snapped a picture. “You’re winning me over pretty fast.”
“I’m trying,” he chuckled.
Kendra looked at the two of us and let out a hum. “We gotta at least make it seem like the man is single when it comes to marketing.”
“I’m not worried about any of that right now,” I said. “We need to sign him first.”
“I’m ready to sign when you are,” Salt said. “I talked to my lawyer on Friday. Everything is good.”
Jeff’s voice faded as he was finally removed from the office. I raised a brow as Tommy, Scott, and Lee returned to us.
“He’s ready,” I said.
“Thank fucking god,” Tommy said. “Let’s go get you signed.”
“I think we could all use a treat, so I’m going to book the restaurant down the street for lunch,” Ellen said.
“Yes, please,” I chimed. “That would be perfect.”
She gave my arm a squeeze and slid past us. I let my breath out slowly, feeling a weight lift.
Everything was going to work out. Jeff was gone, Salt was here, and the future looked bright.
“I’m going to take a moment with Salt,” I said. “Scott, can you get everything together?”
“Yes,” he said. “We’ll meet in your office in twenty.”
“Great.”
I looked up at Salt and smiled. He followed me to my office and slowly shut the door behind him. The click of the lock being turned echoed through my office. I turned to face him, and he pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tight.
All of the worries I’d felt over the last few weeks finally completely melted away.
We’d made it.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes. I feel free,” I said. “Are you ready for this? Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “I’m more sure of this than anything else, Pepper. My music is yours.”
“And my heart is yours.”
He swallowed hard, brushing his knuckles along my cheek. “I’ll take good care of it.”
“I know you will,” I murmured, leaning up to kiss him.
Music brought us together. Music would keep us together. I knew now more than ever that I made the right choice by choosing myself, by choosing happiness. I knew that whatever lay ahead, Salt would be next to me, and we’d take each step together.
Our kiss deepened into something hungry and ferocious. I drew back breathless, my lashes fluttering. “We do have twenty minutes…”
“Not long enough to get into too much trouble,” he sighed. “But long enough to make you come.”
“Salt,” I whimpered as he pulled me back into a hard kiss.
I wound my arms around his neck, feeling the spark as he backed me up to my desk and lifted me with ease, sitting me on top.
“Can’t wait to sign my life away to you in this room after fucking you in it,” he said.
“Does this mean you get to call me your boss now?” I asked as he kissed down my neck.
Salt smirked as he lowered down onto his knees and shoved my legs apart. “Absolutely not.”
“What are you going to do to me?” I asked, gasping as his fingers brushed against my bare pussy.
He let out a low groan. “God damn it, Pepper. No panties? On today of all days?”
I stifled a moan as his tongue caressed my clit. Pleasure shot through me, my hand clasping over my mouth as I fought the sounds I wanted to make. Two fingers slid inside me with ease, caressing me as he worked his magic on me.
“Fuck,” I squeaked.
“Keep your voice down,” he said between licks. “I’d hate for them to think I’m doing something terrible to you.”
I strangled a laugh. His fingertips curled against the spot he knew so well, and my legs trembled as he drove me to the edge without mercy. I gripped his hair, shaking as my climax came hard and fast, just like Salt had come into my life.
He got up, looming over me as I unraveled from my orgasm. I gripped his shirt and dragged him into another kiss, tasting myself on his lips.
“I have a gift for you,” he said softly. “Now may not be the right time to give it. But…”
“What is it?” I asked.
He reached into his pocket and withdrew a long slender box. I pushed my skirt down, closing my legs as I took it from him, sliding the top off.
Oh. A buttery black leather collar sat inside with a heart at the center, etched with a gorgeous floral design that matched his tattoos. I slowly lifted it out of the box, my vision blurring with tears.
“Did you make this?”
“Yes,” he said. “I can make a new one if you don’t like it?—”
“I love it,” I said, running my fingertips over it. “I absolutely love it.”
I turned it over, my eyes widening.
Words were etched on the inside.
“I wanted those words to be against your skin,” he murmured. “I never wanted either of us to forget.”
“I never will.”
Forever mine.