Epilogue Frenemies to Business Partners
Two years later…
“And that’s how we plan to minimize your shipping expenses,” Patricia says, then clicks the presentation to the last slide as the lights come up.
I lean forward. “What about ground transport customs? Any wiggle room with the Canadian duty and courier fees?”
“We’ve been discussing options with Ontario’s Premier office,” Dan says. “It depends on volume and frequency.”
“We’ve got the manpower to move books,” I say confidently.
I’ve practically hired most of the town to help. Don’t I wish I had some protobots of my own…
“That’ll certainly help with negotiations,” Dan says. “I’ll keep you in the loop.”
I smile. “Perfect. I did want to discuss the overall control on Stripped books. My team would like to take the lead on direction and present Waldorf with a few options rather than put the burden on your art department.”
Patricia smirks and nods. “That makes the most sense to me.”
“Great! Sounds like we’re all in agreement, then,” Dan says with a boisterous clap. “Contracts should be ready by the end of the week for the first five I.P.s.”
With that, he stands and approaches me for a handshake. Bastian leans forward beside me but I give his leg a firm squeeze.
“So good to see you again, Cait,” Dan says.
“Likewise, sir,” I say, giving him a firm grip.
He chuckles. “Lunch, everyone? Cait’s favorite Indian place.”
Assent rings out around the table and everyone stands.
Vick pats my shoulder and I can practically feel Bastian losing his mind. “Good to see you flourishing,” he says, then gives a courteous nod to the possessive dragon.
There are several new faces that don’t come to personally congratulate me, but the one I’ve been most worried about lingers in the room after everyone else has filed out.
Patricia Evans.
“Wait for me outside?” I ask Bastian.
He somehow manages to withhold his snarl. “Right outside.”
He closes the door behind him and Patricia sighs.
“It was hell here for the first six months.”
I put the new printouts in my bag, taking my time. “I’m sure it wasn’t all that bad.”
“Publicist turnover was at an all-time high,” she says, and I understand the underlying comment. She was a shit boss. “Vick made me take a few classes.”
“Seems to have worked.”
She scoffs. “Thank god.”
I shoulder my bag and trundle over to her. “Neither one of us were ready for the senior role, but you stepped up into it. I see that.”
“You could’ve, too,” she says.
I beam and touch my swollen belly. “I’m really glad I didn’t.”
Her expression softens and she smiles. “I’m happy for you.”
“Are you happy for you?”
She seesaws her head, then huffs. “Definitely.”
“All is as it should be,” I say. “Except my empty stomach.”
She huffs a laugh. “I’ll be right there.”
I pat her shoulder as I go. Bastian is waiting for me beyond the door, taking the bag from me with one arm and sliding me against his side with the other. We walk side by side through my old business and I point out the covers on the wall that I worked on.
“It feels so long ago.” I sigh as I look around. “But just like yesterday, too.”
“Time is an illusion,” Bastian says. “Because every moment with you is a lifetime.”
I snort. “Read that somewhere?”
He pecks me on the temple. “I came up with it just now.”
“Such a sappy romantic,” I tease.
He groans seductively. “But I know you love it.”
“I do.” I stretch up on my toes and meet his lips. “And you, too, somehow. Must’ve been all that forced proximity and shared traumatic events.”
“I would have locked you in the hoard until you came around,” he says.
“Hmm, a little Stockholm Syndrome,” I say with a salacious smirk. “So, you knew I was your mate from the very beginning?”
He grins. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”