30. Chapter ThirtyEmma
Chapter Thirty
Emma
I should have known something was up when the entire team color-coordinated their outfits for the quarterly review meeting.
Even Garrett, reinstated as head of client relations in my new division, is wearing a tie that perfectly matches our sustainability metrics palette. The same Garrett who once dismissed my color-coding system as “chaotically unprofessional” is now sporting the shade of blue which represents optimal efficiency in our tracking software. And Sophie’s been practically vibrating with suppressed excitement all morning, shooting meaningful glances at Natalie each time she thinks I’m not looking.
But I’m too focused on my presentation to think about it. This is my first major review as division head, and I want to show the board that their trust in my unconventional methods has paid off. Our human-centered approach to sustainable technology has attracted attention from companies beyond the manufacturing sector, with inquiries from healthcare, education, and government agencies interested in our hybrid implementation model.
The conference room has been prepped with my usual meticulous attention to detail. Presentation materials are arranged in order of discussion priority, reports are color-coded by implementation success metrics, and even the refreshments are positioned for optimal meeting flow. Everything is perfect, organized, and precisely as it should be.
I straighten my blazer, checking my reflection on the glass wall. My navy suit is professional but with subtle color accents that match our division’s branding—my small rebellion against corporate blandness. I adjust my sleek silver headband, a gift from Sophie for “professional emergencies,” as I arrange my presentation materials one final time. The room slowly fills with board members, all seeming oddly anticipatory.
Bradshaw smiles when he enters, which is so out of character that I nearly drop my presentation remote. The chairwoman asks about my parents rather than diving straight into business metrics. Jenkins compliments the refreshment selection, specifically noting the color coordination with our division’s sustainability rating system.
“Ready to dazzle them?” Lucas appears in the doorway, looking unfairly handsome in a suit that perfectly matches our division’s color scheme. The deep blue of his tie exactly complements the accent color of my blazer, as if we coordinated our outfits. Wait. Since when does Lucas coordinate his suits with my organizational system?
“What’s going on?” I narrow my eyes at him, my analyst brain shifting into high gear. “Everyone’s acting strange. Even Garrett complimented my color-coding system this morning. Garrett, who once called my sticky note arrangement ‘an affront to professional documentation standards.’”
“Can’t a CEO support his brilliant division head’s first quarterly review?” But there’s something in his smile that makes my heart skip—that combination of pride, nervousness, and excitement I’ve come to recognize when he’s planning something significant.
Before I can interrogate him further, the chairwoman calls the meeting to order, her usual no-nonsense demeanor softened by what almost looks like anticipation. I launch into my presentation, momentarily forgetting my suspicions as I focus on showing the board exactly how successful our human-centered approach has been.
“As you can see from these implementation metrics, we’ve not just revolutionized the Johnsons’ operations, but we’ve successfully adapted our approach for three additional clients.” I move through my slides with practiced precision, highlighting the impressive results from our first quarter as an official division. “By integrating sustainable technology with existing workplace cultures, we’ve achieved adoption rates 43% higher than industry standard.”
The board members nod along, but I notice they’re watching me rather than the presentation screen. Even Miller, who typically scrutinizes every number with skeptical intensity, seems more interested in my reaction than the data I’m presenting.
“These successes demonstrate that our human-centered approach creates more than just temporary improvements,” I continue, determined to stay on track despite the strange atmosphere. “As you can see from these metrics—” I click on my next slide and stop mid-sentence, the words dying in my throat.
Because instead of my efficiency graphs showing quarter-over-quarter improvements, there’s a photo of Lucas and me at the manufacturing plant, both covered in grease but grinning like we’ve discovered the secret to unlimited sustainable energy. Then another one of us in his office heads bent over reports, my color-coded sticky notes creating a rainbow around us. More images follow, telling our story through candid moments caught by various team members over the past months.
Us working late in the conference room, surrounded by implementation plans. The team celebration at O’Sullivan’s after the Gordon Junior crisis, with rubber ducks somehow perched on everyone’s drinks. Lucas and I in the break room, sharing coffee and ideas while reviewing sustainability metrics.
I turn to find Lucas standing, his expression soft but certain. The usual confidence of the CEO is there but tempered with something more vulnerable, more personal.
“Lucas, what—”
The conference room doors open, and my parents walk in with Elizabeth Walker. My mom’s eyes are already glistening, and Dad’s trying to hide his proud smile. Behind them, the team gathers, every member of our sustainable technology division wearing the same knowing smile. Sophie stands front and center, practically bouncing with excitement, a phone already positioned to record.
“Emma Hastings.” Lucas moves to stand before me, taking my hands in his. His touch is warm and steady, grounding me as my mind races to process what’s happening. “Ten years ago, you walked into my father’s office with color-coded sustainability proposals and revolutionary ideas that nobody else could see. You made me believe I could be more than what everyone expected. More importantly, you made me want to be more.”
My heart pounds as he continues, his voice steady but full of emotion. The conference room—my carefully prepared professional space—seems to fade around us, leaving just this moment, just us.
“Every success we’ve had, every innovation we’ve created, has been stronger because we did it together. You don’t just make me a better CEO - you make me a better person. One brave enough to believe in crazy ideas like rubber duck override protocols and human-centered sustainability metrics.”
A soft laugh ripples through the room. I’m vaguely aware of phones recording this moment, of Sophie wiping tears, of our parents holding hands like they’ve been waiting for this forever. My father has encouraged my wildest organizational systems even when others thought they were excessive. My mother taught me that innovation should always serve people, not replace them. Elizabeth Walker, who had welcomed me into their family long before Lucas and I admitted our feelings.
“But what amazes me,” Lucas says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in that familiar way that always steadies me, “is how you make everything better just by being you. The way you turn chaos into innovation. How you see possibilities where others see obstacles. And also love both the CEO and the guy who still gets nervous before big presentations.”
He releases one of my hands to reach into his jacket pocket, and my breath catches as he drops to one knee before me. The polished hardwood of the boardroom floor must be uncomfortable, I think absurdly, my mind struggling to process the enormity of this moment.
“So I’m doing this here, in front of our families, our team, and even the board because I want everyone to see exactly what I’m choosing. Not just the brilliant analyst who revolutionized our approach to sustainable technology, but the woman who color- codes everything from coffee cups to quarterly reports. Who makes me laugh, makes me brave, makes me real.”
The ring he pulls out catches the light, and I hear my mother’s soft gasp. It’s vintage with modern elements—a classic central diamond surrounded by smaller stones in a contemporary setting. It’s elegant but distinctive, traditional but innovative. It’s perfectly us.
“Emma Hastings, love of my life, creator of chaos, and keeper of my heart, will you marry me?”
Through tears, I see the boardroom has been transformed while my attention was on the presentation. The team has strung tiny lights everywhere, making the space sparkle like stars. My color-coded presentation materials have been rearranged into a heart shape on the conference table. On my presentation screen, more photos cycle through - moments of us working, laughing, and building something meaningful together.
“You turned my quarterly review into a proposal?” I manage, laughing through tears. My carefully planned professional moment has been hijacked in the most perfect way possible.
“Technically,” Sophie pipes up, unable to contain herself any longer, “he turned your entire division into a proposal committee. Why do you think everyone color-coordinated today? We’ve been planning this for weeks.”
“We had a whole tracking system,” Natalie adds proudly. “Color-coded, of course.”
“Emma,” Lucas says softly, still on one knee, still holding my future in his hands. His expression holds a mix of absolute certainty and the faintest trace of vulnerability. “You haven’t answered yet.”
I pull him to his feet, not caring about our audience, professional boundaries, or anything except this moment. “Yes. Of course, yes. Even though you completely hijacked my presentation—”
He cuts me off with a kiss, sliding the ring onto my finger as our families and team erupt in cheers around us. The ring fits perfectly, which means—
“Sophie helped,” Lucas admits against my lips. “Though your dad was the one who suggested doing it here.”
I look at my father, who’s not hiding his tears anymore. His usual stoic demeanor has given way to undisguised emotion. “Really?”
“Where else?” Dad comes to hug us both, his familiar scent of aftershave and coffee enveloping me as he pulls us close. “This is where you two build amazing things together, your ideas become reality, and your color-coded dreams take shape. Seems right that you should start your next chapter here, too.”
Mom and Elizabeth are already discussing wedding possibilities, their heads bent together over Elizabeth’s phone, where Pinterest boards are no doubt being shared. Sophie directs the team in breaking out champagne that was hidden in the supply closet—each bottle wrapped in our division’s color scheme, naturally.
“I can’t believe you all kept this secret,” I say as Lucas pulls me close again. “This team leaks information about lunch options. How did you plan an entire proposal without me finding out?”
“It wasn’t easy,” Natalie admits, handing us both champagne flutes. “Especially with your crazy attention to detail. Do you know how hard it was to explain why we needed your exact ring size for ‘ergonomic keyboard research’?”
“The color coordination was my idea,” Sophie announces proudly, looking extraordinarily pleased with herself. “Though getting Garrett to wear the right shade of blue took some convincing.”
“Worth it,” Garrett says, surprising us all with his uncharacteristic sentimentality. “Though I expect my role as reformed antagonist to be acknowledged properly in the wedding toast.”
“Front and center,” Lucas promises, his arm warm around my waist. “Right after we thank Gordon Junior for his innovative contribution to sustainable technology.”
The board members offer their congratulations, and even the chairwoman allows herself a rare genuine smile. “Perhaps we should postpone the remainder of the quarterly review,” she suggests. “Though, Ms. Hastings, the board has reviewed your written report and is unanimously impressed with your division’s performance.”
“Thank you,” I manage, still processing the transformation of my professional milestone into a personal one.
As our families and team celebrate around us, Lucas presses his forehead to mine, his expression more open than I’ve ever seen it. “Happy?”
“Perfect,” I whisper, overwhelmed by the rightness of this moment, of us. I glance down at the sparkling ring on my finger, then back at him. “Though you realize this means I get to color-code our entire wedding?”
“I’m counting on it.” His smile is soft and intimate despite our audience. “But first...”
Lucas reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an envelope, handing it to me with a mysterious smile.
“What’s this?” I ask, curious about the timing.
“Open it.”
Inside are travel itineraries and glossy photos of a stunning coastal town built into steep cliffs overlooking turquoise water.
“Riomaggiore?” I gasp, recognizing the colorful buildings from my grandmother’s stories. “We’re going to Cinque Terre?”
“We leave tomorrow,” he says, his eyes dancing with excitement. “I’ve already cleared your schedule for the next week. And...” he points to the itinerary, “there’s a three-day stopover in London. I thought you might like to visit that museum exhibit you mentioned, the one you almost moved there for.”
I stare at him in disbelief. “But the quarterly implementation—”
“Will still be here when we get back.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “The team can handle things for a week. And we’re taking the company jet, so we can return quickly if there’s a genuine emergency.”
“You planned all this before...” I gesture to the ring.
“I did.” His expression turns serious. “Whether you said yes or not, you deserved this break. Though I’m incredibly relieved you said yes.”
“You were that confident?” I tease, trying to process this second surprise.
“About us? Absolutely.” He pulls me closer. “About my proposal timing interrupting your perfectly organized quarterly review? That was a calculated risk.”
I pull him down for another kiss. “You knew what you were signing up for.”
“Yes,” he murmurs against my lips. “Yes, I did.”
Because some things are worth betting everything on.
Like proposals that interrupt quarterly reviews because when you know, you know.
And we’ve known since that first moment.
We just needed time to be brave enough to choose it.
Every single day.
Forever.
***
Later, surrounded by family and team members at O’Sullivan’s - because where else would we celebrate - I can’t stop staring at my ring. The way it catches the light reminds me of the reflection patterns I use in my sustainability visualization models. Perfect for the analyst who sees patterns everywhere.
“It was Grandma Walker’s,” Sophie tells me, sliding into our booth with fresh drinks. The familiar pub is crowded with well-wishers, and most of the company has gotten wind of the engagement within hours. “Mom had it redesigned to match your style. Modern vintage, just like your sustainability approach.”
“Just like us,” Lucas agrees, his arm warm around my shoulders. He hasn’t stopped touching me since the proposal, as if making sure I’m real, that this is happening.
The pub feels different tonight, transformed by the occasion just like the boardroom was. Maggie, the manager, has stuck small fairy lights around our usual booth, and there’s a cake on the bar with “Congratulations to the CEO and the Innovation Queen” written in frosting that exactly matches our division’s color scheme. I suspect Sophie’s influence there.
My parents are deep in conversation with Elizabeth, their longtime friendship evident in how they finish each other’s sentences. Dad’s already discussing how to incorporate sustainable practices into the ceremony, while Mom and Elizabeth debate flower arrangements with the ease of women who’ve imagined this day for years.
“You know,” Natalie muses, raising her glass, “this technically makes me the most successful matchmaker in the office. I’m the one who scheduled all those ‘accidental’ meeting overlaps.”
“Excuse me?” Sophie looks deeply offended. “I’ve been plotting this since high school! Who do you think made sure they were always paired for study groups?”
“Ladies,” Garrett interrupts, raising his glass with surprisingly good humor, “I think we can all agree that my antagonistic role created the perfect narrative tension for their eventual reunion. Without obstacles, where’s the satisfaction in triumph?”
The debate about who deserves credit for our relationship devolves into increasingly ridiculous claims, with even the board members joining in. The chairwoman insists her strategic meeting scheduling played a crucial role, while Raymond from IT claims his timely computer issues forced us to share workstations on multiple occasions.
“They’re all wrong, you know,” Lucas murmurs in my ear, his voice low enough that only I can hear. “We would have found our way here, eventually. Some things are just meant to be.”
“Maybe.” I lean into him, playing with my ring, still getting used to its weight on my finger. “But I kind of like our story. Corporate drama, rubber duck revolutions, and all.”
“Speaking of corporate drama...” He grins, the expression boyish and carefree in a way I rarely saw before we found our way back to each other. “You still have to finish that quarterly review presentation.”
“Actually...” I pull out my tablet, earning a laugh from him. “The numbers are even better than what I was going to show before you hijacked my meeting.”
“Only you would be thinking about efficiency reports at your engagement party.”
“Says the CEO who proposed during a board meeting.”
He kisses my temple, his lips lingering. “Ready for our adventure tomorrow?” he whispers, his breath warm against my skin.
“Riomaggiore won’t know what hit it,” I whisper back, smiling at the thought of colorful buildings perched on cliffs and crystal blue waters waiting for us.
Looking around at our merged families, our dedicated team, and all the people who believed in us even when we weren’t brave enough to believe in ourselves, I know he’s right.
We are perfect for each other.
In every way that matters.
I think about everything it took to get here—the almost-moments and missed chances, the professional challenges and personal growth, the willingness to risk comfort for possibility. The journey from a nervous analyst with revolutionary ideas to a division head and fiancée of the CEO I once thought untouchable.
“I love you,” I whisper. “Even when you’re being magnificently magnificent.”
“I love you too.” His smile is soft, and those eyes that once intimidated me are now filled with a warmth I get to call mine. “Chaos and all.”
Across the room, Sophie raises her glass in a toast, somehow managing to look both smug and genuinely happy. “To Emma and Lucas! Who taught us all that the best innovations happen when tradition and revolution work together.”
“To finding patterns others miss,” Natalie adds with a knowing smile.
“To rubber ducks and lucky pens,” calls Miles, earning a laugh from the team.
“To taking risks on people worth believing in,” the chairwoman offers, her usual reserve softened by the occasion.
Lucas’s arm tightens around me as he raises his glass to join the toast. “To us,” he says simply. “And all the adventures we’ll share.”
As glasses clink and congratulations flow, I lean into the man who saw both the analyst and the woman, who challenges me professionally and supports me personally, who makes every moment better just by being part of it.
We’ve come full circle, from that first sustainability proposal to building a future together. And I can’t wait to see what we’ll discover next.
Together.