THIRTY-SIX
Levi
“Alright, everyone,” I hear Ronald rumble through the microphone, standing at the podium I once stood at, when I implicated my own family.
And today, that same podium will be witness to my final attempt at saving Astor Holdings. Not the legacy; I no longer cared about that.
But the list that follows Daniel’s name, which had each insignificant vote with my name on it, is just not enough, unfortunately.
I start thinking of next steps. The several interviews I gave this past month. I don’t have an offer yet, but I’ve been able to reach the third and fourth rounds easily. I even met many business owners who had been impressed by my portfolio.
I can do this. I know I can.
My gaze lowers as Ronald continues. “The votes are in. As you can see, even though the majority of members voted in a certain direction, the weighted votes skew the results slightly.”
I still refuse to look up. Not even when a collective inhale travels through the hall.
“Matthew Holloway,” he continues, voice strained yet steady. “Weighted percentage of 16.7%.”
Great. He’s going to start from the lowest. I brace for my name.
“Gracelyn Kim.”
My head snaps up, my gaze boring into Ronald’s profile.
“39.8%.”
Math.
Why can’t I do simple fucking math right now?
“And lastly,” Ronald’s lips quirk with a small, relieved smile. “Levi Astor. With the plurality percentage of 43.5%. Congratulations, Mr. Astor.” He looks at me, eyes triumphant. “You’re the next elected President of Astor Holdings.”
What the fuck? How?
Of course, I know how. Logically, at least. But if we lost Daniel Penner’s vote, then—
The next few minutes blur past me. I can no longer register the uninvited, professional hugs and the pats on my back that I can’t seem to care about. Even Matthew and Gracelyn politely congratulate me.
Just then, my phone pings in my inner coat pocket. The need to talk to Cece is so visceral that I find myself walking away from everyone without a glance.
Before I can pull my phone out, I hear Daniel’s tense voice behind me. “Congratulations, Levi.”
I turn, watching him with an expression that’s a mix of venom and reluctant understanding. “Thanks, Daniel. Guess this wasn’t an outcome you expected.”
He frowns just as Taewon sidles up to me.
“I couldn’t let your last name win, son. You understand that, right?”
Taewon speaks up. “If you think that’s all he is, then I’m deeply concerned about your IQ, Mr. Penner.”
Daniel’s expression flattens as I try to curb my smile. “Gracelyn would’ve been the right choice,” he grits out.
I don’t even get the chance to get another word in when Taewon’s dark chuckle interrupts us. “Really, Daniel? You mean your future daughter-in-law?”
I turn my head toward Taewon slowly, forcing my face not to show an ounce of surprise. We both ignore Daniel’s weak glare as he walks off. Leaving Taewon, smirking at his back.
“Daughter-in-law?” I ask after a few seconds.
Taewon rolls his eyes. “It was a gamble. I saw his son, Laurence, hanging around Gracelyn at a restaurant a few days ago. Guess I was right, eh?”
I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. But then I sober up quickly. The questions running amok in my head resurface. “How… how did I still win? I’d have guessed after Daniel—”
“Remember those ‘unknowns’ we considered inactive?” Ronald joins us, grinning widely as he hands me a glass of champagne.
“You mean… Eric, Spencer…” I trail off when my memory fails me.
He snorts over the rim of his own flute. “There were seven of them. All sent out a remote vote. Combined… well, they were able to offset the difference Daniel left.”
“Who are they?”
I ignore Taewon’s question. My mind is racing as I fish my phone out. Somehow, whatever message I received a few minutes ago seems like the answer I’ve been looking for.
And sure enough—
Sebastian Blackthorn: You can thank your girlfriend for this *wink emoji*
A startled laugh escapes me, and I find myself leaning against the wall behind me for support.
Sebastian Blackthorn: Oh and feel free to buy those shares off me. My team was confused why I was using their name to buy shares in a random, small, Canadian company. They’d rather have equity in Blackthorn.
Fucking asshole. Random? Small?
Well, compared to Blackthorn Security, sure.
But my laugh doesn’t cease. Not even when Ronald and Taewon throw me a cautious, confused look like I’ve grown two heads.
Before I know it, I’m racing toward the Wentworth office.
To Cece.
??????
“Is Cece free?”
Amanda looks up at me, startled, not expecting the panting, wheezing mess in front of her.
I ran. Of course, I fucking ran. I didn’t stop until I was on Cece’s floor. Even the drive here is something I only faintly remember. All I knew was that I had to get to Cece.
“Oh, Mr. Astor, she’s—”
“Free?” I ask again, unable to hide the hope bleeding into my voice.
She laughs at the eagerness in my voice. “She isn’t—she’s on a call. You wanna wait over there?” She gestures toward the cluster of armchairs right outside Cece’s office. I can see her figure pacing the length of her desk through the frosted glass.
Even though every cell in my body is aching to barge in and kiss the hell out of her, I rein in the urge. She won’t be able to concentrate on the call if she catches even a glimpse of me.
Five minutes later, Amanda nods in the direction of the door. And I’m near sprinting again.
The last time I was here, she’d been frozen in shock and numbness from the clause leaking. The first words out of my mouth were a weak assurance that I’ll fix it.
But today, it’s she who fixed things. Brought back the order in our lives because she knew I needed it on some level.
I would’ve been happy either way. The outcome of today’s election wasn’t going to change anything around Cece and me.
But she saw the hope lingering underneath the indifference I was struggling to carry this past month. Even when I failed to acknowledge it.
Christ, how the hell did I get this lucky?
I enter with hesitant steps, all my urgency draining out of me when I see her typing something furiously on her laptop. A small part of her tongue is darting out between her teeth, making me want to nip at it. Her brows furrowed in concentration.
So fucking adorable.
She finally looks up at the sound of the door closing behind me.
Eyes widening when she takes in my disheveled state, concern instantly flooding her face.
“Levi, are you—oh god!” She shoots up from her chair, circling her desk with quick steps as she closes the distance between us.
“Is everything—did you—Taewon wouldn’t tell me—what—”
I smirk at her flustered ramblings, my arms circling around her waist, pulling her closer. My head drops on hers, our lips a breath away. “Shh… shh—it’s all right. Everything is all fucking right, my Cece.”
She’s squinting at me. And I know what she’s thinking. My face, my eyes, or even my body isn’t giving away anything about the result of the vote today.
All I am is wrapped in the love she’s given me. Silently. Deliberately.
Fuck.
“Did you… win?” she whispers hesitantly, trembling under my touch when I graze my fingers on the side of her neck.
“Yes. Thanks to you, huh?” I watch the pieces click together, watch her understand. Her lips part. And then I see it.
That beautiful mind is working, recalling her contingency plan. The one she must have quietly put together months ago. She gasps. “Stupid Seb! I told him not to tell you ab—”
I chuckle softly before capturing her lips with mine in a haze of desperate necessity. And she melts half a breath later—surrendering herself to my claiming grip.
With one hand, I blindly turn the lock on the door behind me.
Nudging her until her hips rest against her desk, I lift her gently, settling her on the desk, all while my lips never leave hers.
“How come…” she pants between the breathless kisses, “you’re thanking…” another kiss. “Me?
“Fuck.” I moan into her mouth because her desperate question is still deliciously crammed between her needy kisses.
Both her hands tugging incessantly at my blazer. Her legs wrapped tightly enough around my waist that my cock strains against her body.
My hands roam all over her shaking frame, unable to think enough to answer.
“Tell me…” I take her mouth again as she speaks. “Did s-something…” She whimpers when I cup her breast. “H-Happen?”
Between broken breaths and dizzying kisses, I force myself to slow down. Still holding her impossibly close as I cup her cheek with one hand. I know she needs answers first, my mouth later—hopefully.
“I lost Daniel Penner’s vote.”
Her eyes widen.
“But I still won because of you. You really do love me, huh?”
A glare immediately lands on my face, making me grin. But her lips twitch despite herself.
I slide both hands up to cradle her face, framing an answer to a question I know she hasn’t asked, but probably needs. “I would’ve been here regardless, by the way.”
Her smile disappears, and I see her searching my eyes. Looking for any trace of disappointment. Any hint that this only matters because I won.
Never, baby.
“There was never a version of today where I didn’t end up here.” My thumbs brush away the emotion already gathering in her eyes. “I would’ve been standing in this office even if the vote went the other way.”
Her bottom lip wobbles.
God.
My heart.
Her fingers tighten around the lapels of my blazer.
Then I feel it—a small tug.
The motion hits me right in the chest. Not because she needs a hug. I’m already holding her, so that isn’t it.
No.
This is something else. This is simply Cece wanting me closer than I am. Wanting me.
I bend down and kiss her forehead. Then her cheek. Then the corner of her mouth. Until she’s laughing through watery eyes. Until she’s leaning into me completely, pulling me in by my neck. Letting me devour her once again.
When I reluctantly pull back, we’re both a panting, breathless mess.
“Home?” I ask, albeit hesitantly. I can see she knows what I’m asking—hoping.
The answering, shy grin that spreads across her face feels more rewarding than the presidency ever could. “Yeah,” she whispers. “Let’s go home.”