Epilogue
Noah
One Year Later
The pop of the champagne cork heralds a chorus of cheers and camera flashes. Chase expertly pours the champagne and hands me a glass.
“Well done, Mr. Knightly. Your first book, Starting from Zero: How I Would Build a Fortune Today, is going to be a great success.” I don’t lie.
The publishers have made predictions based on preorders.
Chase has already appeared on several TV shows and done a round of interviews for papers and radio.
Next week we fly to the States for a book tour and interviews over there.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he says, standing close enough so only I can hear him in the throng of people at his launch party.
“Nonsense. Whatever you published would have been something people wanted to read.” I brush off his praise, even though it never fails to make my body respond to him, and I edge a little closer.
“But I didn’t want to tell my story, so without your genius nothing would’ve been written.
” His voice lowers and sends sparks down my spine.
I shouldn’t be getting horny in the middle of a group of people, but I can’t help it and I don’t care.
We’re in the offices of Knight-in, and if he carries on I might have to drag him downstairs to my office where we won’t be disturbed.
“But for the record,” he continues. “There is no ‘first book.’ This will be the only one.”
“Oh no,” I say, disagreeing with him. “Zero is going to make a lot of money for Ellington Literary. Someone I know has taught me how to see potential and go after it. I think book two in a couple of years, something about investing wisely, would be very well received.” I knew my words would amuse him and I’m rewarded with a smile.
It’s true, though. I’ve learned a lot from him in the last year, and the agency has grown a lot more than anticipated.
I now have two other agents working for me, and between us we’ve managed to secure three major publishing deals aside from Chase’s.
“Still no,” he growls.
“I think you’ll find I can be very persuasive.” I smile sweetly at him and his pupils darken. Maybe we could sneak away to my office after all.
“I knew you were dangerous the moment I set eyes on you,” he murmurs and his lips meet mine.
A flash goes off to the side of us and his head snaps up.
His expression changes to fury as he spies the Renown photographer who took the photo.
He marches over and gets in the face of the guy who is now holding his camera like a shield.
“I allowed you here to cover the launch party, not photograph my private life. I need you to delete that photo now. If Renown wants an exposé on me, they can ask for it.”
I’m pulled away by Nate, so I don’t get to hear the rest of the exchange, but I know Chase will win.
It’s also uncharacteristic of Renown. They are known for being discreet, it’s why they’re so popular.
No doubt the photographer is a freelancer and thought he could sell the photo to a gossip column.
But it won’t work. Chase would have his legal team down on them like a ton of bricks.
He’s never hidden his sexuality, as far as I’ve known him, but since he told me about his family last year, I’ve come to understand why he doesn’t flaunt it and why he was never going to write a direct biography of his life.
“I knew introducing you two was a great idea,” Nate says proudly.
“Are you asking me to thank you?” I say.
“Absolutely, not only did you get a great book deal but you scored yourself a hot billionaire silver fox as well. You should be doubly thanking me.” Nate puffs out his chest like he’s some sort of modern day cupid.
Ru rolls his eyes, which is his standard response to a lot of what Nate says and does.
“Then thank you.” I give him a little bow of my head.
“Hmm, I think we need something a bit bigger, grander, a gesture.” He flings out the arm that isn’t around Ru’s shoulders. I know him well enough to know he has something in mind.
“Like?” I prompt him.
“How about a week, no two weeks on that yacht of yours.”
“It’s Chase’s yacht, not mine.”
“Ah, but he’ll say no to me. But if you ask him, he won’t refuse.”
I can’t help but laugh. I know that’s not true but it’s funny that Nate thinks so.
I also know that Nate and Ru could afford their own yacht, or to hire one, but for some reason borrowing one sounds better.
I tell them that I’ll see what I can do and go to try and find Chase again.
It takes me a while as I get stopped by everyone on the way.
The offices are filled with professionals from the publishing industry, Chase’s work, as well as friends and family.
I know Gab and Harrison have already sent their congratulations to him and he’ll catch up with them in New York and LA on the book tour.
Eventually I get back to him just as he’s about to cut the cake, which is shaped like his book of course.
After it’s been cut and distributed the party starts to disperse and the clean-up crew take over.
I follow Chase back to his office and stare out of the window.
It’s late in the day, and the sun is just going down.
“What do you have on for the rest of the week?” I ask as Chase settles himself behind his desk. He brings up his calendar and takes a look.
“I have three meetings, but nothing that can’t be done remotely or rescheduled. Why?”
I walk over to him and he swivels his chair round to face me.
“We’ve worked hard to get to this day, and I was thinking that we’re going to be very busy for a whole month soon. So maybe we could spend the rest of the week at the castle. Working, but also not too hard.”
It was six months before I finally moved in with Chase. It made sense when I spent so much time with him that all I used to do was go back to my flat to throw out rancid milk.
“Now those are the sorts of lessons you’ve learned from me that I approve of.” He pulls me onto his lap and I straddle him. I’ve learned to balance work and taking time off, and Chase was right that it would make me even better and more productive when I did.
“I’ve always maintained that we can learn a lot from ancient things,” I say and watch his expression change to dark amusement.
“Minx,” he mutters, and I muffle anything else he was going to say by kissing him.
Thank you so much for reading!