Chapter 26
M arcus
The first weekday of the month is always busy for me, as I spend all day catching up with my portfolio managers.
I sit down with each one individually and go over his or her team’s P it’s more about her being comfortable.
The BE—Before Emma—version of me would’ve been horrified that I’m bringing a girlfriend in cheap, worn-out clothes to an investor dinner, but the AE version doesn’t give a fuck.
Emma is more important to me than all of my investors combined, and in any case, at this point in my career, I could show up to this dinner naked, with all three of Emma’s cats sitting on my shoulders, and these people would still jump through hoops to give me money.
My fund’s returns speak for themselves.
So yes, I don’t need to impress anyone with the woman I’m going to marry, but I suspect Emma will impress them anyway.
The longer I’m around her, the more I see that her beauty doesn’t come from the clothes she wears or how she styles her hair; it shines from deep within her, her warm, sweet sensuality as powerful a lure as anything I’ve known.
That dimpled smile alone is enough to send heat rushing to my groin, and I know I’m not the only one susceptible to it.
When we were in Florida, men of all ages were eyeing her like hungry jackals; it’s only my presence that deterred the fuckers from approaching to ask her out.
I have no idea how she stayed single for so long, I really fucking don’t.
Which reminds me… Holding up a hand to get my telecom PM to stop talking for a second, I lean over my desk and press a button on my intercom.
“Lynette, I need you to come into my office as soon as Henry here is done,” I say when my assistant answers. “I have a special project for you.”
Buying a ring might be premature, but I haven’t gotten where I am by not planning for the future. It’ll take time to make Emma fall in love with me, but as soon as she does, I’ll be ready.
I’m going to marry her, and fast.