Chapter 41 – nate
NATE
When I open my eyes, my face is buried in a mass of curls so fluffy, I practically choke on them.
I can’t think of a better way to wake up.
After so many nights of tossing and turning, torturing myself over all the ways I messed up things with Cat, I’ve finally had a night of real rest. I think I woke up once, felt her in my arms, and went right back to sleep.
Of course, it helps that we spent most of the night making up for lost time, making slow, decadent love to each other over and over. We were exhausted by the time we finally fell asleep, her back against my chest, our legs tangled together.
Now that I’m awake, I’m dying to get right back to it. I want to sweep that curly hair away so I can kiss her neck until she’s squirming against me, still sleepy and needing me. I’ll tell her how beautiful and sweet she is while I wrap my arms around her and stroke her pussy till she comes.
Fuck, I’m already hard just thinking about it.
Unfortunately, the incessant vibrations coming from my phone on the bedside table make it clear that isn’t in the cards. Groaning, I carefully untangle my body from Cat’s. She lets out a small sigh when I pull my arm out from under, but she curls up and goes right back to sleep.
When I open my phone, there are hundreds of missed texts and calls—most of them from Mom.
I ignore those, checking the texts from Ryan and Susie.
Ryan sent a screenshot from the Toronto Tea, showing me and Cat serving dinner at the shelter.
The headline reads: Actual Christmas Miracle: CEO Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is.
Ryan
You two are couple goals!!! I ship it ;)
That makes me smile despite myself. Despite his slutty ways, Ryan loves love.
Susie’s text is less pleasant.
Susie
Eleanor is in the office. She’s throwing a fit. She’s showing everyone pictures of you and Cat volunteering. Asking us to confirm that you’ve lost your mind with “this behavior.” Says she’s trying to get an emergency meeting with the board.
I shake my head. She’s behaving exactly as I thought she would. I could have opted for a preemptive strike, but I wanted to give her a chance to prove she’s changed. Since that’s what I hoped for from Cat, it felt hypocritical not to extend it back to Mom.
I hoped that when she saw the photos, Mom would see what I see. That Cat offers nothing but good press for UPS. Leaning into her extensive charity work and leadership would make the company stronger. We’d be viewed as more caring, more ethical.
Not that I care anymore how things look. I’m putting more stock into how things truly are rather than how they appear. Or at least, I trying really fucking hard to.
I hate that I have to do what comes next, but I don’t have a choice.
Opening my email, I find the pre-scripted draft I wrote to the other board members. Attached, I have a report from Peter Cutter that Eleanor fed him information about Cat. I have the contact number for the PI she used to follow us around Paris, who she used unapproved company funds to pay.
I had my lawyer, Ryan’s Dad, and James approve the email, citing the UPS morality clause that prohibits anyone serving on the board from defaming the company or actively working to tarnish our reputation. Without demanding it, I suggest the board consider removing her permanently.
I’ve already spoken to Eric Hernandez, the head of our board. When he heard what I “suspected” Mom was doing, he was just as furious at her as he was at me after the New York deal fell through. Once he gets the email, I know he’ll call for the board to convene immediately.
Not one hint of guilt nags at me when I press send.
I kiss my kitten on the temple, lightly enough that she doesn’t wake. As much as I’d love to get down between her thighs and kiss her awake somewhere else, it’ll have to wait.
Now, I have to live up to my reputation as an unforgiving CEO.