Chapter Twenty-Nine
EMMETT
“Morning, Meredith.” I greeted her with a bright smile as I strode towards her desk on Tuesday morning.
“Well, don’t you look chipper today?”
I leaned my hip against her desk and shrugged.
She arched a sculpted eyebrow. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with a certain intern finally becoming an official employee.”
I chuckled and ran my fingers through my hair. “Maybe it does. You got all the paperwork ready for Callie’s transfer?”
“Of course. It’s on your desk. Glenn approved it yesterday, so it’s all set on our end.”
“You’re the best, Mer.”
My fingers drummed against the top of Meredith’s desk as I waited for Callie to arrive. She had insisted on showing up separately today, so she’d gone back to her apartment to get ready.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.
My breath caught in my throat when Callie emerged.
She looked fucking stunning in a fitted black blazer, white t-shirt, and tight jeans that made my mouth water.
Her long brown hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail and those red lips.
..fuck. I wanted nothing more than to have them wrapped around my cock again.
She flashed me a hesitant smile as she approached. “Morning, Emmett, Meredith.”
“Morning, Callie,” I said, my voice low and full of promise. “I need to see you in my office for a minute.”
She nodded, and her throat bobbed. I barely reined in my smirk as I turned on my heel and headed down the hall, knowing she would follow close behind.
As soon as the door closed behind us, I whirled around and pinned her against it, my body flush against hers. I devoured her mouth, gripping her hips possessively. She melted against me. When we finally came up for air, I rested my forehead against hers.
“God, I wanted to do that the moment you walked in,” I said. “You look incredible.”
“Emmett, we’re at work,” she chided halfheartedly, though her arms remained looped around my neck.
I nuzzled her nose. “I know. But I can’t resist you, baby. Especially knowing that after today, we don’t have to hide this anymore.”
“Are you sure about this? Going public with our relationship at the office?”
“Absolutely.” I brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I’m done hiding how I feel about you. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
She bit her lip, the vulnerability in her gaze tugging at my heart. “What if people think I’m just using you? Or that I only got this job because we’re together?”
“Then they’re idiots who don’t know you at all. This job is yours because you’ve earned it. Your skills and hard work speak for themselves. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just bitter and jealous.”
I caressed her cheeks with my thumbs, and the tension gradually drained from her body.
“The only thing that matters is how I see you—as an incredible woman who amazes me every day with her intelligence, drive, and compassion. You’re so much more than just my girlfriend, Callie.
You’re my partner, my equal in every way. ”
Leaning in, I planted a kiss on her forehead. “I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. All I care about is being open and honest about how much I love you. If some small-minded fools want to make assumptions, let them. We know the truth.”
Callie’s eyes glistened, and she pulled me into a fierce embrace, burying her face in my neck. “I love you too, Emmett. So much,” she whispered shakily. “Thank you.”
“Good. So, let’s make it official?”
I took her hand and led her to the chairs by my desk, motioning for her to sit. “Take all the time you need to read them over. But the gist of it is, as of today, you report to Glenn.”
She scanned the paper, and I knew the moment she saw the listed salary because she made a choking sound. “Emmett! This is way too much!”
“I promise you, Cal, this is what every new hire on this team makes. No bullshit this time; you got no special treatment. You can even ask Glenn.”
She chewed her lip, and I fought the urge to pull it from her teeth and kiss the ache away. After what felt like an eternity, she grabbed a pen from my desk and signed.
I let out a whoosh of breath. “Now, are you ready to show this place who we are?”
She drew back and gave a resolute nod. “Let’s do this.”
“Okay, but first.” I picked up my phone and sent out a group message to the entire Special Projects team.
When Callie’s phone pinged, she read the message and shot me an incredulous look. “Seriously, Emmett? An emergency meeting?”
I grinned. “Yep. But we have five minutes before it starts, so let’s make them count.”
Six minutes later, we were running late to my emergency meeting after having gotten a little...distracted.
I strode out of my office with Callie’s hand clasped in mine. My heart pounded, but the warmth of her touch steadied me.
As requested, the team had gathered in The Common. I caught Meredith’s eye, and she gave me an approving nod. With a knowing smile, she stood and cleared her throat, commanding the attention of the bustling office.
All eyes turned towards us.
“Thanks for gathering so quickly,” I began. “As some of you may already know, Callie Winters has officially joined our team today, transferring from the intern program to a full-time position.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, some nodding in acknowledgment, others exchanging curious glances. I paused for a moment, letting the news sink in before continuing.
“However, there’s something else I need to share.” I turned to Callie, my expression softening as I gazed into her eyes. “Callie and I are in a relationship. We’ve been dating for the past few months.”
I leaned down and captured Callie’s lips, pouring every ounce of my feelings for her into that passionate embrace. Catcalls and wolf whistles erupted around us, but in that moment, my world consisted only of Callie.
When we broke apart, I turned to face the team, my arm wrapped around Callie’s waist. “As I was saying, Callie is the most incredible woman I’ve ever known. She challenges me, inspires me, and makes me aspire to be a better man every single day.”
I felt Callie stiffen and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
“I know there may be some concerns or questions about the nature of our relationship. But I can assure you all, Callie earned this position through her hard work, dedication, and undeniable talent. Her skills are an asset to this team, and I’m proud to have her on board. ”
Lifting my chin, I met the gazes of my colleagues one by one.
“That said, I won’t deny that my feelings for Callie run deep.
She means everything to me, and I’m done hiding that fact.
If anyone has an issue with us being together, you can take it up with me directly.
But know this—I refuse to let small minds or idle gossip dictate my personal life. ”
My heart swelled with pride as I felt Callie press my hand. With that simple gesture, she conveyed her gratitude and adoration, her trust in me, in us.
The silence stretched for a few beats until Meredith stepped forward, a warm smile lighting her face. “Well, it’s about damn time you two made it official! Although I have to admit, I’m a little hurt you didn’t let me in on the secret sooner.”
A few chuckles rose from the crowd and the tension dissipated.
Glenn strode over, clapping me on the back.
“I’m happy for you both. Callie’s a talented asset, and we’re lucky to have her on the team.
” He turned to address the group. “I expect everyone to be professional and focus on the work. Anything else is none of our business.”
One by one, colleagues approached to offer congratulations and best wishes. Some seemed genuinely happy for us, while others regarded us with a hint of skepticism beneath their forced smiles. But at that moment, none of it mattered.
I pulled Callie close, planting a kiss on her forehead as I drank in her radiant smile. She was glowing, her face flushed with a mixture of relief and elation. For the first time, we could be ourselves, no longer constrained by the need for secrecy.
About fucking time.
* * *
“What’s this all about?” Meghan was seated next to me in the executive conference room, whispering as the remainder of the board members entered and found a seat.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Dad sat at the head of the table, our mother on his right and Gene on his left.
“Thank you all for making room in your schedules to attend this emergency meeting.” Dad took a deep breath before he resumed speaking. “I’ve called you here today because I’m concerned about something. It’s about our culture, our values as a company.”
No one made a sound. The entire room held its breath in anticipation.
“We’re not just a business; we’re a family. And every single individual in this company, from interns to executives, is critical to our success. They deserve respect, kindness, and recognition for their efforts.”
A murmur ran through the room as executives leaned back in their chairs, digesting his words.
“I’ve seen behavior recently that contradicts these beliefs.
Disparagement, unprofessional conduct, and disregard for others’ contributions.
” His cool gaze swept over the board members.
“And I’ve let it go on long enough. It’s time we looked inward and reassessed how we treat each other.
True leaders serve. They put their team first. They value people over profits and understand that success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the people who get us there.
With that said, I’d like to call for a vote to remove Gene Smith as president. ”
A stunned hush fell over the room. I gaped at Dad, scarcely believing his words.
Gene had been his best friend for decades. I studied my father’s steely expression, searching for a hint that this was some kind of joke. But his jaw was set, his eyes resolute.
“On what grounds?” Gene sputtered, his face reddening.