Chapter Twenty-One
Simon
The week following our return from Neptune’s Kingdom had been a whirlwind of activity, but I couldn’t remember the last time work had felt this energizing.
Contract discussions with Alexander had dominated most of my days.
We’d spent hours on video calls and exchanged countless emails, hammering out the details of our partnership.
The negotiations had been remarkably smooth, a testament to how aligned we were in our vision for the future of Neptune’s Kingdom.
Alexander wanted controlled expansion that preserved the family-friendly atmosphere he’d cultivated over two decades.
I wanted a long-term investment in a company with solid foundations and genuine growth potential. Our goals dovetailed perfectly.
By Thursday, we’d reached an agreement on all major terms. Alexander’s attorney was now reviewing everything, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s before the official signing scheduled for Monday. Barring any last-minute surprises, Powers Investment Group would soon have a new flagship partnership.
What made the process even better was having Raina by my side through all of it. She’d sat in on every call, taken meticulous notes, and offered insights I hadn’t considered.
I’d always had Liam to bounce ideas off of, and my brother remained invaluable.
But Raina brought a different perspective.
She understood the human element in ways that sometimes escaped me.
She could read between the lines of Alexander’s hesitations, anticipate his objections before he voiced them, and help me navigate the emotional undercurrents of the deal.
Having her as my assistant—and in my life in general—felt like discovering a missing piece of myself I hadn’t known I needed.
Liam, for his part, was thrilled about the Neptune’s Kingdom acquisition. He’d reviewed the preliminary numbers and declared it one of our most promising ventures in years. But his excitement about the business deal had taken a backseat to his curiosity about other developments.
“So,” he’d said yesterday, leaning against my office doorframe with a knowing smirk, “you and Raina. That’s not fake anymore, is it?”
I’d considered deflecting, but Liam knew me too well. “No. It’s not.”
His expression shifted from amused to serious. “She’s your employee, Simon.”
“I’m aware.”
“And you’re sure this is a good idea? Mixing business with…” he’d gestured vaguely, “whatever this is?”
I’d met his eyes steadily. “I know what I’m doing, Liam. Raina is different. This is different. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize her position here or make her uncomfortable. If anything, I’m more motivated than ever to make sure she’s treated fairly. By me, by the company, by everyone.”
Liam had studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Okay. I trust you. Just… be careful. With her and with yourself.”
It was as close to a blessing as I was going to get, and I’d take it.
All in all, it had been a productive but exhausting week, which made today a welcome relief. No negotiations, no contracts, no strategy sessions. Just good food, good company, and a hockey playoff game. Something relaxing, fun, and casual with family and friends…and Raina.
My dining room table was buried under enough food to feed a small army.
Sliders, buffalo wings, chips with an array of dips, jalapeno poppers, and other appetizer type food covered every inch of the polished wood surface.
There wasn’t a vegetable in sight unless you counted the guacamole, but I didn’t mind.
The people coming over to watch the hockey game weren’t going to care either.
The Lynx had their first playoff game in New Jersey tonight, and I’d invited a group over to watch on my eighty-five-inch TV.
My brother Noah had arrived early with his wife Fallon and his twin girls, Dakota and Dylan.
The girls made a beeline for the dining room the moment they walked through the door, immediately loading paper plates with wings and chips.
Fallon, in her third trimester of pregnancy, followed more slowly, one hand pressed to the small of her back. As she maneuvered around the table, her hip caught the edge of a chair, sending it teetering. Noah’s reflexes saved it from crashing to the hardwood floor.
“Sorry.” Fallon cringed, steadying herself. “I’m so clumsy these days.”
Her hand drifted to her swollen stomach, and I chuckled. “You’re about ready to pop, Fallon. I think you’re entitled to a little clumsiness.”
She frowned at me, and Noah immediately stepped closer, sliding an arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“Don’t listen to him, baby,” he murmured, his voice warm and reassuring. “You’re just as beautiful as ever.”
The look he shot me over her head suggested I’d somehow implied she wasn’t. “Of course she is,” I agreed quickly, even though I’d never thought of Fallon that way. She’d always been like another sister to me. “I just meant… a big stomach doesn’t make someone less attractive.”
To my horror, Fallon’s frown deepened and her eyes went glassy with unshed tears.
“Simon!” Noah hissed.
“Boy, you really know how to step in it, don’t you?” Liam’s amused voice came from behind me.
I hadn’t even heard him come in. When I turned, I found him grinning at my predicament, his girlfriend Morgan at his side, both of them clearly entertained by my fumbling.
“I wasn’t trying to upset her,” I said, spinning back toward Fallon.
Her face was flushed, and I felt panic clawing at my chest. I could be ruthless in a boardroom, could stare down hostile investors without flinching, but making a woman cry, especially someone I cared about, was my personal nightmare.
“I didn’t realize it wasn’t okay to comment on a pregnant woman’s size.
I mean, she knows she’s big, right? It’s not like—”
Morgan groaned and shook her head. “Good God, man. Stop talking. You’re making it worse.”
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “I give up.”
I retreated to the living room just as the apartment door opened again, admitting the rest of my guests. My sister Shannon swept in first, holding a bottle of red wine aloft like a trophy.
“I figured you’d only have crappy beer,” she announced, pecking my cheek as she passed, “so I took the liberty of bringing something a little more refined.”
I rolled my eyes as she disappeared into the kitchen to find a corkscrew.
Then my gaze landed on Raina, and everything else faded to background noise.
She was standing between her brother Kurt and a woman I hadn’t met yet but knew must be Wren, her best friend, who I told her to invite.
Raina wore a casual dress—something flowy and feminine with a ruffled hem that hit mid-thigh, showing off her toned, bare legs, and strappy sandals.
Her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, catching the light every time she moved. She looked like sunshine personified.
I wasn’t normally one to invite strangers into my home, but I’d wanted Raina to feel comfortable here.
I knew having Wren present—someone from her world, someone who knew her outside of work and outside of me—would help ease her into this gathering of my family and friends since this was the first time Raina was meeting everyone.
From everything Raina had told me, she and Wren were as close as sisters.
I crossed the room to greet them, and Raina’s face lit up when our eyes met. That smile of hers hit me square in the chest every single time.
“Simon, this is Wren,” she said, gesturing to the dark-haired woman beside her. “Wren, this is Simon.”
Wren had sharp, assessing eyes that swept over me with obvious curiosity. Her handshake was firm, her smile knowing. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope.”
“Mostly.” Her lips twitched. “The jury’s still out on the rest.”
I decided I liked her.
After introductions, Fallon and Noah drifted into the living room, Fallon’s earlier distress apparently forgotten as she balanced a plate heaped with food.
Noah shot me a warning look that dared me to comment.
As if I’d make that mistake twice. I might not understand why it was forbidden to mention a pregnant woman’s size, but I wasn’t stupid enough to say anything about how much she was eating, especially when she was eating for two.
“There’s food in the dining room,” I said to Raina, placing my hand on the small of her back to guide her in that direction.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kurt stiffen.
When I glanced over, he was staring at my hand on his sister’s back, his expression shifting from casual friendliness to something more guarded.
It occurred to me that he didn’t know things between us had changed.
I’d told Kurt about the fake dating arrangement after the gala, and he’d found it hilarious at the time, teasing me about having to play house with his sister just to land Alexander’s business.
He looked considerably less amused now.
The concern in his eyes reminded me of the way Miles had looked at me during dinner—protective, suspicious, ready to intervene if necessary. Both of Raina’s brothers clearly watched out for her, and while I appreciated that she had people in her corner, their obvious wariness toward me rankled.
It wasn’t a surprise when Kurt followed us into the dining room. The game had just started in the other room, drawing most of my guests to the TV, but Kurt clearly had other priorities. Shannon and Wren remained in the kitchen, their laughter drifting out as they bonded over wine.
“So, Raina,” Kurt said as I handed her a plate. He stood on the opposite side of the table, watching us with studied casualness. “How’s the job going?”
Something in his tone made Raina’s eyes narrow. “It’s great. Why do you ask?”
Kurt’s gaze flicked to me before returning to his sister. “Just curious. You two seem to be getting along exceptionally well. Beyond the whole fake dating thing.”
The words landed like a challenge. Raina’s spine went rigid, and I stood motionless, waiting to see how she’d respond.
I’d told her she was mine in that coffee shop, had made my intentions clear, but we hadn’t truly discussed what it meant.
I’d assumed she understood that things had changed between us.
That part of the reason I’d invited her tonight was because I wanted the woman I was falling for to meet the important people in my life.
But now, as silence stretched and Kurt’s eyebrows climbed higher, I realized I should have been clearer. We needed to be on the same page.
Then Raina reached for my hand.
Her fingers slid between mine, and she lifted her chin as she held her brother’s gaze. “Yeah. We are getting along exceptionally well.”
“Does that mean…” Kurt trailed off, gesturing between us with obvious implication.
“Are you asking if we’re together?” Raina’s voice was steady, but I felt the slight nervous tremor in her grip around my hand.
“Are you?” Kurt volleyed right back.
She glanced at me then, her eyes searching mine, giving me the opportunity to confirm or deny. To decide whether this was the moment we went public, starting with her brother.
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” I said, squeezing her hand. “We are.”
Kurt’s attention shifted fully to me, a hard glint entering his eyes. “Raina isn’t like the other women you’ve been with.”
Her breath hitched softly and I ran my thumb across her knuckles as I held Kurt’s stare. “No, she’s not,” I agreed. “She’s extraordinary. She’s the most genuine person I’ve ever met, and she challenges me in ways no one else does. I care for her, and I’m not taking this lightly, Kurt.”
Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe, at my frankness.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea.” His voice was cautious but not unkind. “You’re her boss, Simon. The power dynamic alone—”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” Raina cut in. “And don’t worry so much about me. I know exactly what I’m doing.” Her eyes found mine, and her next words felt like they were meant for me alone. “I’m happy.”
I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips before I could stop myself. Chaste, brief, but undeniable. I didn’t care if it made Kurt uncomfortable. I needed her to know that her words meant something to me.
Kurt made a sound of disgust. “Okay, okay. I get it. No need to make out in front of me.”
Raina laughed, and just like that, the tension broke. We all turned our attention to filling plates with food, the awkwardness dissolving into something more comfortable.
A few minutes later, while Raina was distracted comparing wing flavors with Wren, who had wandered in from the kitchen, Kurt appeared at my side.
“Look,” he said quietly, his voice pitched for my ears only. “I know you well enough to understand this is real. You’re not the type to toy with a woman’s feelings.”
“No,” I agreed. “I’m not.”
“But she’s my sister, Simon.” His jaw tightened. “Don’t fuck this up. You hurt her, and you and I are going to have a serious problem, no matter how good of friends we are. Understood?”
I met his eyes steadily, recognizing the warning for what it was. Not a threat, but a promise. I respected it. I’d do the same for my sister Shannon in a heartbeat.
“Understood,” I said. “But I don’t plan on hurting her. I plan on doing whatever it takes to make this work.”
Kurt studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. “Good. That’s what I needed to hear.”
He clapped me on the shoulder, and some of the tension eased from his stance. “Now come on. The Lynx are already down by one and I need to yell at the TV.”