Chapter Seven
Gia
“What if she doesn’t agree?”
Colton raised his brows, nodding at the pile of papers in my hand. “You have everything you need. You don’t owe her anything.”
I nodded, my nerves tangling in my belly in an elaborate knot. “I can do this.”
“You can, sweetheart. You’ve got this.” Colton’s usually serious demeanor broke for a moment, his eyes crinkling as he looked down at me. “I’ll be right here.”
Straightening my spine, I turned and knocked on the door to the apartment.
My ring flashed from my left hand as I did.
I was still surprised to see it sometimes, the engagement ring that Colton had given me only six weeks into our relationship, shortly after we’d come clean to Sera that we were way more than friends.
And now, only a few weeks later, my new LLC in hand, I was going to do the right thing so that I could walk away, knowing that I had been true to myself.
And then, oh God… Then I had to tell Colton even more life-changing news.
But first?
The company.
My former partner, Brittany, opened the door wide and stared at me in shock. “Gia?”
“Hi, Brittany. I just wanted you to know that I’ve dissolved our company at your request, and I’ve gone through our former contacts and denoted which were from your lead and which were mine.
” I held out a file with an envelope attached to it.
“Everything should be there, but if you have any questions, you can address them to my new assistant. Her information is inside, right ahead of the documentation that if you attempt to slander me or my new company, then a restraining order will be filed against you, based on the ongoing investigation at my former address.”
Her jaw was hanging, completely slack.
I swallowed. “Silence is considered acknowledgement.” I waited another moment, letting it sink in, before I shook the folder I was holding out to her a little.
“It doesn’t matter if you take this from me or not.
It is considered official regardless. And as for the leads and network contacts, I was just doing that to be nice. ”
Still, she didn’t take it. Sighing, I leaned down and dropped the entire folder at her feet. “Alrighty, then. Thanks, Brittany.”
Her gaze briefly scanned me again, and I knew she was tracking the heavy diamond as I moved to turn away from her. I only got a few steps before she cleared her throat.
“Wait, Gia?”
I turned, blinking at her and silently letting her know I didn’t intend to re-approach her. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
I cocked my head. “Me too.”
And then, my heart light and my mind clear, I slipped my fingers into Colton’s. A moment later, he brought them to his mouth.
“One second, sweetheart.”
I watched as he strode back up the walkway to the still-open door. Brittany had picked up the file folder and was staring down at the papers in her hand when he got close.
Her eyes were huge as she took in his size, even as she closed the folder. “Um, hello.”
“My fiancée is too nice to say this, but I’m not. If you hurt her again, we will make sure you never work again. You will lose everything. And we will do it without remorse or regret. Do not fuck with us again. Am I clear?”
Brittany’s mouth was open again, hanging slack as she stared up at him. Then, carefully, she nodded. “Crystal.”
Colton nodded once and then was striding down the sidewalk to me, all traces of the intimidating security man gone as he pressed a hand to my lower back.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did,” Colton said. “No one does what she does and gets away with it.”
“The police are investigating.”
“She made it personal. So did I.”
I rolled my eyes, but inside, my belly was warm.
My new nanny agency was already taking off.
Many of Colton’s connections were reaching out to him about nannies who could be trusted with high-profile clients.
That meant that I would be interviewing and checking into dozens of contracted nannies by the end of the year.
But it felt good. It felt good to match families with the help they needed.
It felt good to be home for my almost stepdaughter.
And it would be the perfect time to bring on more employees around the time I would need to be gone for a few months.
Nervously, I glanced at Colton. We were nearly back to our car now. Seeing a nearby park full of kids made me think of my surprise, and I could feel myself trailing behind a little, dragging Colton with me.
“What next, sweetheart?” Colton asked. “Are you ready for the next round of interviews?”
“I am.” I gnawed on my lower lip. “I’m thinking about hiring one more assistant, though.”
“Is Alex not doing a good job?”
“No, I just…” I flushed. “I’m going to need a little more help in the next few months.”
Colton’s hands immediately found my sides, turning me to him. “Is something wrong?”
“No, actually, it’s all so good. So, so good.” I cupped his jaw and then took one of his big hands off my side and moved it to the center of my belly. “I just want to be able to soak up every bit of this new little one.”
Colton’s gaze darted between my face and his hand once, twice, and then a third time. His throat worked hard. “You’re pregnant.”
“I am.”
In the next moment, I was swept up in his arms, and he was swirling me around and around as he pressed his face into the side of my neck, kissing everything he could reach.
When he finally set me down, he kissed me on the mouth, long and sweet, his hands tangling in my hair. “I can’t believe I almost missed all of this.” His hand moved back over my still-flat belly.
I smiled at him and then leaned in for another kiss. “Remind me you’re real.”
“Always, sweetheart.” Then he was kissing me again and again until I didn’t doubt that this was the life I had dreamed up and the man I’d fallen for completely.
My heart was full, my future bright.
And he was by my side.
The End