Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
IRIS
Waking up, I still cannot believe that last night was real.
It all feels like a dream.
I am grateful that Clint convinced me to stick with water. Completely sober, it felt unreal. I don’t want to know how it would have felt if I had alcohol in my system.
Still, I’m confused.
As much as I loved the kiss, it left me confused. Where do we stand now?
I wish he hadn’t left. I wanted to talk things out.
Then again, I need to remember men aren’t like women. They don’t always think about talking things through. They tend to prefer actions. So was that action supposed to mean something?
Growling, I get out of bed and go into the bathroom. All through my shower, I think about how I want to handle this.
Old Iris wouldn’t want to rock the boat. She would follow Max’s lead and bury it if that’s what he wanted.
New Iris won’t do that.
No, I am going to confront him.
So after I get dressed in a T-shirt and some sweats, I head up to his penthouse apartment. Scanning my key, I press P1, waiting for the elevator to take me to his level.
Once there, I swallow hard.
This is it.
I knock on the door, hearing him call for me to enter. I type in the code and step inside.
“How did you know it was me?” I ask as I head into his kitchen to find him cooking at the stove shirtless.
The gray sweats hanging low on his hips have me wanting to drool.
“I didn’t get a call from the front desk. You’re the only other person with access to my floor,” he tells me.
I frown as I watch him move around the kitchen. His body is distracting me.
“Were you expecting me?” I ask.
“I was hoping. Take a seat at the island. Breakfast is almost done.”
He seems like he has so much energy. I wonder how much of it is his anxiety.
“Did you sleep?” I ask him.
He looks over his shoulder at me. “I did. Not much, but I was able to get some sleep.”
“Let me finish cooking. You sit,” I tell him, moving into the kitchen.
He turns, grabbing my hips. My breath catches as I look up into his eyes.
Before I can do something stupid, like kiss him again, he moves me back to the chair at the island.
“I appreciate the assist, but I’ve got this. Sit. Relax.”
He continues to move around the kitchen while I sit and watch him in awe. He is different than he normally is. I wonder if our kiss really changed that much for him. I want to ask. I’m going to ask.
As soon as I work up the nerve.
He goes to the fridge and pulls some things out. I’m too busy staring at the muscles in his back as he moves to pay attention to what he is doing when he slides a glass of iced chai tea latte across the counter to me.
He knows me so well. He knows what I like to eat and drink. He knows what makes me happy and makes me sad. He knows me.
“Max,” I start.
“We will talk, Iris. Give me a minute to finish breakfast. I want to give you my full attention.”
I can’t argue with that request. I sit back and sip my chai while he finishes making breakfast.
When he finally slides a plate in front of me, I look down at the over-medium eggs, buttered toast, hash browns, and crispy bacon. When I glance at his plate and see his scrambled eggs, English muffin, homestyle potatoes, and sausage patty, I feel all warm inside.
He made a whole separate breakfast for me because he knows this is the way I enjoy it.
We eat in silence, neither of us wanting to talk now that we are here. Once we finish, I move to the sink to wash the plates.
“You don’t have to do that,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “Let me.”
He does as I ask, stepping beside me with a towel to dry them.
Once the kitchen is clean, he makes me a second chai tea latte and a cup of coffee for himself before he leads me to the living room, setting his coffee down before he sits on the couch. I sit next to him, setting my drink next to his.
“You wanted to talk,” he starts.
I nod. “About last night.”
He looks down at his hands before he turns toward me, staring me in the eye.
“I know kissing you last night was not what friends do. It wasn’t what a boss should do. I need to know, do you regret it?” he asks.
I’m shocked. Here I was downstairs thinking that he might have regrets, and he was up here thinking the same thing. I wish he hadn’t left last night. We could have resolved this then.
“I don’t. I enjoyed the kiss, and I’ll be honest, I would love to do it again,” I admit.
He lets out a relieved breath, leaning forward to grab my hands in his. “I’m so happy to hear it. I stressed all night that I kissed you and ruined everything. I liked kissing you. I want to do it a lot more, if you’ll let me.”
He moves one hand to cup my cheek. I lean in, waiting for him to meet me halfway. He doesn’t leave me waiting for long.
He presses his lips to mine, kissing me softly. Gently.
I want to deepen the kiss. To lose myself to him. To this moment. To everything I ever wanted, but as much as I want to keep this simple, I need more. I need to know what this means.
This can’t be casual. Not for me. Not with all the feelings I have for him.
“Max, we need to talk,” I whisper against his lips.
He presses another kiss to mine before he pulls away.
“We do. I have too much to say.”
Before he can say anything else, his phone rings. He pulls it out and goes to silence it before his face falls.
“I’m so sorry, Iris. It’s Florian. I need to take this.”
I nod, recognizing the name of one of our board members. We have a board meeting next week, so I’m sure it’s important. Otherwise he wouldn’t have called on a Sunday.
“Of course. Take it. I can wait.”
I watch as he answers the phone, retreating to his office.
I’m finally getting everything I want.
At least, I hope I am.
MAX
I swear, my phone always rings at the most inopportune moments. I was kissing her. I had her in my arms. Then the real world had to call and pull me out of that bubble.
Oh, what I would give to be back in that bubble.
“Florian, I’m glad to hear from you.” I answer the phone as I walk down the hall to my office. I step inside and shut the door, hating that I left Iris out there without being able to talk to her.
“I received the proposed agenda for the meeting next week. I wanted to call and ask what you think you are doing.”
I frown. I always knew Florian would be my biggest obstacle to this idea. He is the one who helped my father move the home base to New York in the first place.
“I’m saving the company money and bringing it back to its roots.
We have had a lot of scandals over the last couple of years.
Not only have our stocks taken a hit, but so has our money.
New York might have been an option back in the eighties, but now it has become too expensive.
This company is bleeding money just by existing here. ”
“Your father would be disappointed in you,” he hisses.
“We don’t know what my father would or wouldn’t be because he is not here. That is a low blow, by the way,” I say, keeping my tone cool.
“I’m speaking the truth. He moved away from Boston to start something of his own. He would hate that you are bringing it back there.”
“Or would he be proud that I am doing what is right by the company and also making decisions for myself? He moved away from his father to make his own way, so would he be proud that I am doing the same?” I ask.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Listen, the vote doesn’t have to be unanimous. You have made it clear by this phone call that you will not support it. So what was the real reason for your call? To bully me into withdrawing my proposal?”
“No.” He clears his throat. “I am running for chair of the board next year. I thought we could discuss a little quid pro quo. You support me for the position, and I will support this venture.”
I want to laugh in his face. I don’t need his support. I also don’t need him being the chair of the board. He is a pain in my ass as a board member as is. He would be a nightmare as the chair.
“Why would I want to do that? You don’t approve of anything I do,” I tell him.
“It would be beneficial for the company. I have its best interests at heart. Hell, I helped build it.”
I want to tell him that he should retire by that statement, not be seeking a more powerful position on the board. I don’t, though. He is a stubborn man. He will run for the position whether I support him or not.
“I will think over your offer and let you know my decision at the board meeting. I thank you for calling, but it is Sunday, and I have plans. I will see you next week,” I tell him.
I hang up the phone, not waiting for him to respond. I sigh, rubbing my forehead.
He is going to be a problem.
Dialing Mason, I wait for him to answer.
“What’s wrong?” he groans as he answers.
“Are you still sleeping? It’s like nine.”
He laughs. “Ari kept us up watching movies last night. What’s up, brother?”
“Florian called. He doesn’t support our proposal, but he would be willing to support it if we back him for the chair position next year,” I tell him.
“Fuck no. That’s a terrible idea. He tried to get the board to rally against me when everything with Mom was going down. I have no doubts he would use the move as a reason to oust you. We can’t give him that power.”
I let my head fall back against the door. “I know. I don’t want to support him, but what are the chances this falls through?” I ask him.
“We have a good presentation. We structured it to show how the company would benefit, which in turn means they will benefit. Keep the confidence. Don’t let Florian get into your head. He’s an asshole.”
“You’re right. Sorry. I should let you go. Iris is waiting for me in the living room.”
“Are you finally going to tell her?” he asks.
“No. Not until we have approval. I want to surprise her.”
“Don’t you think she might be a little upset that you not only lied to her but that you kept this from her?” he points out.
“I know. I feel guilty enough. I want everything to be perfect,” I sigh.
“Is this your grand gesture?”
I think over his words. Is it? I guess it is.
“Maybe. It’s good for both of us.”
“What about her other job offer?”
My mood sours. She still hasn’t said anything about the other job to me.
It reminds me that she is keeping secrets of her own.
“I gotta go. Give Ari and the wife a hug from me.”
“Will do. Love you, bro. You got this.”
“Love you too.”
Hanging up the phone, I collect myself before going back out into the living room. There, I find Iris lying on the couch, her eyes closed.
I sigh. We really need to talk, but she needs her rest too. So instead of waking her, I cover her with a blanket. Then I curl up next to her, putting her feet in my lap.
At least one of us will get some rest. I don’t think I can relax until all of this is over and I have my girl and my company back home in Boston.