Bonus Chapter Kisses and Crossfires
Marcus
The city sparkles in the dark evening, and I'm glad most everyone has left for the day. The wind whistles against the glass window, a sound I barely register.
Kyle and the Marketing heads are setting up in one of the many meeting rooms, waiting for me. I'll head there in a minute.
A sigh escapes my mouth as my mind drifts to the reception Celeste and I have been receiving from the staff.
While most of them are avoiding me, that's not quite the case with Celeste. Celeste is our resident queen—if the resounding applause and standing ovation she received when she stepped into the lobby yesterday was anything to go by.
My throat swells with pride. Not only was she congratulated, she was accepted—revered even.
I didn't miss the deluge of pats on the backs and the flood of apologies that came her way.
A knock sounds on the door, and pulls me from my reverie.
"Thought I might find you here... We're ready for you."
I turn and smile at the goddess with blue-brown eyes as she hugs me from behind.
"How're you doing? How are things? Anyone giving you trouble?"
She shakes her head. "No trouble..."
I can sense a 'but' in there somewhere but she refuses to elaborate.
I lock my arms around her, making sure she's secure. "What is it, love?"
"I haven't seen Nolan since yesterday. He's not responding to my messages, either."
My temper flares, already on edge since Eva and Seth publicly admitted fault. Sure, it helped...But there's still a lot of lingering damage from their initial publicity stunts.
"I'm going to fire him. I warned him. Bullying you would mean losing his job. And he's still at it, even after the truth being out for days!"
She places a hand on my chest. "Hey...He's not slacking, and he hasn't said a single negative thing to or about me... He's doing his work well, and he's coordinating with Kyle.
"It's just, he literally hasn't said a word to me either. I was more worried than upset..."
I drop a kiss on her nose and she wrinkles it before laughing.
"You're amazing, you know that... I'm still inclined to fire him...Although, I might be persuaded otherwise if..."
I leave the statement hanging and she laughs before going up on the tips of her toes and pressing her lips to mine.
I pull her close. Her fingers twist in my hair as she pulls herself higher, deepening the kiss of her own initiative.
Warmth settles in my chest as her vanilla scent swirls around me and pulls me deeper.
The tension between us shifts unmistakably.
She is pressed against me, and it doesn't take long for heat to find other areas in my body.
I lift her onto my desk and step between her knees. She straddles my hips, not losing her grip on my hair at all.
I lean into her, before pulling away, hand still on her knee. My lips trace a line from the corner of her lips to the crook of her neck and I nibble at the soft skin.
She moans against my shoulder and I nearly lose all control.
After the fortnight we've had, I'm almost always on the edge—waiting for disaster to crop up when I'm not looking.
I rub my nose against her skin. I've been feeling drained in the worst way for days. Getting to work hasn't helped and if I must lose control, I would rather lose myself in Celeste.
She seems to sense how far I'm gone and bites me on my neck. The sharp nip of her teeth finally breaks the overwhelming haze and I turn to her, an apology on my lips.
She places her finger on my lips and speaks evenly, "Don't get me wrong...The only reason we're pausing is because we're at the office, and someone could walk in..."
"Still don't feel comfortable announcing our relationship?"
"Honestly, I would love to, but our personal drama has already overshadowed ADAI's launch. I want to do this right. It's my opportunity for a complete professional redemption, after all."
I nod. "I understand...does that mean we're only hitting the pause button and can continue where we left off at home?"
She laughs, a tinkling sound, so open and without restraint that I marvel at the change the last few days have wrought.
"You're incorrigible, you know that! Now come on, we're late."
She takes my hand and drags me out of the office, Nolan's fate nearly forgotten, but not quite.
—--------------------------
Celeste
I swallow my bravado as I pull Marcus along. My pulse sings in my chest and heat is still pooling in my abdomen.
What this man does to me...
I bite my lips as I suppress my grin...I've never felt happier. I chance a glance behind me, dropping his hand as I exit his office.
I know he's still on edge. I also know he's still not sleeping well. But he's at least resting through the night.
I would have preferred to take a brief sabbatical, but now isn't the time.
We arrive at the meeting room, and I take a deep breath bracing myself for any potential hostility from Nolan.
I push open the door and enter with Marcus, scanning the room. I raise an eyebrow at Kyle, in question to his absence.
Marcus beats me to the punch as he shoots his question at Kyle. "Where's Nolan? I'm going to fire him."
Kyle gasps in surprise. "He just stepped out. He should be here—"
The door behind us slides open and a red faced Nolan steps in. One look at Marcus's snarling face has his face blanching.
Before any of us can say anything, he raises his hands in surrender.
"Can I go first?" His voice is small. I take him in and realize he doesn't look like his usual arrogant self.
Marcus's jaw snaps shut audibly beside me, and I can tell his patience is stretched to the limit.
I continue studying Nolan as he swallows. His hair looks greasy, and he seems to have dropped some weight.
He turns to me, none of his usual animosity in his eyes. "Celeste..." His voice hitches, and he takes a deep breath before continuing, "I owe you an apology."
His hands twist while he bows his head, shoulders hunched.
"I'm really sorry, Celeste, for treating you so badly for years. I not only misunderstood you, I allowed my prejudice to take over my judgement until I was a complete dick, refusing to acknowledge even your professional caliber.
"I understand that we might not end up as friends, but I would like to at least offer my sincerest apologies."
I stare at him, eyes wide with disbelief. Of all the things I was anticipating, an apology wasn't even on the list.
He opens his laptop bag sitting on a chair and pulls out a package. He swallows, hesitation rife on his face.
"While in high school, I loved taking photographs. Well, I still do." His voice is soft, and he stammers as he continues. "A–Anyway, I've spent the better part of the week hunting these down in my garage... I hope it shows you how sorry I am..."
I take the package and rip it open. And there it is, photos of Marcus and me, all through senior year.
Marcus looking at me, while I'm looking at the teacher... Marcus pulling a guy away from the water-fountain as I walk closer, opening my water bottle... Marcus staring out the window while I stare at him...
There are dozens of these...
I stare at Nolan in disbelief. "What—"
"You guys are meant for each other...And for what it's worth, I'm glad you found each other again.
I'm sorry for being mean, Celeste. For bullying you and making high school and work more hellish than it already must have felt to you.
..I'm truly sorry for ruining any potential friendships between us. "
His cheeks turn rosy after his little speech. I don't think he realizes the treasure he's given me. Or maybe he does.
"I'll forgive you. We can even be friends..." He looks up at that, eyes shining. Marcus looks stumped, as if unsure what I mean.
Warmth blooms in my chest as I see the truth in Nolan's miserable eyes. And I do not want to carry any more debts or grudges in my heart.
I know he's a good friend of Marcus's, and I also know Marcus is willing to give up this friendship for me.
Thing is, I don't want him to.
A wicked grin lifts my lips as I turn to look at Marcus.
"...If you share all of Marcus's embarrassing photos with me."
Marcus turns to me, eyes wide in protest. "Hey!"
Nolan doesn't even hesitate. "Done!"
"You do realize that I employ you both, don't you?!"
Both Nolan and I ignore him as we take up our seats. I don't miss Kyle shaking with mirth as he does his best to press his lips shut.
Marcus keeps grumbling until the presentation starts, alternating between threatening and pleading with us both, which we both ignore.
I don't miss his final statement as he grumbles under his breath even as Nolan starts speaking.
"How the hell did I get caught in the crossfire?!"
I don't even try to suppress the smirk I'm sporting.
I grab Marcus's hand under the table and squeeze before he intertwines his fingers with mine.
Life's good now, isn't it?