Brazen Bossman: A Hero Club Novel, стр. 70
He leans forward this time and places the tenderest of kisses to my lips.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you too.” I take his hand. “Come on, let’s go tell my mom.”
We are just rounding our way back into the dining room when he tugs me to a stop.
“Piper, wait. There’s one more thing.”
I turn to face him. “What?”
“I’ve been thinking about Lennox a lot, and the next step I want to take with it.”
“Okay…”
“With everything here with you and your father’s legacy, it got me thinking about my own father’s legacy with Lennox, and how I owe it to him to make sure the thing he worked his ass off for, even at the expense of some important things, isn’t wasted because of some grudge and deep-seated guilt I have. Having said that, I want to formally offer you a promotion within Lennox Publishing. I’d like you to step in as CEO.”
I think I’m hallucinating. I’m having an out of body experience, because surely I’m not hearing him correctly.
“You… you what?”
He steps closer and cups my face once again. “Piper, there is no one more qualified than you. You are educated in the field, you know the company inside and out; the staff loves and respects you. You don’t have to answer now, but I wanted to make the offer right now because I need you to know how much trust and love I have in you.”
“But your father.” I shake my head. “He may not agree to this at all.”
“He already has.”
“What?”
“My father and I had a conversation, of sorts. He was having a good day, and I went by to check on my mother. I spoke to him about the past and our history, and then I mentioned this idea to him, and you should have seen him light up at the idea.”
“I’m going to dehydrate if I cry any more.” I rest my forehead on his chest. “I am nowhere near ready to take a leap like that. I’ll need training and guidance and…”
“I’ll take care of you.” He kisses the top of my head. “I always will.”
This man, this stubborn, brazen, asshole of a man turned my life on its head the day he walked into it. No one can make me angrier, happier, sadder, more excited, turned on, or frustrated than he can, but I think that’s all why I love him.
We balance each other out. Our imperfections fit together in a perfectly imperfect way, and honestly, what else could be better than that?
Epilogue
2 years later
Piper
Ida,
Consider this your formal invitation to my nuptials. I thought this might be more fitting than sending you a traditional invitation.
September 24th at 3 p.m.
We don’t have a dress code. I told Nathanial it was silly and I wanted our guests to be comfortable.
We hope you, Graham and your not-so-little-anymore ones can make it.
Soon-to-be Piper Lennox
I send off the email right as my desk phone rings. I answer it without even looking to see who it is.
“Piper Kingston.”
“You should identify as Piper Kingston, CEO. Actually, Piper Lennox, CEO. Start practicing now,” Nathanial’s voice croons through the phone.
Even after two years, I’m still as attracted as ever to him. Those who say the honeymoon phase is temporary haven’t ever had a man like him in their lives.
“I’ve only been CEO officially for less than six months, Nathanial. I’m not going to announce it to everyone who calls. That would make me an asshole.”
He laughs and the sound makes me shiver from head to toe.
“How’s your dad doing today?” I ask him, no longer afraid to bring him up.
His health has been touch-and-go over the past two years, and it’s a struggle with patience on everyone’s part, but we are all learning to manage.
“He’s all right. He’s having a good day, so Mom is taking him out for some much-needed time away from the apartment.”
“I’m glad. I’d like to make them dinner this weekend. Do you think they’d like to come to our place?”
I moved in with Nathanial last year, after putting it off for as long as I could. I am a very independent woman, so I was reluctant to sell my place at first, but as each day passed, living with him full time sounded better and better. Hell, I was over there more than I was at home anyway.
“I’m sure they’d love that.” I hear the ding of an elevator on his side of the phone. “What are you doing for lunch? Can I swing by? I’d like to eat mine there.”
When I agreed to step up as CEO of Lennox Publishing, it allowed Nathanial to go back to NCL full time, after helping with the transition here and helping me each step of the way. Both Lennox Publishing and NCL are both thriving in a way I know he’s proud of. I saw a new life in his eyes when he was able to shift his focus back to his passion, and it made me love him even more.
“You don’t have to ask that. I’m not going anywhere, so come on by. You know I’d love to see you.”
“Ask and you shall receive.”
My office door swings open and there he stands with a single lily in his hand, dressed to the nines in my favorite charcoal suit and gray tie.
“And what if I’d been busy?”
“You wouldn’t have been. I have insider information.”
“Kate.” I shake my head then stand to greet him. “Is that for me?”
He gives me the flower and I inhale its sweet scent. “It is.”
“Thank you.” I look for bags in his hands, but they are noticeably empty. “I thought you were coming to eat your lunch here?”
“Oh I am.” He closes my door behind him and flips the lock. “I didn’t say food was what I would be indulging in.”
He scoops me up like a bride and lays me across my desk, then sinks to sit in my chair so he is eye level