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“You have nothing to worry about in that score.” Drake gestured towards the crowd that had formed at the other end of the hallway. “Mairi’s been campaigning for you the entire morning.”
Damen shook his head, bemused. “Excuse me?”
“Go see for yourself.”
Slowly, he walked towards the crowd. The nearer he got, the louder and faster his heart beat because Mairi’s voice was becoming clearer and clearer. Another few steps and he was close enough to see his wife surrounded by the press, a bunch of cellphones and portable microphones pressed towards her.
“I know you may think you have no stake in this, but you do. I know many of you may think this is simply a power struggle between two wealthy individuals, but it’s not. My husband isn’t working hard to reclaim his position as head of Leventis only for himself. He’s also doing it to have the power to help those unnecessarily and unfairly affected by his dispute with your current CEO.”
“Damen cares about you – his employees. People who don’t know him may think he’s ruthless. That he’s irresponsible. But if you have worked for my husband, you should know the truth. My husband is a good man, a fair employer, and he takes his obligation towards his people seriously. I know that many of you are being paid less than what Damen himself has promised because of the new internal policies in the company. Those changes are some of the reasons why Damen wants to be back in Leventis. He’s fighting for you, and I know, if we support him, we can help him and make our choice matter in this battle.”
The smile that touched Mairi’s lips after her speech took his breath away, and what she said next nearly knocked him sideways.
“I know how most people see me. I understand why people see me that way, and it’s really okay.” She bit her lip for a moment as she struggled to keep herself composed. “But what’s not okay is for your judgment of Damen Leventis to be clouded by your judgment of me. Damen Leventis is – was – and will always be the best thing to happen to your company. Don’t allow people motivated by their self-interest to take Damen away from you.”
When she paused, Damen was no longer able to keep still, no longer able to bear the distance separating him and his wife. Her impassioned words humbled him, and even when he had successfully pushed his way to the front of the crowd, Damen still couldn’t think of what to say.
Mairi froze at the unexpected sight of Damen standing before him. How long had he been there? Had he heard every embarrassing word of her testimony? She watched with wide eyes as he reached for her, and she bit her lip hard when he cupped her face with a tenderness that nearly bordered on reverence.
“Y-you won?”
His lips curved at the question, the words another subtle proof of her complete faith in him. “No.” When she looked shattered, Damen continued gravely, “Nothing I did inside made me win. It was here – what you did that will win me the case.” Gently wiping the stray tear that had leaked out one corner of her eye, he said hoarsely, “The judge decided to subject the company’s future ownership and management to a vote. He wants every vote tallied, not just the board members, but every shareholder and employee as well.”
Mairi started to cry, relief nearly sending her to her knees as she understood what her husband was saying.
“After your speech, sweetheart, who do you think would win?”
She sobbed, “Me.”
He laughed even as he pulled her close for a kiss, unable to wait for them to get to somewhere private. “I love you, my precious.”
She whispered back, “I love you, dreamboat.” More laughter mingled with their kiss as she spoke the words. Three words that were Mairi’s gift to herself because she wanted her last memory to be of Damen Leventis smiling. She would treasure this look of his forever.
And then his phone rang.
Mairi didn’t lose her smile, didn’t even feel the need to cry when Damen pulled away at the sound of it. It was fitting, after what she had decided.
Before answering Willow’s call, Damen told Mairi, “I have to take this call. I...need to talk to my attorneys, too. Is it okay if you go home first?”
“Sure.” She meant it. She no longer had any right to mind what Damen chose to do.
“Wait for me there?”
“Of course.” But this time, she lied.