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I ignore the bolt of shame that hits me at his mention of trust. “What are you doing? You were so looking forward to the weekend.”
He sighs, scrubbing a hand down his jaw. “I tried relaxing, but all I could think about was how much there still is to do.”
“Why didn’t you call me? I could have helped.”
He gets up from his desk, joining me at the doorway. “Just for the record, I never expect you to work weekends. But I’m glad you’re here. I needed a break.” His arms move to reach for me, and then he stops himself. “Where’s the decorator?”
“Oh, she’s running late.”
“So I can do this, then?” He tugs me closer, cupping the back of my head to give me a drawn-out, delicious kiss.
I cling to him, savoring his warm taste until he releases me. “You can do that anytime.”
He smiles down at me. “I might hold you to that.”
Despite everything we’ve done together so far, his words still bring a slight blush to my cheeks. I bite my lip, stepping away to fully look him over. “You know, I’ve never seen you in casual clothes.” His outfit is nothing special, just a black t-shirt and worn jeans paired with scuffed boots, but it seems to match him in a way I didn’t expect after only seeing him in expensive, tailored suits. “I really like it.”
He chuckles. “This? I’d wear it all the time if I could. Those ties strangle me.”
I purse my lips at him. “You know what I’m going to say.”
He gives me a sardonic look. “That I’m CEO and I can do whatever I want?”
“Yep.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You keep saying that. Why?”
He turns away, running a hand through his hair. “There are expectations of me. I have to uphold what Dad put in place.”
“Why?”
“Because I… I just do, okay?”
His voice isn’t quite exasperated, but there’s definitely a note of defeat in there.
“If you can’t give me a reason other thanbecause, then it’s not a very valid reason, is it?”
He glances over at me over his shoulder. “Aren’t assistants supposed to be yes men?”
The corners of my lips tip up. “You wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t challenge you.”
He returns to his desk, leaning back in his chair. “So you’re saying I should just change everything I don’t like? I might as well step down from the job, then.”
I take a seat too, crossing my arms over my chest. “No, but you should reduce the unnecessary parts, and add more of the stuff you like. That’s the benefit of being the owner too. You can decide what you do.”
He’s silent as he picks up a pen and taps it on his knee, mulling over my words.
“Okay, let’s imagine,” I say. “Not making any actual decisions. Just a wishlist. What’s something you don’t like about being CEO?”
He sighs. “Emma—”
“Humor me.”
“All the meetings,” he finally answers.
“So tell them to send emails instead. Boom. Next problem.”