Page 27 of The Boardroom: Jonathan
Epilogue
Samantha and I debated when exactly we were going to drop the bombshell on our employees—the unbelievable news that their incessantly bickering bosses had apparently fallen in love. We decided to show up to the annual Christmas kick-off party together, and let our employees gradually get accustomed to the idea.
“Well,” Mr. Tiffany said, chortling as he saw us share a quick, experimental kiss under a branch of mistletoe. “Looks like this acquisition went over even better than any of us thought!”
I blushed and Samantha laughed, putting her arm around me. It was the Torver Group’s annual Christmas kickoff party, which was held annually during the first week of December, and the first of a busy month of holiday events for the company. The office was filled with sparkling lights, champagne flutes, and a string quartet playing familiar holiday tunes. Samantha was wearing a dazzling cranberry-red dress with heels, and I wore my white dress shirt and black waistcoat. Things seemed close to perfect. We were keeping all of Samantha’s employees—she had announced the news to them as soon as I told her, and they were obviously relieved. The tension between our two companies had faded, and I smiled at our employees mingling together as if nothing had ever divided them. Wordsworth was a part of the Torver Group now, and I knew that they were going to bring us even more success than I could have ever dreamed of. The world was finally at peace.
“Um, Johnathan?” Kirk said, looking at me nervously. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
I looked at Kirk with confusion as he pulled me away from Samantha and into the corner of the room. “Who isthat?”
“Her?” I said, looking at the pretty brunette girl he indicated from across the room. “That’s Marissa. She’s new.”
“I know who she is!” Kirk said, shushing me. “But what is she doing here? At the company Christmas party?”
“She’s a new board member. Very qualified,” I said, grabbing another cookie off the table. “What’s the problem, do you know her?”
Kirk bit his lip. “It’s a long story,” he said. “…from a long time ago.”
“Well,” I said. “I can’t wait to hear it, but you’ll have to give me a minute.”
I walked back over to Samantha, who was gazing wistfully out the window.
“Enjoying the festivities?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said, smiling at me, and linked her arm with mine. I blushed as I noticed several eyes staring.
“It looks like things are going to work,” I said, looking out at our employees, who seemed happier than ever as they laughed and drank champagne. “You think it’ll last?”
Samantha smiled. “Once upon a time no one ever thought our companies could last together.”
“True,” I said, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “But every once upon a time ends in something unbelievable, doesn’t it?”
Samantha grinned. “I think this time, you’re right.”
THE END.