Page 41

Leonard

I ’m deep into a document, staring at the projections for the next quarter, when the door to my office swings open.

I look up, surprised, to see Roxanne standing there, a determined look on her face and an energy in her that I don’t quite recognize.

Usually, she’d call or knock, especially given how focused she knows I get during work.

But today, she’s here, unannounced, and I already feel my mood lifting just at the sight of her.

“Roxanne,” I say, a hint of a smile pulling at my mouth. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Did you miss me?”

She steps inside, closing the door behind her, and I can tell immediately that she has something on her mind.

Her gaze is full of those big dreams she carries in her heart.

She’s not here for the advice I promised about how to build her own company, nor to check in on the aftermath of the Oliver case.

No, this is something more. I push my laptop aside, giving her my full attention.

“I came here to talk,” she says, her voice low but firm, “because I’ve been thinking about everything—about the company, what we’ve gone through, and where I fit into it all.”

“Okay,” I say, gesturing to the chair in front of my desk, but she shakes her head, choosing to remain standing. Her eyes are steady on mine, and I can feel the conviction in her even before she starts to speak.

“I don’t want to have my own company,” she says, and the words surprise me.

“I mean, I thought I did. I thought that was my path, what I’d been working toward all this time.

But these past months…everything we’ve been through together…

it’s shown me something I didn’t expect.

” She pauses, taking a breath, and her expression softens just a bit.

“I want to work with you, Leonard. Not alongside you, not as a competitor, or even just as a partner. I want to be part of what you’re building here because I see now that we share the same ideals and the same morals.

And together, I think we could do great things. ”

Her words hang in the air, and for a moment, I just look at her, letting them sink in.

Roxanne isn’t someone who makes decisions lightly.

She’s calculated and thoughtful, and for her to come to me like this, to tell me that she wants to be part of what we’re doing here—it’s massive. More than that, it’s humbling.

I lean back in my chair, taking her in, trying to gauge her thoughts. But there’s no doubt in her eyes, no hesitation. She’s thought this through.

“Roxanne,” I begin, choosing my words carefully, “you know the company’s going to feel the aftershocks of this trial for a while.

Clients, the board, the media—everyone’s watching us closely.

We’re not in the clear yet, and things are going to get difficult.

This path isn’t exactly a safe one right now. ”

She nods, taking a step closer, and I can see the determination on her face.

“I know. I’m not here because I want an easy path.

I’m here because I believe in what you’re doing and because I believe in you.

” Her voice softens, but the conviction remains.

“I’ve seen the way you handle this company, the way you handle the challenges, even when it would be easier to just walk away or let someone else take over.

You haven’t. And that tells me that your heart is still in the right place, no matter what’s happened with Oliver. ”

She takes a breath, her gaze never leaving mine. “You care about people, Leonard. And you built this company to protect them, to make a difference. That’s why I’m here. Because I want to do that too. And if you’ll let me, I want to do it with you.”

For a second, I’m stunned. This isn’t what I expected when she walked in here.

We’ve never talked about this outside the office, maybe because we’re taking more time to enjoy life instead of drowning in work, but she’s had time to think about it.

A lot of time, when she was at home alone.

To hear that she wants to stay, to stand by me, is more than I could have asked for.

“Roxanne,” I say, and there’s a heaviness in my voice I didn’t mean to reveal, a vulnerability I don’t often let surface.

“I can’t promise this road will be smooth.

There’s a lot of trust that needs to be rebuilt, and there will be days when it feels like everything’s at risk.

I’m honored you’d want to be a part of this, but I need you to understand that it won’t be easy, and I don’t want this to interfere with our personal relationship.

” This is what I fear the most, that it will split us apart.

She gives me a small smile, both gentle and firm.

“I’m not worried about that, Leonard. I’m not worried about whether or not this will be easy.

I’m not here for an easy job—I’m here because I believe in the work, and I believe in you.

More than that, I trust you. I’ve thought a lot about our personal relationship, how we are moving toward something that will last for a long time, and I’m sure the reason why this isn’t just a fling is because we share something deeper than physical attraction.

We share the same heart and values, and until we’re both on the same path with that, there’s nothing that can shake our personal life. ”

Her words hold a weight that leaves me breathless.

They are powerful and honest. She trusts me.

After everything we’ve been through, after watching a close friend betray me, after seeing the cracks that Oliver left—she’s telling me she trusts me.

Knowing she has faith in me, in what we’re doing, feels like a weight I hadn’t even realized I was carrying suddenly lifting.

I stand, walking around the desk to stand in front of her. For a moment, we just look at each other, the silence stretching, filled with something that I can only describe as excitement. Then I reach out, taking her hands in mine and dragging her to my chest.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve this kind of loyalty from you, but I won’t take it for granted.

I can promise you that. If you’re serious about this, if you’re ready to be part of this, then I want you by my side.

I can’t think of anyone better to help me rebuild and take this company forward,” I say, my voice steady.

Her eyes brighten, and she squeezes me in a warm hug, a look of relief and satisfaction spreading across her face. “Then let’s do it. Let’s take this on together, whatever comes our way.”

I release her but keep my gaze steady on her. “I can’t promise it’ll be smooth sailing,” I say with a slight grin, feeling a weight lift as I realize how serious we both are about this. “But with you here, I feel like we might actually have a shot.”

She laughs, a genuine, warm sound, and it fills the room with an energy that feels like a new beginning. “I don’t need smooth sailing,” she says. “I need a cause worth fighting for. And I know this is it.”

“Plus, this means I get to see you every day. A perk I can’t resist.” I wink at her.

“Are you telling me you’ll finally bend me over this desk and fuck me silly?” she purrs in my ear.

I let out a low growl as I grab her by her waist and turn to sit her on the desk. She squeals and chuckles at the same time while I slip between her legs. I crush my lips on her and deepen the kiss as her hands tighten around my neck and her body presses against mine.

I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’m sure of one thing. I will never let her go.