"Anyone who questions your judgment because of this," he gestures between us, "is an idiot. You're still the same badass who built this company. Being pregnant doesn't change that."
"It's not just about the baby. It's about this." I gesture between us. "Whatever this is."
"What is it?" he asks, his blue eyes intent on mine.
I open my mouth, then close it again. What is it? I don't have an answer. Not one I'm ready to say out loud, anyway.
"Complicated," I finally say.
He nods slowly. "Fair enough. But you’re still my wife."
The tension between us shifts, that electrical charge that never seems to fully dissipate whenever we're in the same room.His eyes drop to my lips, and I know he's thinking about kissing me. Here. In my office. With everyone watching.
"Don't even think about it," I warn.
His smile is slow and dangerous. "Too late."
Before I can respond, a knock on the door interrupts us. Kieran pokes his head in, his eyebrows shooting up when he spots Kasen.
"Sorry to interrupt," he says, not sounding sorry at all. "But Nolan Miller just showed up without an appointment. He says it’s urgent."
Every muscle in Kasen's body goes rigid. "Tell him I'm in a meeting."
"I did. He said he'll wait." Kieran glances at Kasen. "He also said it involves both Cascade and Timber."
Kasen's expression hardens. "Send him in."
"Kasen—"
"If he's here to talk about both our companies, we should both hear it." His voice leaves no room for argument.
I want to argue anyway, but he's right. Miller's been circling both of us. Whatever he wants, we're stronger together.
It doesn’t matter, though, because Kieran's already gone to fetch Miller. I turn to Kasen with a glare.
"This is my office. My company. You don't get to make those decisions."
"He's trying to buy both our businesses, Pink. Whatever he has to say affects us both." He sits up straighter, suddenly every inch the businessman I've gone up against for years. "We present a united front.”
Miller appears in my doorway with Kieran hovering behind him, looking about as happy as I feel.
"Miss Callan," Miller greets me with that slimy smile that never reaches his eyes, and I see Kasen tense and I wonder ifit’s because he wishes it was his last name attached to me. "Mr. James. What a lucky surprise to find you both here."
I seriously doubt it's a surprise at all. Miller doesn't strike me as a man who leaves anything to chance.
"What can I do for you, Nolan?" I ask, not bothering to make small talk.
"I won't take much of your time." He steps further into my office, closing the door behind him and blocking Kieran out, who flips him off behind his back. His eyes slide to Kasen, then back to me, taking in the lunch spread on my desk and likely drawing exactly the right conclusions about what's happening here. "I simply wanted to deliver some news in person, as a professional courtesy."
"What news?" Kasen asks, his voice deceptively casual.
"Pacific Northwest has acquired Eastside Ales," Miller announces. "As of this morning, they're part of our portfolio."
The statement lands like a bomb in the quiet office. Eastside is one of my biggest clients. Their beers account for nearly twenty percent of Cascade's distribution revenue.
Twenty percent of Cascade's revenue gone, just like that.
"That's interesting timing," I say, keeping my voice level despite the panic building in my chest. "Considering I have a meeting with their team in two hours to discuss expanded distribution."
