It was the last straw.
“Thalia gave me her resignation today,” I told Gregory and his wife, whose eyebrows rose. “She’ll no longer be with the company. I hope that doesn’t change our informal agreements this afternoon?”
Thalia had been chatting with the CFO of one of Gregory’s companies down the table, but at my words, her head swiveled. “Excuse me?”
I took another sip of the rich Cabernet that had been served. “I’ve informed Mr. Walton you’ll be leaving us soon.” I glanced at Gregory’s wife and smiled. “Tomorrow, to be exact.”
Thalia’s mouth gaped, and she looked nervously around the table. Our conversation had drawn attention. Possibly because I was fucking furious and not hiding it.
Thalia stood, threw down her white cloth napkin, and left the room.
A gust of air escaped my chest, and I breathed freely for the first time in months. I hadn’t realized until this moment how stressful having Thalia around had been.
I turned back to Gregory and his wife. “Now that that unpleasant business is over, shall we talk about moving forward?”
ChapterThirty-Six
Jack
Elise had been puttingin long hours since my trip to Napa, and we’d hardly seen each other over the last few weeks due to some epidemiological foot fungus outbreak—not really, but it sounded more interesting when I called it that. Now she was talking about adding hours at Sophia’s shop.
Sophia couldn’t seem to hire enough workers. That woman needed to stop being so successful so I could get my girlfriend back.
But all that chaos meant I hadn’t shared with Elise the turn of events at work. I’d been busy hiring a new CEO, who started in two weeks, and I also wasn’t sure how Elise would react when she found out what Thalia had been plotting.
Elise was protective, and I was looking out for Thalia’s life, because my girlfriend might un-alive her.
I’d been patient since Elise moved out two months ago. Mostly. I only insinuated myself at her place every couple of days. Which she didn’t seem to mind, since I provided orgasms and occasional takeout—the first being her and my favorite. But today I was putting on my business cap and thinking ahead to our future. Plus, if she agreed to my proposal, I could see her all the time.
I knocked on her door, laptop in a work case draped over my shoulder, then let myself in with the key she’d given me because they rolled old school in her building.
Elise walked out of the bathroom with a toothbrush dangling from her mouth, her hair in a lopsided bun on top of her head. “I thought we were going out to dinner in your neighborhood?”
I cleared my throat and tried to act professional, but she was distracting me in one of my T-shirts without a bra. I persevered. “We have important business to discuss.”
“We do?” She walked into the kitchen and spat out the toothpaste. “Like what?”
“Hang on.” I reached outside the entrance, grabbed the projector I’d left there, and carried it inside.
She followed me into the living room/bed area and sat on the loveseat. “Jackson? What are you up to?”
“Patience, Hot Stuff.”
I set up my laptop and connected it to the projector, directing an image on the biggest wall in the room, which was small. None of this was necessary, except one had to go big or go home, and I was going big.
Elise tucked her legs up on the couch and grinned at the wall as though we were about to watch a movie. “This is so exciting. You’ve never brought out your sexy projector. Is this how you convince investors?”
“Yes,” I said, all seriousness, cueing up the first slide and turning on the bright red laser pointer I’d brought. “Only my clients are less stubborn and more practical than my girlfriend.” I sent her a hard look with no heat behind it, and she merely laughed.
Clearly, I wasn’t the one in control here. A man could dream.
“Please pay attention.”
She folded her hands and sat up straighter.
“Reasons Why Elise and Jack Should Move in Together,” I read and punched the enter button on my laptop to move to the next slide. “Number One: I love you.” I looked over and raised my eyebrow.
“A good reason,” she agreed.
