Chapter 9 - The Boardroom Execution
By Friday evening, the storm had cleared.
Vanguard’s stock had crashed by forty percent following the arrest of Julian Sterling and Arthur Blackwell for corporate fraud and insider trading. Blackwell & Reed’s stock, meanwhile, surged to an all-time high as news broke of the revolutionary real Bellamy Collection launch.
Inside the quiet executive office at Blackwell & Reed, the night sky beamed through the pristine glass. The quiet hum of Manhattan stretched out below us.
I stood by the desk, looking at the glowing glowing reports. My name had been completely cleared. In fact, the board—now purged of corruption—had unanimously voted to promote me to Senior Managing Director of Global Marketing.
The door to the office opened quietly. Adrian walked in, having shed his suit jacket and unbuttoned his top collar. He looked tired, but his eyes were bright with a deep, peaceful intensity.
“The board just finalized your new contract,” Adrian said softly, walking over to stand behind me. “You are officially the highest-paid strategist in the firm’s history.”
I turned to face him, leaning back against the mahogany desk. “I couldn't have done any of this without you, Adrian. You put everything on the line. Your company, your control, your reputation.”
“I’d burn it all down again if it meant keeping you safe,” Adrian said without a moment’s hesitation.
He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me gently against his chest. I rested my hands on his shoulders, looking up into the dark eyes that had once terrified me, but now felt like the safest place in the world.
“What happens now?” I asked whispered. “The scandal is over. The mole is gone.”
“Now,” Adrian murmured, leaning down to lightly kiss my lips, “I stop being just your boss.”
Before I could answer, the door swung open with a soft click.
Mia walked in, dragging her stuffed elephant Gerald by his worn ear, wearing her favorite pajamas with pink stars.
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“Mommy, I’m sleepy,” Mia announced, rubbing her eyes. Then she looked up at Adrian, her little brow furrowing. “Are you staying with us tonight, Mr. Adrian?”
Adrian let go of my waist slowly and dropped down to his knees in front of Mia, just like he had done on the marble floor the very first day.
