Chapter 7 - The Morning After
I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and the sound of birds.
The sunlight was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows,
painting the room in shades of gold.
For a moment,
I forgot where I was,
and then the memories of the night before came flooding back.
I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the sun.
I turned over to find the bed empty,
but a note was sitting on the pillow.
Had to handle a quick board call. Breakfast is in the kitchen. I love you.
I smiled,
stretching my limbs and feeling a new kind of strength in my body.
I wasn't broken;
I wasn't different;
I was just... more.
I dressed in one of Nathan’s oversized shirts and walked into the kitchen.
He was standing at the counter,
his back to me,
holding a phone to his ear.
"I don't care about the stock price, Julian,"
he said,
his voice hard and professional.
"If they want to sell, let them sell.
I am buying back every share myself."
He hung up and turned around,
his expression softening the moment he saw me.
"Good morning,"
he said,
walking over to pull me into his arms.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I’m in a dream,"
I admitted,
burying my face in his chest.
"Is your father still trying to ruin you?"
"He’s trying,"
Nathan said,
kissing the top of my head.
"But he’s realizing that I’m much better at this game than he is."
"I’ve spent the morning securing my position,"
he explained.
"I’m moving the headquarters to a new building,
one that doesn't have his name on it."
"And I want you to head the new analysis department."
"Nathan, I can't,"
I said,
pulling back in shock.
"People will say I only got the job because..."
"People will say whatever they want, Maya,"
he interrupted,
taking my face in his hands.
"But you are the best analyst I’ve ever seen.
Your forecasting models were what saved us during the merger crisis last year."
"I’m not giving you the job because of last night."
"I’m giving you the job because you’re brilliant."
I looked at him,
seeing the genuine respect in his eyes.
"Okay,"
I said,
a slow smile spreading across my face.
"I’ll do it."
"But on one condition."
"Anything,"
he promised.
"We tell Harper first."
He laughed,
a sound that was pure and joyous.
"Deal."
But as we sat down to eat,
the television in the corner flashed a breaking news report.
CARTER SCANDAL: Elias Carter Accuses Son of Embezzlement.
The war was far from over.
My secret was safe,
but Nathan’s future was now under fire.
And I realized that if I wanted to be with him,
May you like
I would have to be more than just his lover.
I would have to be his partner in every sense of the word.
