“I thought it was against policy.”
“No. Is it inappropriate?” Jeremy shrugged. “Probably. However, the absence of a rule leaves it open for me to make a judgment call. It’s at my discretion.”
“What’s your decision on the matter?” I asked, keeping a steady tone, even though I was anything but calm.
What in god’s name had Reed done? If he’d quit his job, I was going to rage.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Jeremy rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and lifted a hand to his chin, finger curling at his lip. “I wanted to speak with you first. Have anything you’d like to add to the discussion?”
“I don’t know what Reed told you, but none of this is his fault. If one of us is going to lose our job, I’ll quit here and now.”
“That won’t be necessary, Mr. Sawyer.” Jeremy tapped his chin before leaning forward on his desk. “Mr. Nolan was adamant in saying the relationship is consensual and that he first initiated it. In fact, he said he’d quit if it came to that. It’s quite amusing actually. You’re both so selfless when it comes to each other.”
“I love him,” I said. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that.
“He said that too.” Jeremy smiled before sighing. “Perhaps I’m too big of a sap, but you two remind me of me and my husband.”
I blinked, shocked, then asked, “How so?”
“He’s almost fifteen years older than me and taught my business and finances class in college,” Jeremy answered. “We waited until I was out of his class to go public with our relationship, but until then, we were afraid he’d get reprimanded or fired if anyone found out. So I can relate to your situation all too well.”
Hope filled my chest, but I was reluctant to let that hope get too high. Jeremy could pull out a pin and pop the balloon any moment.
“Regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, you publicly dating your assistant comes with its own set of issues,” Jeremy continued. “It could get ugly with workplace drama.”
Yep. Here comes the pin.
“However.” He held up a finger. “I heard you’re getting promoted at the end of the month. If you were to accept this promotion, you technically wouldn’t be working with Mr. Nolan anymore. He’d be the assistant of the new vice president.” A sly grin curved his lips. “See my meaning?”
“I do,” I said, practically breathing out the words. Relief mixed with hope inside me, and my knee bounced faster. “We should keep our relationship quiet until after I’m promoted. I’ll be head of the department but not necessarily overseeing Reed personally, so there wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Precisely.”
Two more weeks. And then Reed and I could be completely open about our relationship. No more hiding. I could barely believe how great things had worked out.
“Thank you, Mr. Blake,” I said, standing from the chair and shaking his hand.
“No reason to thank me.” He dropped his hand back to the table. “If Mr. Nolan hadn’t spoken to me first, I might feel differently. But he more than convinced me that he loves you, and after meeting with you, I see the same of you. Just don’t do anything to make me regret this decision. No groping in the halls in front of god and everyone or going at it in the breakroom.”
Nah, more like my office.
I cracked a smile. “Understood.”
Reed was sitting in the waiting area when I left Jeremy’s office. His legs were pulled up into the plushy chair, and he stared up at the TV, chewing his nails. Spotting me, he jumped up and rushed over.
“Why are you still here?” I asked. “You should be working.”
“I was too anxious to go back down,” he said, his hazel eyes big. “I wanted to wait on you. What happened?”
“We’ll discuss it later.” My voice sounded firm, yet my heart felt so light. Everything was going to be okay. The reality of it was still trying to sink in. “Come on.”
I walked toward the elevator, hearing his footsteps pad along behind me. After hitting the button to go down, I faced the doors, not paying him any attention. From the corner of my eye, I saw him shift his weight from foot to foot. I refrained from smiling, then stepped forward when the doors opened.
“Is it later yet?” Reed asked once we were in the elevator and going down.
I said nothing. It was his punishment for lying to me that morning and running off to HR without telling me first. Of course, it had been for the best. But still. Making him squirm a little with anticipation was too fun.
“In my office,” I said after we stepped off the elevator onto the third floor. “Now.”
I walked that way without sparing him a second glance. He hesitated, then rushed after me, hissing under his breath, “Daniel Sawyer. You do not speak to me in that tone.”
My lips twitched, but I didn’t let the smile fully surface. “Do as you’re told. And it’s Mr. Sawyer to you.”
He sucked in a breath and muttered something too low for me to hear, but I thought I heard “asshole” in there somewhere. Reaching my office, I walked inside, then held the door open for him, closing it once he was through.
“Listen here, mister,” he snapped, charging toward me. “I don’t know what makes you think you can—”
I took hold of his face and kissed him.
He happily sighed and slipped his arms around my neck, smiling against my lips when I lifted him off the ground and carried him over to the small couch in the corner of my office. I laid him on the cushion and got on top of him. His fingers slid through the back of my hair, and he softly moaned.
I growled deep in my throat. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Moan.” I ground against him, grazing my teeth along the side of his neck. “I want to be balls-deep in you right now, but I have a goddamn meeting at nine.”
He giggled, and the sound went straight to my heart, making it lighter, as if all the gravity had been sucked from my chest. When he moaned again, I pulled back to peer down at him.
“You did that one on purpose,” I said, eyes narrowed.
Reed flashed a mischievous little smirk before moaning again, adding a whimper to the end of it. The little shit. I tickled his sides, and he squealed. Loud.
“Shh,” I said, laughing. “Someone will hear you.”
“Then don’t tickle me, you asshole.” Reed wiggled under me like a worm before heaving a sigh. “You’re too big. I can’t move.”
“I thought you liked how big I am,” I said before lightly kissing his Adam’s apple.
“Oh, I do.” He gripped my ass. “So, uh. What did that Jeremy guy say to you? Did you get fired? Did I? I word vomited all over him, and he just sat there at his desk looking at me. Then he said he needed to consider my words and that he’d reach out to me later. That’s when you showed up, and I—”
I silenced him with a kiss. Our fingers linked above his head, and I rolled my hips into him again. His heart beat quickly against mine.
“Neither of us is getting fired,” I answered. “We only need to keep things secret until I get promoted, then we’re in the clear. Can you wait two weeks?”