“Natalie, if you want me to apologise, then I’m sorry. Should I have told you that first day that I knew him? Probably. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
She looked resigned at this point. “I just worry about the integrity of our reputation, that’s all.”
What the fuck? “Our integrity?”
“Yes. And how this looks to an outsider.”
I glared at her, so fucking done with this. “If you’re so concerned, take it to the board of directors and let them decide. Just be sure it’s the company’s reputation that’s hurt and not your pride. Because I’m done with this conversation. I’m not quite sure what it is you want from me.”
She levelled a cool stare at me. “Just honesty, Michael. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Now it was me who sighed because that made me feel like shit. “I’m sorry, Natalie. Genuinely sorry that you felt I was being dishonest. That was never my intention. I wasn’t expecting to see him when I walked out of my office this morning.”
She almost smiled. “I could tell. It wasn’t his smug smile or the hearts in his eyes when he saw you. It was your face that gave it away. And possibly the hearts in your eyes.”
“I did not have hearts in my eyes.”
“Yeah, you kinda did.” She studied me for a while, a half-smile on her face. “I’m happy that you found someone. He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is.” Thankfully, the tension between us appeared to be over. “And I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think it crossed any lines. I gladly handed all contracts over so there was no conflict of interest.”
“Technically it didn’t cross any lines, but they blurred well and truly. And to be honest, trying to hide it was a mistake. A stone statue could have seen how you two looked at each other.”
I tried not to smile. “I’ll be sure to tell him.”
She stood up. “Just so you know, I won’t be taking it further. I won’t tell anyone. But please, in the future, give me a heads up.”
“I will. And thank you.”
She left after that. I shut down my computer, grabbed my things, and dragged my arse home. I threw my jacket over the couch and opened the fridge door, not finding anything I wanted. I really wanted a drink, but that probably wasn’t a great idea on a Monday. I was contemplating a shower when my intercom buzzed. I checked the screen and found a familiar solitary figure waiting. He was holding a white takeout bag and he looked at the screen with a smirk.
Suddenly overrun with butterflies and that warm buzz only he could give me, I hit the button and went to open the front door. He came out of the elevator smiling.
“I thought we were only doing Wednesdays and Fridays?” I said. And Saturdays and Sunday mornings, I wanted to add but didn’t.
“I believe my punishment was to bring dinner.” He planted a kiss on my mouth as he walked inside.
“I was just trying to decide what to have,” I replied, closing the door behind him. “Food or straight vodka.”
He put the takeout bag on the kitchen counter and frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.” Then he did a double take. “What happened?”
“Natalie happened.”
He stared at me. “Did she say something to you?”
“Yep. Apparently she could tell something was up by the way I looked at you.”
He laughed. “You blushed like a bride.”
I shoved his arm. “A bit of warning would have been good.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, she ripped me a new arsehole this afternoon. Talking about the company’s reputation and integrity and how I put my boyfriend before the company.”
He stopped and put his hand up. “Wait. Hang on one sec. You were reprimanded because of me?”
“No, because of me. She asked me what the hell was going on between us, so I told her.” I relayed the conversation, explaining that Natalie now knew about us. “It wasn’t your behaviour she had a problem with. I didn’t disclose the truth from the beginning and I should have.”
He made a thoughtful face as though he didn’t exactly agree with me but wasn’t going to argue the point. “And you said you put your boyfriend before the company.” He put his hand to his chest. “Boyfriend?”
I felt my cheeks flame. “She called you my boyfriend.”
He nodded slowly, his brow furrowed, his bottom lip between his teeth. His gaze cut through me like glass. “And how did that sound to you?”
It was suddenly hard to breathe. My heart squeezed to the point of pain. “Sounded good.”
He grinned and stepped over to me, his palm found my cheek, his eyes bore into mine. “I like how it sounds too.” He kissed me softly. “Boyfriends, exclusive, just you and me.”
I could barely whisper. “Just you and me.”
His smile was something else, something special. He pulled me in for a hard, squeezy hug before he let me go, grinning now. He even laughed a little. “Oh, dinner,” he said, turning to the takeout on the counter. It smelled good, whatever it was. “Korean BBQ and this.” He pulled out two small, green bottles. “Soju.”
“Oh god, Bry. That is absolutely perfect.”
His smile did stupid things to my heart. “Oh, and before I forget,” he added, ever so casually. “I told my dad I want you to meet him.”
Chapter Twelve
Bryce
“Yes, we’re coming,” I replied into the phone. I could hear the crowd behind Terrence’s demand to know where the hell we were. “Five minutes away.”
“Just checking you haven’t bailed on us,” he replied before the line went dead.
I pocketed my phone and squeezed Michael’s hand. He was so nervous about tonight, despite my reassurances that my friends would love him. He was wearing grey skinny jeans and a light grey shirt, black boots, and peacock-blue pea coat. His blond hair was styled up, his jawline was sharp, his pink lips and pale skin was so fresh we almost didn’t leave his apartment.
This man did things to me . . .
I’d spent Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night at Michael’s place and still couldn’t get enough of him. But we’d promised Saturday night to Terrence and the boys so they could meet him, officially.
As my boyfriend.
I’d never had one of those. Not really. Not like him.
Not anyone I couldn’t have walked away from anyway. And there was no way I could walk away from Michael.
I was in it with my whole entire heart.
“Do I look okay?” he asked me again, for the twentieth time.
I stopped walking and made him look at me. “You look good enough to eat. Which I fully intend on doing later, just so you know.”
He didn’t smile. “Bry. What if they—”
“They’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. You’re with me and they wouldn’t dare fuck this up for me. And just so you know, if they take the piss out of you, it means they like you.”
He rolled his eyes but granted me a small smile.
They’d chosen a bar that was trendy, quiet enough for conversation, busy enough not to be awkward. I held his hand as we walked in the crowded bar. We were met by Terrence who took Michael’s arm. “You come with me,” he said, grinning. Then he shoved me toward the bar. “It’s your shout.”