“I like that you’re emotional over this, it means that you care.”
“I do.” I smile through shaky lips. “I love organization so much.”
He chuckles and pulls me into a hug where he presses a kiss to my temple. “I know, Bag of Dicks, I know.”
I pinch his side and he yelps, pulling back with a playful smile. “Go ahead, do that again. You’ll see where I pinch you next.”
“Please say my boob.” I clasp my hands together. “Please say my boob.”
His face falls. “You just took all the fun out of my threat.”
I make my way to the front of the conference table where I straighten my dress and say, “By now you should know a pinch to my nipple is like turning on a faucet in my lower regions. Total turn-on.”
His brow pinches together. “Are you saying you have a pussy faucet?”
I wag my finger at him. “Watch it there, Mr. Westin, your inner frat boy is showing.”
He’s about to respond when the elevator door dings indicating that the rest of the guests have arrived. I steel myself and Rath must notice. “Hey.” I glance at him and he gives the most delicious wink right before saying, “Slay this presentation and I’ll eat your pussy on my desk like you wanted the other day.”
Morphing into the businessman he is, as if he didn’t just cause a wave of heat to rush over my body, he steps up to the conference room doors and holds his hand out to Linus and Renita, who both greet him with a smile and a shake.
Taking a deep breath, I walk up to them as well and greet them. “Linus, I’m so glad you could join us today.”
He smiles kindly and takes my hand. Whispering he says, “I could not be more excited for you.”
Renita is next and she takes my hand, offering me a kind smile before finding a seat across from the fruit platter and my planner display. I watch, ever self-critical, waiting to see Renita’s and Linus’s uncensored reaction to my designs. Five other assistants from departments within Westin arrive and take their seats, and their smiles provide a lot of encouragement. I’ve yet to meet them all in person, but we’ve chatted back and forth via email numerous times. They all greet Rath with the respect due him, and I have to admit, I feel proud that the handsome CEO standing tall is mine. Once everyone’s seated, Rath takes his seat at the end—like royalty above his peons—casually draping one ankle over his knee and leaning on one armrest, his gaze trained on me.
Since I’ve worked here, I’ve never really seen him in a meeting atmosphere, which seems odd. For Mr. Danvers, I took notes at every meeting, but Rath has me doing different tasks. I review department budgets, complete his daily lists, which have ventured away from menial errands to more important things like the planner, learning the organization of the company, prioritizing his emails and face-to-face meetings, especially future fundraising contributors and watching for their sweet spot, and then of course, his schedule. But when it comes to department meetings, he leans on the team to provide notes to send to me and him. Therefore, I’m slightly intimidated by the way his eyes are laser focused on me. The way he’s positioned in his chair, casual but presenting an air of confidence and intelligence from how he grips his chin with his index finger and thumb. It’s sexy and makes me that much more nervous.
Clearing my throat and tacking on a smile, I clasp my hands together. “Thank you so much for coming in today. I appreciate it.” I gesture to the food. “Please by all means, help yourself to some fruit and pastries. Mr. Westin, I know you’re probably salivating over the lemon Danish on the end there.”
His eyes twinkle when he reaches out, plucks the Danish from the group and plops it on a napkin. “Thank you.”
“This is beautiful, Charlee,” Renita says, helping herself to a raspberry Danish and some fruit.
“Is this blueberry?” Linus asks, examining a donut.
“Yes. I know you love them.”
He winks at me and then loads up a plate for himself. Drinks are grabbed and then eight sets of eyes watch me attentively. Okay. Show time.
You’ve got this.
I push my hair behind my ear and start to talk when I see Linus’s eyes narrow in on my ring. His shocked expression throws me for a second. Shoot, I haven’t told him about the engagement. This is going to be awkward.
Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything but sits back in his seat with a questioning brow. There will be a conversation after this meeting. His confusion is justified as we message each other often throughout the week, and he’s not been privy to this news. God, how am I going to tell him I’m engaged to Rath?
“Are you okay?” Rath asks.
“Oh, yes,” I say, swallowing hard and shaking the engagement out of my head. I carefully hand out the prototypes and say, “May I present, the Westin Enterprises organizational planner . . .”
“We can take this?” Renita asks, clutching the planner to her chest at the exit of the conference room.
“Yes, of course.”
She beams with excitement. “Thank you.” Then she looks me in the eyes. “I’m very proud of you, Charlee. This is brilliant, and I love the added options to develop for each department, specializing each section. I’m very excited to see the kind of productivity these bring to the office once they’re in circulation. Job well done.”
I can’t help the goofy smile that crosses my face. “Thank you so much.” I awkwardly give her a hug, because I feel like it’s necessary at this moment.
Rath stands from his chair, buttons his suit jacket, and gives me a curt nod. “Very nice, Charlee. I’ll speak with you after you’re done cleaning up.”
With the smallest lift of his lips, he walks off, and that’s all I need. That tiny curve of his mouth gives me all the air and life for my lungs, letting me know I did good.
Linus is the only one still sitting at the conference table with a questioning look on his face. I quietly shut the door behind Rath and take a seat next to Linus, who quickly reaches for my hand and holds it up to me.
“What the hell is this?”
I glance at the sparkling diamond and then back at my friend. “So, you liked the presentation and the planner?”
He rolls his eyes. “You know I loved it. After I conducted the beta testing for you, I was in love and wanted more. I’m an easy yes like the rest in the room. Now tell me what the hell this huge ring is doing on your finger and who it’s from.”
“So . . . the planner is good then.” I nod. “That’s great.” I pat my legs and go to stand. “Well, if that’s it—”
“Sit. Down.” He yanks on my hand and looks me dead in the eyes. “Spill.”
Why is telling Linus even harder than telling my parents or my grandma?
“Funny thing.” I look to the side and pick up a napkin that I start playing with. “I’m actually engaged to uh . . .” I swallow hard. “I’m engaged to . . . Rath,” I wince and try to avoid all eye contact.
“Wait . . . what?” Linus asks, clearly not expecting to hear that.
“Yup, Rath.” I nod rather fast. “Happened pretty quickly. You know, fell in love, all that jazz, now we’re engaged. Getting married soon.”