Page 32 of A Brilliant Spring

Leslie, a fantastic, kick-ass lawyer, makes some brilliant suggestions regarding some policies that could be revamped to not only make our workflow more efficient, but also give our employees a bit more autonomy. One thing I pride myself on when it comes to CGC is giving my employees increased time to be with their families and do things outside of work. No one wants to spend their lives living to work, so I’ve made it part of my company’s ethos to adapt to the newest technologies, have four-day work weeks, the ability to work from home two days of the week, and other smart moves that make the employees feel valued and in control of their lives. If they’re still making me money and doing their work, what the fuck do I care? Hell, I even have an open vacation policy, and as long as people don’t take advantage of it, they technically have unlimited days off. And let me tell you, the productivity of my employees is amazing.

When the meeting adjourns, Rhys swivels in his chair to face me and waits until everyone files out of the room. I’m waiting for his formal reprimand of my behaviour in the meeting. Three, two, one. Here it comes…

“What the fuck was that today?” Yep, I knew it.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I think that meeting went really well,” I snort.

“Like fuck it did. You were spaced out for the first half and were barely present for the second half. If you don’t care, then don’t be here. Fuck’s sakes, man.” His tone is pissing me off, like he hasn’t had an off day. He’s had plenty, and many of them recently.

“Holy fuck, it was one day.”

“Uh, days,” Rhys says, stressing the “s” and drawing it out. I roll my shoulders, stretching my neck until it pops.

“Whatever. What do you want from me?” Rhys doesn’t like my answer and scoffs.

“Well, for one, being present in the meetings would be nice. You’re the CEO. Second, you need to get over this whole Elissa thing. It was your choice this time to walk away. If she moved on, well, then that’s too bad. Go out and find some other chick to bang. You need to start moving on too.”

I don’t like his suggestion. I feel like I’m grinding my teeth to dust, and my jaw throbs. My hand reaches up to rub at the aching joint.

“Coming from the guy who can’t make up his mind about Riley and the baby,” I snipe back. Rhys’ eye twitches and he cracks his knuckles.

“Fuck you, man. It’s not the same.”

“How is it not the same? You’re sitting here, just as miserable as I am, and you’re doing nothing about it. You were the one who walked away from her.” He scoffs at my remark, shaking his head, and his inky hair falls across his eyes.

“Not. Even. Close,” he says through clenched teeth. “My situation is a little more delicate. If I go back to Riley, I am back with Riley. I have to be in, one hundred percent. With her, the baby, everything.” I roll my eyes.

“How is that any different from if I choose to be with Elissa? If I go back to her, it’s got to be one hundred percent as well. There is no half-assing this stuff. And if you go back to Riley, I’m sure she’d willingly take you back. You’re the father of her baby, and I know she still loves you. Eli, on the other hand, who knows where her head is at? She’s a fucking enigma. And it’s completely my fault. I pushed her away before she had a chance to do that to me. After I convinced her to give us a shot. A real shot. And I completely fucked it up.” I scrub at my face.

“Man, I can’t even talk about this anymore. It gets me so fucking angry, and I already think about it way too much. But you need to fuck off and stop telling me what I need to do or not do. You have problems, just like mine, that you need to figure out. So stop wasting your breath on me. I already know how badly I’ve fucked up. Figure out your own shit, man.” I’ve completely snapped. I’m losing it. Losing it on my best friend, losing it at work, losing it over a woman.

My hands anchor against the conference table and I push off. My chair glides along the granite flooring and I plant two feet firmly on the ground. Deft hands button my suit jacket as I stand.

“If that’s all,” I say, clearing my throat. “Let’s get back to work.” I leave Rhys sitting there, staring after me as I walk around him and out of the room. I head to the elevator to go back up to my office. My heart aches just thinking about Elissa, and I wonder just how she’s doing, and if she’s seeing that guy from the restaurant. My heart needs to know, but doesn’t want to find out. It would crush me if she’s moved on. But just how far has she moved on? It’s been almost a month without touching her, kissing her, fucking her. My body craves her creamy skin, the way her mouth opens and moans my name as she’s coming apart, and the way her pussy clenches around me as I thrust into her.

Shoving the door to my office open, I quickly slam it shut behind me, pressing my back up against the thick oak door. My hand slides into my pants to adjust the raging hard-on I’m sporting so that it tucks neatly into my waistband. This woman is going to be the death of me and I’m not even with her.

Chapter

Thirty

Elissa

Riley has been a wreck over this last week. She’s been frantically packing for our trip back home. She’s even making me nervous to tell her parents, and I’m not the one who’s pregnant.

“Riley, settle down.” She whips her head around and her eyes narrow on me.

“Don’t fucking tell me to settle down. You’re not the one who’s telling her parents she’s pregnant and unmarried!” she yells, throwing her hands in the air. “Hell, I’m not even with the guy that fathered this child! Fuck, just make me sixteen again and I’ll be the perfect example of an accidental pregnancy.” I slide off her bed, placing my feet firmly on the floor before moving over to her and bringing her in for a hug.

“It’ll be okay, Riles. Your family is everything mine isn’t. They’re warm, understanding, loving, and caring. Like I said the other day. They might be upset, but they’ll be supportive no matter what.” Riley’s body melts into mine as she takes a deep breath. Her hands wrap around my waist and she snuggles her head into me.

“Thanks, E. I know I can be a spaz sometimes.”

“Just sometimes?” I say playfully. She smacks my back lightly and steps out of the hug.

“Smartass,” she snorts.

“You know you love me.” I give her a wink and pucker my lips at her.

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