Page 77 of Take It Offline

Jeremy silently mulls it over, but he can take all day for all I care. It won’t change anything. Emma’s served up the best option, and like I knew it would, this workshop has proven that.

Beside him, Kamile nods her agreement, and then time’s up.

Come on, man. Make the right decision.

“Given the points you’ve raised, it appears that the change you’ve proposed is the best way forward.”

Without another word, he stands and leaves, with Kamile not far behind.

I have to contain my reaction until Emma and I are alone.

When she drops her face into her hands, I worry I’ve pushed her too far. Fuck. I should have listened to her, agreed to the meeting with Operations instead. That’s the easiest win we’ve got. Rory already gets an earful of my praise for her when we catch up each week. I think he’d be happy to finally meet her.

I’m gearing up a pep talk when she squeals into her palms. It’s a sound I remember all too well from the day Reese got her acceptance letter for school, and I’ll be damned if I’m not a little proud right now.

Reese can never find out. There’s no reason to worry that the sight of Emma’s beaming smile and the relief in her eyes moves the ground under me.

Fuck.

“Did you see that?” She slaps a hand on her thighs, brimming with so much energy it’s almost blinding. Yet I can’t look away. “I can’t believe we actually convinced him. I’ve never won an argument with Engineering before. Baxter’s always terrified me.”

“You did,” I correct. I’m pretty sure there’s a firework going off somewhere in my ribs right now.

“Hmm?”

“You convinced him,” I repeat, leaning in, mesmerized by her smile. “I was just the pretty assistant.”

Her smile is wider than I’ve ever seen it. “Holy shit. I did, didn’t I?”

She’s glowing. It’s hard to look away from her on a good day, but it’s downright impossible now. It’s better than if I’d done it myself. Better than sex.

Witnessing her brilliance is a high I may never recover from. Because where do I go from here? The way her mind works, seeing the forest while I’m busy fielding emails from the trees, is a rush.

I’m not remotely mad that I had nothing to do with this win, because it’s so much more satisfying to add fuel to her fire.

Self-immolation never felt so good.

“Come on, this will still be here in the morning.”

“What?”

“Pack up. I’m buying you dinner. Let’s celebrate.”

“Charlie.”

“Do you need a Teams invite? Come on. I’m starving, and you’re beautiful. Let’s go sit near each other and eat.”

“I can buy my own dinner.”

“Not this time.”

She looks like she wants to shove me a little, and I definitely want her to.

I guess I’m just cold-blooded, chasing the spark in her eyes as she pushes back. Anything to have her light aimed in my direction.

“This doesn’t mean I like you.”

“Don’t lie. You think I’m adorable.”

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