Page 118 of Rich and Bossy

“So where do you…”

He cuts her off. “I apologize for the interruption, Leslie, but I do need to make one other announcement.”

“By all means, Mr. Briggs.”

“This isn’t all completely selfless of me. There’s someone else, responsible for helping guide me to this decision, when I might not have had the courage to do it before.”

“Who?” Leslie asks.

“She’s sitting right in front of you. It’s Hazel. I’m in love with her, and her actions have reminded me what’s truly important. She’s inspired me in ways she can’t possibly know.”

I’m pretty sure Leslie has seen it all in her career, and even she looks completely flabbergasted.

So many things go through my head all at once. Joy, disbelief, shock. The fact that legendary Leslie Hartman looks like she just hit the ratings lottery doesn’t help matters.

He loves me?

He just said that on national television. Live.

How many millions of people are watching this right now? I manage to pry my eyes away from the monitor long enough to look at Campbell, who is openmouthed the way a person can only be when they’re good and truly stunned.

“Hazel?” Leslie chokes out, trying to remain serious and composed. “Do you have anything to say?”

I have a lot of things to say, most of which would not be much appreciated by the FCC. Finally, there’s only one thing I can manage to safely ask, right at the camera. “Are you insane?”

He smiles right at me, shaking his head. “With regards to my former company, no. Am I insane about you? A hundred percent yes.”

My response even manages to get a laugh out of Leslie.

“Where are you?” I ask like nobody else could possibly be hearing this conversation.

Leslie might as well not even be here. The cameras, the crew, all of them fade to the background and it’s like the two of us are just having a conversation by ourselves.

“Come to your front door.”

What the hell?

I look at Campbell, then at Leslie, eyes wide.

“I think you better go.” Leslie smiles.

I waste no time unhooking my microphone, leaving it on the chair before bolting for the door, trying not to trip over any wires and face plant. Somewhere behind me, Campbell politely but firmly asks the camera crew not to follow.

I fling the door open, like this still might be a dream, but sure enough, he’s standing right in front of it. He has his phone in his hand and pockets it, then stares right at me. “Hi.” He breathes out a wall of steam with the word. “You look incredible.”

Rather than thank him for the compliment, I ask the only thing I can think, the only thing that’s clear. “What is wrong with you?” I’m trying not to smile.

Do. Not. Smile.

“A lot of things.” He shrugs, laughing like someone who’s truly lost it. “I'm not doing it to get you back. I hope it happens, but it’s not why I did it. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do. The only thing to do if I want to respect myself. Not to mention adhering to the guiding principles I wanted my company to stand for. If it means I have to step aside to ensure those standards are upheld, that’s the way it has to be.”

“I don’t…” Tears threaten at the corners of my eyes. I wave my hands around when emotion clogs my throat.

His hands twitch, like he wants to hold me right now.

I want him to, but how? How after all the things he said to me?

“Just talk to me, Hazel.” His eyes plead with mine.

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