Page 92 of Hate Notes

"Cole got fired. For embezzling."

"I heard." He kissed my temple. "Karma's a bitch."

"Language, Mr. Foster. What would your employees think?"

"That I've been corrupted by a terrible influence." His hands slid lower. "Speaking of which..."

"The cats are watching," I protested weakly.

"Let them judge." He started walking me backward toward our bedroom. "They're going to anyway."

I caught a glimpse of our cats sharing what could only be described as an eye-roll before Orion kicked the door shut.

Life wasn't perfect. But somehow, amazingly, it was better than anything I could have planned.

Even if our cats thought we were idiots.

45

EPILOGUE - ORION

"Your quarterly projections, Sir."

I took the folder from Daniel without looking up from my laptop. Six months ago, I would have immediately checked the numbers, hungry for proof that our profits were growing. Now, I was more interested in the email I was writing to Ember about our dinner plans.

"Also, Mr. Hamilton is here," Daniel added. "He says it's urgent."

I glanced up to find Colton leaning in my doorway, grinning. "Very urgent. Life or death, really."

"That will be all, Daniel. Thank you." I waited for my assistant to leave before raising an eyebrow at my friend. "Life or death?"

"Well, death of your bachelor status, maybe." Colton dropped into the chair across from me. "Remmy told me you've been carrying that ring around for two weeks."

My hand automatically went to my pocket where the small box sat. "I'm waiting for the right moment."

"Right. Because Ember strikes me as the type who needs everything to be perfect." He rolled his eyes. "The woman literally started her relationship with you by delivering hate mail."

"That's different.Thisis different. I want the moment to be perfect for her. A memory she can cherish."

"You’ve got to actually do it for it to become a memory. Right now, it’s a hypothetical that will die with you if you get hit by a bus this afternoon. Is that what you want?"

Before I could answer, Remmy burst in to my office.

What the hell? She hardly ever?—

"There you are! Mom wants everyone for dinner tonight. No excuses."

"I have work—" I started.

"Nope. Already cleared it with Daniel." She perched on my desk. "He says you've been surprisingly schedule-flexible lately. Something about having a good influence in your life?"

I made a mental note to remind Daniel who signed his paychecks.

"Fine." I straightened my tie. "Dinner."

"With the ring," Remmy added firmly.

"I don't recall asking for a committee to manage my proposal plans."

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