Page 60 of The Probability of Us

Peter stands and clears his throat. His eyes are wide as he looks at Warren. “Is this real?”

“She found the tax law and did all of the analyses.” Warren makes sure that’s clear up front and I wish I could kiss him right now for it. “But she walked me through every piece of research and all of the assumptions and calculations, and I stand behind every word spoken.”

“Well, Miss Summers.” Peter turns towards me and extends his hand. “A deal’s a deal. We will keep discussing this proposal of yours, but this is great work.”

“So, no layoffs?” I confirm.

“No layoffs.” He laughs. “But I would love to hear how you came up with this. How did you even know about this tax law?”

My eyes flash over to Warren for just a moment, and I smile. “Nowthatis a long story that begins about eight years ago at a local bar’s trivia night.”

Peter stares at me and blinks rapidly. Only once he’s processed what I said does he break out laughing—leaning over and using the conference table for support. “Seriously? The future of my company is based on what I assume was a drunken night out?”

“If it makes you feel better, in eight years, no one’s been able to beat the score we got that night.” My eyes lock with Warren’s and we both join Peter in laughter when my comment makes him laugh harder.

The rest of the people slowly file out of the conference room. Jason stalks out, Serge and Ben just go on with their day, and Clara squeezes my shoulder and mouths“Thank you.”It’s just Peter, Warren, and I laughing while Mac watches us all with a smile. She seems to be wherever Peter is and my suspicions of them being together only grows.

“It probably shouldn’t,” Peter says, finally calming down, “but it makes me like the proposal more.”

“Who says work and play can’t go hand in hand?” I tease, feeling comfortable around Peter already.

“You know, Miss Summers?—”

“Analise, please.” I smile.

“Analise.” Peter nods. “You have quite the reputation in this space; I wasn’t sure what to expect when we got here. I must say, I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“Reputation?” My face twists in confusion.

Warren snickers and I turn to glare at him. But when I see his face, I understand.

It was the same reputation they teased me about, that caused people to keep me off meeting invites so I wouldn’t poke holes in their presentations when important people were in the room. Yes, I was good at what I did, and everyone knew it, but that was the precise reason they didn’t want me around. I hadn’t realized that reputation followed me from Triniti.

“Oh,” I say under my breath and my face falls.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Peter continues, “you have a reputation for being the best, and quite frankly I think even that undersells what you can do. But I’m starting to think the rumors that you’re hard to work with come from narrow-minded men who couldn’t accept the fact that a woman, let alone a subordinate, was smarter than them.”

My eyes widen as I look up at him.

I never let the comments bother me. I never stopped just because people were uncomfortable, but other than with my friends, I knew it pissed people off. I’d never had someone of a higher level tell me it was welcome—no, scratch that, I’d never had amalecolleague at a higher level welcome me speaking my mind who wasn’t a friend.

“I have no tolerance for people like that at my company,” he continues. “Never change, Analise.”

I smile. “You know, you’re not what I expected from a health tech CEO yourself.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.” He smiles back.

“It was meant as one.”

* * *

My office door clicks shut just before I’m about to head home. Strong arms wrap around my waist and lips press to my shoulder then move up my neck. I sigh and lean back, resting against his chest.

“You are incredible,” Warren whispers against my neck, and I shiver. “And now everyone knows it.”

I turn around and place my hands on his cheeks. I just stare at him, drinking in every detail on his face until the corner of his mouth pulls up, then I kiss him, long and deep. His hands wrap around my waist and pull me closer. I keep kissing him until I have to stop, because if I kept going, I don’t think I’d ever stop.

I lean my forehead against his and soak in his presence.

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