Page 21 of Daddy's Naughty Realtor

* * *

The deal closes without a hitch. Papers signed, hands shook, champagne popped. Jeremy and I maintain perfect professional courtesy, our night together like a shared secret neither acknowledges. His team whoops and celebrates while mine exhales in collective relief. The biggest deal of the year, seamlessly executed. The commission alone would allow me to take a year or two off, if I wanted. I don’t. It’ll also cover buying my partner out, which I do want. My end goal all these years, own my own real estate and brokerage firm.

Afterward, Jeremy catches me in the hallway outside the conference room. "Congratulations," he says, formal but warm. "You were amazing in there. I couldn’t have done it without you. Truly, kitten. You are phenomenal."

"Thank you." I shuffle the folders in my arms, needing something to do with my hands. "So, I guess this is it."

His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Is it?"

The question hangs between us, loaded with everything unsaid. I open my mouth, not sure what will come out. I can’t decide between an apology, an invitation, or a goodbye, when his assistant appears and interrupts us.

"Mr. Ford, the investors are waiting in your office," she says apologetically.

"I'll be right there," he tells her, then turns back to me. "Gina?—"

"You should go," I say quickly. "They're waiting."

He looks like he wants to argue, but nods instead. "We're not finished, you and I. Not by a long shot."

* * *

The Naughty Girls are not impressed with my decision to pull back.

"Let me get this straight," Jackie says during our weekly video call. "You slept with him?—"

"It was amazing," I interrupt, because there's no point lying to these women.

"And then you freaked out because of a break-in that wasn't even your fault…"

"It could have been my fault," I interject. "I was distracted."

"And now you're, what? Just going to pretend it never happened?" Jackie finishes, ignoring my interruption.

Put like that, it does sound ridiculous.

"I'm not pretending it never happened," I defend myself. "I'm just... processing."

"You're hiding," Elizabeth corrects gently. "It's what you do when things get real. You retreat."

I scowl at my laptop screen. Elizabeth is my closest friend in the group. She knows me better than the rest of the women. We are of similar ages and backgrounds. I regret the words before they even finish coming from my mouth. "I don't need a psychological evaluation."

"You need something," Christine mutters. "Like maybe another night with Mr. Silver Fox Daddy Dom Developer that includes a spanking for what you are putting him through."

The nickname makes me laugh despite myself. A flush creeps up my neck as I remember the way Jeremy had looked at me that night in his apartment, the command in his voice when he told me exactly what he wanted, how he wanted it. The way I'd responded, yielding control in a way I never do in my daily life. The way he had me call him, Daddy.

"It doesn't matter if he’s a Daddy or not," I say. "I've made my decision."

"A stupid decision," Bridgette says.

"A fear based decision," Elizabeth corrects gently.

They're both right, but I'm not ready to admit it.

* * *

A week passes. Then two. Jeremy respects my request for space, though he texts occasionally. The texts are neutral, friendly messages that never push for more than I'm ready to give. Pictures of the development progress. A congratulatory note, when my firm wins a prestigious listing. Nothing that demands a response, but each one a reminder that he's still there, still waiting.

I'm in the middle of showing a new listing, a sprawling estate that needs work but has potential, when my phone buzzes with a text from him.

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