Page 49 of The Promises We Break

“Follow me, please.”

Shit.

I stand urgently, pacing her hurried steps. As we exit her office, I look over at a stunned Cruz. I shrug with raised eyebrows and continue following Elena.

There’s only one office in this direction.

Christian Ford’s office.

Double shit.

She knocks, an interesting patterned knock, and he quickly replies, “Come in.”

Now, one of the things that Cruz shared with me, that some people know and some people think is rumored, is that, although Elena is married to Jake, they—as in her and her husband Jake—are alsowithChristian. I’ve never asked her about it, and I’ve only seen her and Mr. Ford in a businesssetting, where they were completely professional, but I do believe they live together. I’m so curious about it and would love to ask Elena about it one day.

“Ember has brought something to me that I felt you needed to urgently consider.” She doesn’t even say hi, she just bolts straight to his desk, placing the papers in front of him.

“Ember, please share with Christian what you shared with me.” My eyes look between the two of them, and I swallow the boulder resting at the back of my throat before I go into the speech I practiced way too many times.

After I finish, a smirk crosses his face as he looks up at Elena then back to me.

“This is going to be incredibly costly,” he responds. Which I knew. Why would we even consider doing something like this when you have an online platform and zero brick and mortar costs.

“I do realize that, sir. I truly feel like this can set us apart from the competition, and I do have a third leg to my business plan of renting out industrial space that will allow us to test this for a few months, like a pop-up event, before we—you—would invest in buying a building for it.” My passion in this idea surpasses the nerves I feel, and not only do I sound confident, but I feel that way as well.

“I don’t rent buildings, Mrs. Byrnes.” The lopsided grin that rests on his face is one that tells me he knows my secret, which wouldn’t surprise me, since Elena and Jake are aware of my situation. “I own far too many buildings that are doing way less than what this could potentially do. Elena, I assume you’re on board with this?”

She looks my way, taking a momentary pause before looking back at Christian. “Yes, I think it’s a great idea, and I think if anyone can put something like this together, she can.”

Jesus, I thought I’d leave this meeting with tears of embarrassment at my idea, not tears from emotional destruction.

She believes in me. They believe in me.

“That’s what I thought.” The smile he returns to her is one that would burst my entire body into flames if Hudson looked at me that same way.

Christian steps out from behind his desk, and I have to take a minute to breathe. Not only from the high level of anxiety that I’ve been experiencing since the moment I stepped foot in Elena’s office, but also from the power that exudes from Christian Ford. If what Cruz says about Elena and her relationship with both her husband, Jake, and Christian is true, wow. How does she handle them both? I was impressed with her from the moment I met her, but impressed is far beyond an understatement, at this point.

Christian stops a few feet shy of where I’m standing. He crosses his arms over his chest, then brings one hand to his face, wrapping it around his sharp jawline. He takes a moment to appraise me, and I surprisingly don’t feel belittled or concerned. I feel ready. I believe in this proposal.

“The public won’t see the perks of what we are offering for a venue like this. They will simply see it as us opening a sex club. I’ve been around long enough to know that some people in the community will eat us alive for pursuing something like this. There will be backlash, protesting. Also, we’ll have nothing but red tape from the city regarding permits and approvals. Are you ready for something like that, Ember?”

I rise to my full height, standing taller. My chin automatically follows as I tip my head back to meet his gaze.

“I am.”

“Good. Connect with Deitrich on security details for what we would need for a venue like this. Have Cruz start researching the existing floor plans to convert one of our downtown buildings.”

Oh my god. They love it, and we’re doing this.

Holy shit.

“Congratulations, Ember. This is a great idea, and you’re taking the lead on this project. You’ll get a commission of the sales for any event that we profit on. We’ll work out those details later. For now, let’s just get this ball rolling.”

“Yes, sir,” I reply, as I retreat from his office with a bounce in my step and a tenacious smile on my face. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”

I silently mouth a ‘thank you’to a beaming Elena as well before I exit his office and internally scream as I power walk to Cruz’s desk and squeal out loud when I share the news with him.

“I freaking knew it! I knew they would love it. We really are going out tonight, because we have to celebrate.”

---