Page 41 of My CEO Neighbor
Chapter Ten
Ted
Three Weeks Later
Ted's alarm went off at six, but instead of the jarring corporate ringtone he'd used for years, Monica's voice drifted through his apartment guiding him via a recorded morning meditation she'd made specifically for him.
"Breathe into your intention for the day," her voice said over his phone's speaker."Let your first thoughts be of gratitude rather than obligation."
Ted smiled against his pillow, remembering how Monica had presented him with the recording two weeks ago, claiming it was "girlfriend privilege" to reprogram his morning routine.The meditation was only ten minutes long, a compromise between Ted's productivity anxiety and Monica's belief that rushing into consciousness was spiritual violence.
It was working.Ted's days felt more grounded now, less frantic.He still worked long hours, still cared about CloudSync's success, but the desperate edge was gone.Success felt like expansion rather than survival, growth rather than proof of worth.
Of course, having Monica in his life might have something to do with that shift.
Ted stretched and went to his kitchen, where the coffee maker was already brewing thanks to a timer he'd finally learned to use.Outside his window, he could see Monica on her fire escape, tending to plants that had multiplied since she'd moved into the new studio space.She was wearing one of his t-shirts over yoga leggings.That made him happy with possessive satisfaction.
The new studio had ground floor space in Fremont with natural light, room for thirty students, and a small office where she could expand into teacher training programs.Bill Armitage had been so impressed with Monica's business plan that he'd offered her a five-year lease at below-market rates, with an option to buy if her revenue projections held steady.
Ted didn't need to ask to know they were holding steady.Monica had been glowing with success these past few weeks, her confidence radiating in ways that made her even more beautiful than before.She'd started offering corporate wellness consultations too, bringing breathing techniques and stress management to companies whose employees were burning out at alarming rates.
Ted's phone had been the first consultation.Monica had convinced him to offer optional meditation sessions to CloudSync employees, and the response had been overwhelmingly positive.His team seemed genuinely happier, and Ted had discovered that productivity didn't suffer when people actually took breaks to breathe.
It had given Ted an idea for his next venture, that combined his business expertise with Monica's wellness philosophy.But that was a conversation for later, when they'd figured out more of their own balance.
Ted poured two cups of coffee and walked to Monica's apartment, using the key she'd given him the week before.Her door opened to the scent of sandalwood and the sound of soft music, the kind of peaceful atmosphere that still felt foreign but increasingly necessary.
"Good morning, beautiful," Ted said, finding Monica in her kitchen, preparing what looked like enough green tea to hydrate a small army.
"Good morning yourself."Monica turned to accept his kiss."How was the meditation?"
"Surprisingly effective.I only thought about quarterly projections twice."
"Progress."Monica accepted the coffee cup with a grateful smile."And how are you feeling about today?"
Today was the official launch of CloudSync 2.0, the platform upgrade they'd been developing since the Dexter funding came through.It was Ted's first major product launch where he wasn't running on pure adrenaline and existential terror.
"Good," Ted said, and meant it."Nervous, but good nervous.Like anticipation instead of panic."
"See what happens when you sleep more than four hours a night?"
Ted wrapped his arms around Monica's waist, pulling her against him.She fit perfectly, all soft curves and strong muscles, her body familiar now in ways that still made his dick hard.
