Page 112 of The Price of Scandal
“You don’t have to convince me. I saw you enthrall fifteen twelve-year-olds by setting fire to a water jug. You love kids. You love science.”
“I’ve been so focused on my empire that I’ve neglected to put any work into relationships. I’m not a good daughter or friend. I’m busy and distracted. I fear I’d take the same approach to marriage and motherhood. Now that there’s a possibility that I could lose what I’ve built…” She sighed. “I guess I’m just realizing that I don’t have anything else. And yes. I knowexactlyhow that sounds from someone with my financial portfolio. Woe is me.”
It was the most honesty I’d gotten out of her in one shot.
“Money doesn’t buy happiness,” I reminded her, fighting the urge to touch her. Any small stimulus might cut off the flow of truth.
“Everyone says that, but few people really get it. Money can buy security. But it’s not going to deliver love.”
“I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that you’re in control,” I said. “You call the shots. You make the decisions. If you want to veer off course, then veer off course. Especially if it’s in my direction.”
“I’m not good at dividing my focus, Derek,” she said, eyeing me. “That’s something we should probably discuss.”
“Ms. Stanton, you aren’t trying to have a ‘where is this going’ conversation with me, are you?” I asked, feigning horror.
She laughed. “I’m trying to have a ‘manage your expectations’ conversation with you.”
I took her hand. “Come here,” I said.
Reluctantly, she rose. I settled her into my lap and wrapped my arms around her. Finally. Touching her, holding her like this slowed everything down. Made everything make sense.
“I just don’t want you to think that I’m magically going to change and become—”
“What? A girlfriend?”
She shrugged. “You know better than anyone how busy I am. If you do win our little wager and the IPO goes through, it’s not going to slow down. If anything, I’ll be even busier. I’ll have shareholders to answer to. Not to mention the forest-slaughtering paperwork required for public companies. I’m going to have to give up my Wednesday nights,” she said wistfully.
“Is it what you want?” I asked neutrally.
“It’s what I’ve been working toward.”
And we were back to the non-answers.
I changed tactics. “Knowing what I know about you, Emily Stanton, I’m surprised you’re taking Flawless public.”
“That’s an indirect way of calling me a control freak.” She laughed.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a control freak. I find it rather attractive,” I said, brushing my mouth over the top of her head.
“You find just about everything attractive.”
“It’s not my fault you make everything sexy,” I teased. She snuggled closer, and I savored the moment. Terrifying boss Emily was alluring. Competent CEO Emily was charming. Giddy-in-the-lab Emily was delightful. But this softer side was something entirely different. I was powerless against vulnerable Emily.
“What do you really want, Emily?” I asked quietly.
She burrowed her face in my neck, and I felt her lips on me. “You. Now.”
I wanted a bigger picture. I wanted her to step back and really look at the life she was building. To decide if that’s what she wanted or if there was something else. Something more. Something different.
But then she was scraping her teeth over my jaw, and I was going hard.
“You didn’t show me the bedroom yet,” she whispered.
“Let’s rectify that,” I said, standing with her in my arms.
36
Emily
