Page 54 of Saved By the Billionaire

She just nods and gives me a half smile. “Thank you.”

I can’t help myself, so I kiss her before we get out of the car and head for the elevator. When we get inside, we leave the world outside for a few seconds. It’s just us in this bubble, and I kiss her again just because I can.

When we get to her floor, I wish her a good first day back and as the doors close, I’m left alone. Time we go our separate ways, but I wish we didn’t have to.

Everything that happened after the event has somehow shifted our relationship, hopefully for the best, though I’m not sure exactly how I feel about everything and especially about Noelle.

As I reach my floor, I go straight to the meeting room.

We have a deal on the making. A well-known company named Nexus. It has the potential to make us grow even more if everything goes smoothly.

I’m meeting with my team so we can hash out the potential gamble that’ll determine what will happen.

Scanning the faces of the people in the room, I tap my fountain pen against the table, frowning. “To expand MediaHire’s prospects, Nexus is the best way forward.”

Sara’s the first to clear her throat. “I beg to differ.”

Lifting an arch eyebrow at her, I ask, “Why?”

“The stakes on this are too high.”

“I agree,” Chris says. “It all seems a bit rushed.”

“Exactly,” Sara says. “Besides, Nexus have always been in the news for one controversy or the other. Why should we give them the privilege of doing business with us?”

I shrug easily. “They’re dedicated and they’re committed.”

“Mr. Thatcher is right,” Joe Weston takes a sip from his glass of water. “Nexus has all the potential to elevate us to the pinnacle. We can’t afford to miss out on that opportunity, Ms. Carter.”

“Exactly.” I nod. “We’re basically tenderfoots when it comes to things like this. It also doesn’t help that we’re a weaker and more vulnerable unit.”

“All of which started when you did,” Chris states.

Silence descends upon the room.

Sitting up, I cock my head at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying you should know better than going with this idea. It’s a terrible one.”

Joe lowers his brows, squinting at Chris. “Why do you say that?”

“Nexus only works with agencies and organizations that are well established. We aren’t exactly that.”

Joe’s smile is thin. “They worked with Derrico a year ago, when they were just opening their tech startup. Now, look at them, they’re thriving.”

“Under a terrible working ratio,” Sara cuts in, a disdainful grimace on her face. “Look, I don’t mean to burst your bubble, Mr. Weston, but they weren’t exactly the Microsoft prodigy everyone expected them to be. They’re failing, period.”

“Which will happen to us if we take whatever Nexus is offering to us,” Chris says with a nod, echoing Sara’s words.

Joe looks at me. “What’d you say, Thatcher?”

I pause, looking hard at the tempered-glass table, then I say, “We call in a risk analyst. They go over the necessary details, and if they give their okay, we’re in. If it’s not, we pull out. How’s that?”

They nod in unison.

“Good,” I say. “That’ll be all. You’re dismissed.”

“Alright.” Chris rises to his feet and picks up the document file. “We’ll be reviewing the rest of the proposition and we’ll keep you informed if we have any other concerns.”

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