Page 70 of The Billionaire and the Maid

The room is silent.

“Any other nominations?” Dad asks.

More silence.

“Very well. All in favor please sayaye.”

Every single person, including my dad, says, “Aye.”

Dad turns to me and gives me a proud smile. Holy shit! I’m officially the CEO.

“Seeing as the vote is unanimous and we have a quorum, the motion carries,” Dad says and he turns to me. “Congratulations, Chase.” And then I watch Dad push back his chair and stand. He motions for me to take his seat. I look past Dad to my grandfather who still sits on the board. His eyes glisten with tears and he’s grinning ear to ear. I smile back at him and then look toward Ward, who gives me a thumbs-up. And finally, I look at Ella. She’s not holding back her tears, they are falling freely down her cheeks.

“I’m proud of you,” she mouths. And I give her a subtle nod.

I stand and adjust my suit jacket. Slowly, I step forward and accept my father’s outstretched hand. He surprises me when he pulls me in for a hug instead of a handshake. “I’m so proud of you, Chase,” he whispers before pulling back and stepping over to the side, where he sits.

It takes me a moment to compose myself, while the board members all congratulate me.

I look past the table as everyone sits back down, and I lock eyes with Ella. She gives me a nod and an encouraging smile.

“You got this, Ace,” she mouths and I press my lips together to keep from smiling back at her. It’s time to share my new shoe idea which will hopefully expand our company and increase our market shares. I need to be serious and focused. A calm comes over me as I take over the meeting and I swear it has nothing to do with my confidence and everything to do with the beautiful blonde sitting across the room from me.

* * *

Ella leans forward and kisses me. Her breasts press against my chest and my hands grab her ass, holding her tightly against me. After the board accepted my proposal, we wrapped up the meeting. We had to stay for formalities and some celebrations, but a few hours later, I whisked Ella away to my beach house. We’ve been making love for two hours. We’re both sweaty and tired, but also sated and happy.

“I’m so proud of you,” she says against my lips.

“Thank you. They loved your design work, Ella.” I pull back and look at her. “Come work for me.”

I’ve been thinking about it all week, but I didn’t want to scare her. She was so nervous about the presentation, but now I think she has the confidence. I’ve been watching her transform all week. We got the shoes appraised, but she didn’t want to sell them. Instead, a fashion museum has paid for the rights to show them for three years, which provided Ella enough money to finish her last class and start her own business. My legal team is also working to get her property back. But that will take longer.

“What?” she asks, staring at me with wide eyes.

“It was so great working together all week. You could be a permanent member of the Marino Shoe team,” I explain, the words tumbling out of my mouth.

“But I’m starting myowncompany,” she argues.

I press my forehead to hers. “I know, I just like seeing you all day, every day.”

She laughs. “I do too, but I won’t be far away. Greta offered to let me use some of her home as my office.”

My jaw clenches. I need her with me. I look around us. We’ve been splitting our time between my apartment at my parents’ home and my beach house. I like her in my space. I like her toothbrush on my bathroom counter. I like her shampoo and conditioner in my shower. I like her clothes in my drawers. “Fine. If you won’t work for me, then move in with me.”

Her head jerks back. “Chase, we just started dating for real. I think that is a little too fast.”

I reach up and cup her face. “Then, just bring some more things and we’ll see. We can make it a slow move-in process. Week by week. If I can’t have you with me all day, at least I can have you with me all night.”

“You already have that,” she argues.

“Let me take care of you,” I say as I feel her pulse race under my pinky finger that grazes her neck.

She’s quiet.

“Have I made Ella Foster speechless?” I ask.

She blushes.

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