He pulls me up out of the chair and into his arms.
“I have always said that if I had known about you from the beginning, I would have adopted you as a baby too. So it’s only right that you inherit half of the family company too. You have worked hard and earned this. It’s not like we are just handing it to you.”
Pulling back from him and looking up into his tear-filled eyes, I know this is something he truly wants.
“But Paige, you have worked your whole life to help get this company where it is today, and I don’t need the money, you know that.” Tears start falling down my face.
“Mia, this has nothing to do with money. This is about family and reward for hard work. You haven’t been just my PA for a long time. You have been working side by side with me, helping to run this company. From now on, we do this together, equally. I know this is a lot, but nothing much will change except you will start signing legal documents and your bank account will start growing exponentially. But for me, I can breathe a little easier knowing we can lean on each other, make the big decisionstogether, and continue to create a legacy for all our children.” Paige now stands and pulls me into her arms, whispering in my ear. “Please say yes. It means everything to me to have us as equals the way it should’ve always been.”
We hug tightly for a minute, and then as I let her go and take a step back from everyone, I look into my husband’s eyes, seeing the pride and joy in them as I answer both Paige and our father.
“I’ll be honored to be part of the family business, and I promise you both that I won’t let you down. I’ll repay every bit of love and kindness you have showered me and the kids with. Thank you for having the faith in me to take good care of your company.” My heart is beating hard, and instead of feeling overwhelmed and scared, I’m excited to take on the hard work and challenges ahead.
“I’m so happy I’m about to burst. So, Dad, Mason, who’s only been here because he didn’t want to miss seeing the surprise on your face, and I are all going to leave you with Jacinta and Lex for a while so she can go through all the paperwork with you both, and if you are happy with everything, then just call us back in and we can sign together.” Each of them hug me on their way past as they slip out of the room.
“Well, this is not how I expected this morning to go.” I sit back into my chair with a little laugh.
Lex leans over and kisses me quickly, telling me how proud he is of me. We then get to work with Jacinta on all the documents in front of me. Although my husband is a brilliant lawyer, he explained that having Jacinta work through everything with me as someone totally independent of the situation is a far better option. He will always put me and our family before himself, and although he’s stopped practicing law a few years ago, it will always be a part of him.
Watching him and Jacinta work together has always been an interesting dynamic. The first time I met her she’d intimidatedme, and knowing that she had been Lex’s regular stress relief through sex was hard to swallow, but we got through it. When she stepped in to take over my case after Lex resigned and disappeared for a while, I met a whole new side to Jacinta. She is a bad-ass lawyer, but funnily enough, she became an amazing friend to us both. When she let down her walls and let us see the real woman Jacinta is behind them, we finally saw her vulnerability and that in some ways she is a lot like Lex. Her life was mapped out for her by parents and society, but luckily for her, she actually loves what she does, with a passion that Lex never quite found.
“I can’t believe you two kept this a secret from me.” I try to look all stern with them both as we finish going over the last page of the document. But Lex can read me like a book, and Jacinta can see straight through me like she does to people every day in court, so they both just laugh at me.
Lex shakes his head. “It wasn’t our news to tell, plus Paige still scares me. She might be my sister-in-law, but that woman rips men’s balls off in a boardroom for a living.” Then shock runs down his face. “Oh, shit, does that mean you are going to become a ballbreaker now too?” He covers his crotch with his hands.
“She already is, you idiot.” Jacinta rolls her eyes at him. “Haven’t you seen this woman in a meeting? She uses her kindness to suck them in so that they hand over their balls before she even asks for them. You’re just lucky that she likes yours and lets you keep them.”
“Remind me again why I stay friends with you,” Lex retaliates at Jacinta.
“You two are ridiculous together,” I mumble as I message Paige to come back in.
As she walks in, although she knows what the answer will be, I can see she is still a little nervous that I wasn’t happy with something in the paperwork.
“Look out, world, here come the Ellen sisters.” I look up at her as she stands beside me, and then I pick up the pen and sign my name on the dotted line to a room full of cheers.
Chapter Two
LEX
As I press send, I sit back on my chair in my home office and wait for our group chat to explode.
“Three, two, one …” I say out loud.
Tate: WTF do you mean pack a bag for ten days for each member of my family including children.
Grayson: I thought Tate was bad last year with giving weird clues.
Bella: Why am I packing for my kids, Lex! This is my “mommy needs a break” time!!!
Paige: Mason, be prepared when I get home. You are telling me where we are going or you are sleeping with one of the kids.
Mason: Hey, leave me out of this, I’m just the pilot.
Paige: Yes, my pilot, remember? I pay your wage!
Mia: Well, technically, I pay half of it now.
Lex: Touche, sweetheart.
