“So, in other news, I’ve just registered a new marketing and agenting company.” My eyes popped wide. He wasn’t going back to his father. This was incredible. My heart hurt that it had taken this long for him to gain his courage and that I wasn’t part of it. It simultaneously soared for him. At least one of us had broken out of our parentally imposed stigma.
As he spoke, everyone listened. Rapt.
Tears burned my eyes that Ranger Foods came on board with him. As he explained, Marvin sat up proudly and winked at me. Did Curtis tell him I’d helped on the account? Also, I’d had no idea that Marvin wasthatMarvin. We’d succeeded!
I gave Marvin a quick smile as a feeling of accomplishment washed over me. All the negative jibes from my mother, Queen B, and Curtis’s father couldn’t erase what I’d helped Curtis achieve.
We’d done it. We’d landed one of the biggest accounts Knight Advertising had ever had. And he’d agreed to go with Curtis’s new company—that bit was all down to Curtis.
Even though I was currently unemployed, I would call that my single biggest work achievement. I bit my cheek, trying to keep more smiles at bay. I hadn’t decided if I wanted to be happy in front of the man who broke my heart. He wasn’t totally heartless, and I hoped seeing me miserable would make him feel just the tiniest bit guilty.
Okay, a lot guilty. A woman could hope.
“… staff will be remunerated above market and will be offered shares in the company, with the total pool to be 30 percent.”
Amy grinned and nodded as if she was privy to this news. I leaned toward her. “How did you know?”
“My company represents him now. We did all the paperwork and registrations for his new venture.” She gave me side-eye. “You don’t hate me, do you?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I’ll get back to you.” I rolled my eyes so she knew I wasn’t too upset. I’d known she was helping him dig into Queen B’s betrayal, so it wasn’t like I was totally oblivious. And I wanted him to succeed, so there was that.
“The remaining 70 percent will be shared between me and my partner, someone I’d trust with my life. A person who stood by me in my darkest hour, even when I didn’t deserve it. A person who never asked for anything and gave everything in return.”
I swallowed. Who was his partner? I tried to think through everyone at work. Was there anyone he’d ever mentioned he was close to at the company? Maybe Stephanie? She was standing by him in a room full of people, and he’d forgiven her. Had she been fired too? Argh, Knight Senior was an equal-opportunity asshole.
Curtis’s gaze roved the audience until it landed on me. He might be many feet away, but when he stared into my eyes, it was as if he were right in front of me. I could almost feel his breath ghosting over my lips. Someone had definitely turned up the thermostat. “It gives me enormous pleasure to introduce the next big thing in advertising.”
He swept his arm out like a high-end version of a game show host. He really could be a TV presenter. Viewership would skyrocket, no matter the show.
Here’s Curtis, baking. Here’s Curtis, shoveling horse poop and changing cat litter. Watch Curtis wander through Walmart, looking for the best buy on toilet paper.
The screen rose, revealing a large plaque, gold writing on ablack background affixed to the wall. The huge initials DGMP were cocooned within a circular border of words.
It was those words that had the air entering my throat faster than a drag car racing down the straight, choking me for the second time tonight.
Curtis, a mixture of pride and uncertainty on his face, looked at me when he said, “Donut Girl Media and Promotions or DGMP. I named this company in honor of my business partner, Faith Emery. Without her, none of this would be possible.” He turned to give his father a stern look. “When other people were trying to tear me down, Faith had my back.”
Instead of being apologetic, his father’s scowl twisted up a notch. In the meantime, my heart was beating so fast, I wondered if I’d turned into a hummingbird.
I was a partner in a marketing firm? With Curtis?
Curtis peered back at me. “Faith, I know this is a surprise, but there is no one I’d rather partner with. You’re an exceptionally talented person, and I know we can take this business to the next level. Would you come to the stage, please?”
I swallowed. Did he just meanbusinesspartner? How could I work alongside him and not want more? Also, he hadn’t apologized. Gifting me a business partnership was generous and ridiculous, and having a job doing what I loved was amazing, but I needed to hear that he was truly sorry.
I was done being treated like I was inferior. I was tired of waiting for the next domino to fall. If he didn’t apologize, his gesture was just that—a gesture with no substance. It would be excruciating to turn down this opportunity—it was like winning a multi-million-dollar lottery—but if I didn’t stand up for myself now, I was in for a lifetime of heartache and feeling less than.
My hesitation at standing drew a reaction from him. “I know this is a surprise, but I didn’t know how else to tell you and make an impact, make sure you knew I was serious. I’m sorry abouteverything. I was an idiot. And not that it’s your problem, but I’m miserable without you.”
The crowd laughed, some of the women giving knowing nods that seemed to say,yep, men fucking up since the beginning of time. But we all messed up now and again, didn’t we? The main thing was that he was taking accountability. Something no one else had done for me until now, and he’d done it in a room full of his peers, his family, and the media.
It took an incredibly secure man to do that. A kind man. A man with empathy.
“Okay, looks like you need more convincing. I’m going to lay it all on the line. Faith Emery, I love you. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone. Will you please, please put me out of my misery and agree to go into business with me and to maybe give me another chance with your gorgeous heart?”
Manyoohsandaahsfloated through the room, but I barely heard them over my thundering heart.
He loved me?
