She drew back and gave a resolute nod.“Let’s do this.”
“Okay, but first.”I picked up my phone and sent out a group message to the entire Special Projects team.
When Callie’s phone pinged, she read the message and shot me an incredulous look.“Seriously, Emmett?An emergency meeting?”
I grinned.“Yep.But we have five minutes before it starts, so let’s make them count.”
Six minutes later, we were running late to my emergency meeting after having gotten a little...distracted.
I strode out of my office with Callie’s hand clasped in mine.My heart pounded, but the warmth of her touch steadied me.
As requested, the team had gathered in The Common.I caught Meredith’s eye, and she gave me an approving nod.With a knowing smile, she stood and cleared her throat, commanding the attention of the bustling office.
All eyes turned towards us.
“Thanks for gathering so quickly,” I began.“As some of you may already know, Callie Winters has officially joined our team today, transferring from the intern program to a full-time position.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, some nodding in acknowledgment, others exchanging curious glances.I paused for a moment, letting the news sink in before continuing.
“However, there’s something else I need to share.”I turned to Callie, my expression softening as I gazed into her eyes.“Callie and I are in a relationship.We’ve been dating for the past few months.”
I leaned down and captured Callie’s lips, pouring every ounce of my feelings for her into that passionate embrace.Catcalls and wolf whistles erupted around us, but in that moment, my world consisted only of Callie.
When we broke apart, I turned to face the team, my arm wrapped around Callie’s waist.“As I was saying, Callie is the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.She challenges me, inspires me, and makes me aspire to be a better man every single day.”
I felt Callie stiffen and gave her a reassuring squeeze.“I know there may be some concerns or questions about the nature of our relationship.But I can assure you all, Callie earned this position through her hard work, dedication, and undeniable talent.Her skills are an asset to this team, and I’m proud to have her on board.”
Lifting my chin, I met the gazes of my colleagues one by one.“That said, I won’t deny that my feelings for Callie run deep.She means everything to me, and I’m done hiding that fact.If anyone has an issue with us being together, you can take it up with me directly.But know this—I refuse to let small minds or idle gossip dictate my personal life.”
My heart swelled with pride as I felt Callie press my hand.With that simple gesture, she conveyed her gratitude and adoration, her trust in me, in us.
The silence stretched for a few beats until Meredith stepped forward, a warm smile lighting her face.“Well, it’s about damn time you two made it official!Although I have to admit, I’m a little hurt you didn’t let me in on the secret sooner.”
A few chuckles rose from the crowd and the tension dissipated.Glenn strode over, clapping me on the back.“I’m happy for you both.Callie’s a talented asset, and we’re lucky to have her on the team.”He turned to address the group.“I expect everyone to be professional and focus on the work.Anything else is none of our business.”
One by one, colleagues approached to offer congratulations and best wishes.Some seemed genuinely happy for us, while others regarded us with a hint of skepticism beneath their forced smiles.But at that moment, none of it mattered.
I pulled Callie close, planting a kiss on her forehead as I drank in her radiant smile.She was glowing, her face flushed with a mixture of relief and elation.For the first time, we could be ourselves, no longer constrained by the need for secrecy.
About fucking time.
* * *
“What’s this all about?”Meghan was seated next to me in the executive conference room, whispering as the remainder of the board members entered and found a seat.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Dad sat at the head of the table, our mother on his right and Gene on his left.
“Thank you all for making room in your schedules to attend this emergency meeting.”Dad took a deep breath before he resumed speaking.“I’ve called you here today because I’m concerned about something.It’s about our culture, our values as a company.”
No one made a sound.The entire room held its breath in anticipation.
“We’re not just a business; we’re a family.And every single individual in this company, from interns to executives, is critical to our success.They deserve respect, kindness, and recognition for their efforts.”
A murmur ran through the room as executives leaned back in their chairs, digesting his words.
“I’ve seen behavior recently that contradicts these beliefs.Disparagement, unprofessional conduct, and disregard for others’ contributions.”His cool gaze swept over the board members.“And I’ve let it go on long enough.It’s time we looked inward and reassessed how we treat each other.True leaders serve.They put their team first.They value people over profits and understand that success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the people who get us there.With that said, I’d like to call for a vote to remove Gene Smith as president.”
