“I promise to keep you in mind.”
I don’t bother telling him that I would never leave Max. Especially not now when I finally have everything I want.
We say our goodbyes, and I feel good about my decision. When I finally hang up, I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
That’s officially done and over with. It’s behind me for good, and I have no regrets.
Someone knocks on my door, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Max steps inside. “Are you ready? It’s time.”
“I am,” I say as I get up.
Max meets me halfway and pulls me into his arms and kisses me lightly.
“We shouldn’t be doing this here. Not yet, at least,” I tell him quietly.
“It’s fine. Trust me.”
“Come on, you two,” Chad says from the hallway.
Max places his hand on my lower back and ushers me forward. Side by side, we leave my office and head to the conference room that’s already filling up. We head to the front of the room and wait for everyone to join us.
“Hey Iris,” Annabelle says as she takes a seat.
“Hey, how are you?” I ask.
“Not as good as you.” She groans as she rests her hand on her pregnant belly.
“Uncomfortable?”
“More than you can imagine. That’s one of the things they don’t warn you about when it comes to pregnancy. I don’t miss it,” Charlotte says.
Annabelle groans. “Rub it in that your kid is already on the outside.”
Charlotte turns to me and looks me over. “Do you have something to tell me? Because you’re positively glowing. You look…happy.”
“I am, and as for news, you’ll know soon enough.”
“It’s time,” Max murmurs in my ear.
I nod as I look around the room.
“Everyone, can we get your attention please?” Max says.
Butterflies fill me as the room quiets down. This is it. No going back now. Not that I ever would.
“Thank you everyone for joining us last minute, but Iris and I have something we would like to discuss with all of you,” Max tells them.
“Is this about the move? Are we all being fired?” one of the guys says, but I don’t know who he is.
He must be new.
“No, it’s not about the move,” I reassure him before I look back over at Max. “And no one is getting fired.”
Max dips his head and takes my hand in his. “Iris and I wanted to officially tell all of you that we are seeing each other romantically. Before you ask, yes, all the board knows, and the necessary paperwork has been filed. Now I know most of you don’t care about our love lives, but we are making an effort to be transparent with all of you.”
