The thought was so big, so impossible, I couldn’t hold on to it. It kept slipping away.
I’d done it. Built a company from nothing, raised my daughter alone, pitched against a major agency with unlimited resources, and won. Actually won.
The relief hit so hard and fast that my knees went weak. My vision blurred with tears. I absolutely could not cry in front of these people, and my hands were shaking so badly I pressed them against my belly to make them stop.
Aris framed my face and kissed me full on the lips. “I told you, yes.” His voice was low and meant only for me. “You are unstoppable.”
The room erupted in congratulations. Sarah was beaming, already talking about the timeline and next steps. Maxwell was shaking my hand, muttering something about looking forward to working together. Even Vienna came over to offer her congratulations.
“Outstanding work, Deanna,” Bronson’s voice cut through the celebration. He approached with his hand extended. “Your presentation was truly heartfelt. Congratulations.”
I shook his hand, still reeling from the win. “Thank you. Your presentation was incredible, too.”
“Kind of you to say.” His demeanor shifted then, becoming thoughtful, almost curious. “I have to ask, though, and I hope you don’t mind the question. Why doesn’t Olympus Motors use TMW for their global automotive campaigns?”
Conversations stopped mid-sentence. I felt every pair of eyes turn toward us.
“I mean,” Bronson continued, “Aristides Christakis, your husband, is the CEO of one of the world’s largest automotive companies. If TMW’s expertise is strong enough for brands like Black Ember, surely it would be perfect for Olympus Motors?”
The silence that followed was deafening. I could see the question forming on faces around the room as they suddenly realized who Aris was and the implication of his positioning. If my husband didn’t trust my company with his business, what did that say about TMW’s capabilities?
Aris’s jaw tightened, gearing up to tear Bronson apart, but I stepped forward before he could speak.
“If you’re asking why my husband hasn’t given me a job, Mr. Wells, the answer’s simple. I don’t take handouts.” My voicecarried across the room. “Everything I’ve built, I’ve earned myself.”
I turned to face Douglas and his family.
“If my husband not handing me, his business makes me a liability, you should absolutely go with EchoHive. But if you want integrity, creative focus, and results, you know who to call.
Douglas stared at me for what felt like an eternity before a grin spread across his weathered face. “You got a spark ’bout you. Reminds me of my Mari when we were first startin’ out. Folks underestimated her too, till they figured out she was the brains of this whole operation.”
Mariela chuckled. “They still do, now and again.”
“They’re all fools,” Douglas drawled. “Welcome to the family, Miss Deanna. Somethin’ tells me this here’s gonna be one hell of a ride.”
20
“Thank you,” Dede said, sinking onto the sofa in the carriage house with a soft exhale. She worked at the straps of her heels with obvious relief, then flexed her toes against the hardwood floor. “For keeping your cool back there.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Bronson had pulled back there. The bastard had known what he was doing by dragging my name and position into it when nobody had asked.
Until that moment, I’d just been Dede’s husband who worked in the automobile industry to these people. Now they knew who I was.
One sentence, and suddenly every person in that room was looking at me differently, wondering why my wife wasn’t good enough for my business. The prick had turned my identity into a weapon against her.
What made it worse was that the question itself was meaningless. Olympus Motors has had its own marketing department for decades. We didn’t outsource advertising because we didn’t need to. But explaining that would have madeDede’s moment about me, about defending why I hadn’t handed her a contract.
Loosening my tie, I moved to where she sat, then dropped to one knee before her. “May I?” I gestured toward her feet.
She raised an eyebrow, but lifted her leg to rest her heel on my knee. “I can’t believe I won.” Her voice was soft. “The biggest contract TMW has ever landed, and I thought I was gonna get crushed.”
“But you did not.” My thumbs worked along her arches. “You reminded them heart and authenticity beat flashy technology every time.”
Dede laughed, the sound breathless and giddy. “This changes everything, Aris. For my business, for my future. I can compete with the big agencies.”
Her skin was warm beneath my palms, and I felt some of my own tension ease. She melted back against the cushions with a soft moan that sent blood straight to my cock, and I fought the urge to abandon her feet entirely and cover her body with mine.
“It is better, yes?” My hands moved up to massage her calves.
