“Thank you,” I almost whispered. “Had you said this then, maybe things would have ended differently, but everything happens for a reason, right?”
Raymond smiled. “I get why you broke up with me. As much as I miss you and want you back, you deserve better than what you were getting from me. If I felt like I could earn you back, I’d try. And before you ask, me wanting you romantically has nothing to do with me offering you the promotion. Regardless of what happens between us personally, I want you as president of marketing. I’m prepared to offer you half a mil a year. I know the cap is usually at six and that you should be started around three, but I want you to see that I value you, Zoe.”
My mouth opened and closed. I was literally speechless. What he was offering to pay was, in fact, the high range for presidents of marketing departments, particularly at techcompanies. What made me so great at my job was I was an expert in marketing specifically, so I could work in any niche with any client and be able to speak their language and explain a plan they’d be able to understand.
Even with that being the case, hearing Raymond offer me half a million dollars as my starting salary was insane. I was currently comfortably making two hundred and seventy five thousand a year as his VP, which was why I wasn’t too sure about leaving my job to stay in Jasper Lane. That was a hell of a lot of money to throw away . . . but was love, peace, and a soft, slow life worth it in exchange?
“I don’t know what to say,” I finally confessed. “I’m honored by the offer.”
“If you take the promotion, I’ll need you back in The Hills, Zoe. My president can’t work from here.” I nodded silently. Our food was placed in front of us, but I suddenly had no appetite. “Take all the time you need to think about it, but please don’t take more than three weeks. If you could have an answer for me by the time your virtual run is over, that would be great.”
“Yeah, sure. Seeing as I was expecting you to say three days, three weeks is more than enough.”
He laughed. “I know you, Zoe. If I push too hard, you’ll pull away. Take the time you need to think about it, and when you’re ready to come home, just let me know.”
I stared at my salad as if the croutons would be able to talk to me and tell me what to do. Just when I thought I’d had everything figured out, Raymond had come and dropped a damn bomb on me.
17
Haji
When Zoe texted and told me she was spending some time in her room to gather her thoughts, I didn’t press her. I did let her know when she was ready to talk that I’d be here to hear her out. I wasn’t expecting three days to pass before that happened, but that was what happened. She came casually strolling into the coffee shop as if she’d been gone for three minutes instead of three days. As if I hadn’t been going crazy wondering what the hell was going on with her. As if I hadn’t missed having her in my arms and on my lips.
“Hi,” she spoke, wrapping her arms around me for a hug.
Regardless of how much I hated the distance she’d put between us, I was happy to see her, so I hugged her back.
“You good?”
“I guess. I don’t want to monopolize your time, so we can talk later when you leave, but I missed you and couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”
“Nothing is more important to me than you. If you’re ready, we can talk now.”
Zoe gave me a soft smile before pulling me down for a tender kiss. “I really missed you, babe. Please don’t think being away from you was easy.”
“If you stayed away, I know it was for a reason. I missed you too, though. A lot.”
We went back to the office, and after I locked the door, I led her to my desk. After sitting down, I set her on my lap. Inhaling her scent and having her body pressed against mine put me in a relaxed state I hadn’t felt in three days. With my head against her chest, I listened as her heartbeat regulated and slowed down the longer I held her. She said I helped her breathe, and I didn’t really understand what she meant until her heart slowed and breathing evened out.
“So, I won’t beat around the bush,” she said. “Raymond apologized, offered me a promotion, and he also kissed me. I pushed him away, of course, and?—”
“You need to wash your mouth out and lips with antibacterial soap. Let’s do that now.”
“GG!” she yelled with a laugh as I tried to stand, but she sat me back down. “It’s been three days, babe. Plus I’ve washed my face and lips, brushed my teeth, and a lot of other shit since then.”
“Mhm. Continue.”
Her eyes rolled playfully as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I tried to pay attention as she talked, but all I really wanted to do was drive to Rose Valley Hills and cut that nigga’s lips off for touching hers.
“He basically said it took him losing the deal to realize how badly he’d treated me. Raymond owns one of the biggest advertising, marketing, and promotion firms in the US. Regardless of what can be said about him as a person, the man is an advertising genius. He’s also a business genius because he only employs the best.”
“Which is why he had you.”
Zoe blushed. “And that’s also why he offered me the president of marketing promotion. It comes with a significant pay increase, but it will also be more responsibility, and I’ll have to go back to The Hills.”
“More responsibility than you already had? More responsibility than what made you pass out as his VP?”
She sighed and massaged my beard, but the cute shit wouldn’t allow me to let up on her. I’d support her decision either way, but I needed to make sure she knew what she was doing.
