“Um, not to ruin this whole plan because I know how excited Liv is, but have you actually tasted Olivia’s coffee?” Kayden asked, looking apprehensive.
Sutton snorted. “Yes, and we’ll need to work on that. But it’s a teachable skill. You’ve got a business degree and more experience than any of the applicants whose resume’s we’ve received already. If you want the job, it’s yours. If you take it, then the story I tell the board is that you and Jace had a pre-existing friendship that evolved into something romantic and as soon as it did, you started looking for another job.”
“Yes, thank you,” Olivia agreed. She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Jace, I quit.”
I laughed. “Noted, sweetheart.”
“Are you really going to fire, Martin?” Olivia asked. That was the part of the plan Sutton had insisted on figuring out alone. She hadn’t wanted me involved in his punishment or in her discussions with the board to ensure things appeared as objective as possible, but she had filled me in last night. “Won’t that just make him more pissed?”
“He’s going to receive averygenerous severance package along with an NDA and a restraining order in exchange for me not filing criminal charges. He had you followed and included photos of my son and daughter-in-law in his blackmail. He’s lucky I’m dropping it with this.”
“Damn, Sutton. Sloane and Lavi always said you were a good lawyer, but I’ve never seen you in action,” Olivia said with a laugh.
She set her coffee down. “I won’t tolerate anyone blackmailing the three of you—personally, or professionally. So, that brings me to the last announcement I have for the board.” She looked at me to provide the final update.
“I’m going to assume the role of CEO, effective immediately,” I said.
“Yes!” Olivia exclaimed.
“Is that what you want, babe?” Kayden asked. “I thought you were on the fence.”
“I was.” I nodded. “Sutton and I had a long conversation about this, and I laid out my vision for the company. I intend to restructure significantly, and the entire company will move in a more philanthropic direction. If we do this now, while Sutton is still the owner, it allows us to work on it together and implement all the major changes before I’m on my own.”
Kayden smiled at me. “I’m happy for you. If that’s what you want, I support you.”
“It is,” I said confidently.
“I’m enthusiastically supportive,” Olivia said, “but can you do this from Boston?”
“Yeah, we’ll adjust where headquarters is located as part of the restructure,” Sutton said.
“Did this blackmail scandal result in your promotion?” Olivia said with a laugh. “God, Martin is such an idiot. If he’d shut up, he could have kept his job.”
Sutton shrugged. “He made his choices.” She turned to me. “And you, no more screwing your employees.”
“Not a chance in hell,” I said, squeezing each of their knees.
“Good, and we’re not losing an architect as brilliant as you, Kayden, because of your relationship. I’ll have the lawyers draw up something for you both to sign disclosing the conflict of interest and they’ll probably require you to get multiple bids and board endorsement for future projects together, but the board loved your work on the rehab facility, so it’ll just be a formality to protect your credibility—both of you.”
Kayden nodded. “Thank you. Of course I’ll sign it.”
“Good.” Sutton stood up. “Jace, I’ll see you tomorrow for the board meeting. I’m sorry to run, but Leo’s out of town for a game and I promised to take Sophia to her check-up today and film the entire thing for him.”
I snorted. “Hockey star needs to chill.”
“You’re telling me,” Sutton said, shaking her head. “Do you know he made me a list of foods she can’t eat?”
“He said he was going to do that. I advised against it.”
“He doesn’t listen, as you probably already knew,” she said, turning to Kayden and Olivia. “I’m sure I’ll see you both soon. Welcome to the family.”
We all said goodbye, and as soon as Sutton was gone Olivia jumped into my arms for a kiss.
“Where am I ever going to find an assistant who puts up with me as well as you do?” I asked as Kayden cleared away the plates.
“You won’t,” she said confidently. “You also won’t find one who’ll do what I’m about to do before we go to the office.” Blood rushed to my dick at her suggestion. “Though, might I suggest Cole?”
Kayden froze with a plate in his hand and looked at us quizzically.
