Page 70 of Taming You

“So, Olivia mentioned you’re considering a career change.” My eyes flick to her, and Josh steps in. “She only mentioned something because I was telling her about a position I was considering creating and she thought you might be a great fit.”

That piques my interest, and Liv’s forgiven for spilling that secret.

“I’m looking to create a position that would have someone working with both my company and the Cyclone. In taking over the team, I’m wanting the organization to be more involved in the community and more involved in giving back to the people who have supported the team. I’m looking for someone who can plan and run fundraisers and community outreach events for both organizations. You’d work pretty independent of any other management, reporting directly to me and my VP. As this is a new position, I’m wanting someone who is proactive and can take the lead in coming up with ideas and drumming up interest. Olivia mentioned you’ve been working with your sister-in-law with the planning of the gala for food banks in the area that’s coming up just before Christmas. That with your legal background, I think you’d the perfect person for the position.”

I stare at them, dumbfounded. I’m sure not how to wrap my head around this. I’ve just been offered a position with one of the largest companies in the city and with an NHL team. I’m not into sports, but I know what a big deal that is.

Josh leans forward, resting his arms on the table. “You don’t have to accept right away. I know this is a big deal and something you’ll want to think over. I’m having my HR department draft a contract, and they’ll send it your way to review. If you have any issues with it, please let me know. And know I won’t be upset or offended if you don’t want the job, but I do agree with Liv that you’d be a great fit.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Liv reaches forward and squeezes my hand. “Like Josh said, you don’t have to say anything right now. When he first mentioned it to me, I immediately thought of you. We wanted to talk to you about it right away, because if you’re not interested, he’ll need to get the position posted, but it’s yours if you want it.”

I sit back in my chair, and my mind continues to go a million miles a minute. “I’ll review the contract and get back to you as quickly as possible.”

“Thanks, Zoey,” Josh says. Cate begins to fuss, and he stands and takes her from Liv and paces with her.

“No, thank you.”

My first thought now is I want to tell Matt. I want to share this with him. I won’t make any decisions until I read the contract, but my gut instinct is to take it. Even if it’s something I only do for a short time, it will be great for my resume, and it will also be an opportunity to help people. If I’m given complete control, like Josh said, I’d be able to help people like my parents. That hits me like a ton of bricks. I never thought I’d be able to do that, and I may have just had the most amazing opportunity dropped in my lap.

I stand and hug Liv, squeezing her tight and whispering, “Thank you,” before I head to my car then head straight to Matt’s.

Someone recognizes me and lets me into the building, even though I know they shouldn’t, and I jog towards the elevator, excitedly hitting the up button. When I get to Matt’s door, I stop myself from banging on it like a fool and knock at a respectable volume.

Matt opens the door with a look of confusion, but when he sees me, he lights up. “Hey, Bug.”

“Hey.”

We stare at each other for a second before he reaches for my hand and pulls inside, closing the door behind me.

“I missed you,” he whispers as he wraps his arms around my waist and mine come up and around his neck.

“Me, too.”

He leans down to kiss me, and I feel like a giddy schoolgirl when his lips meet mine. He kisses me lazily, like he’s not looking for anything more from me than this kiss right here, and that means everything. He’s proving over and over that he’s respecting my boundaries.

When he breaks the kiss, he rests his forehead on mine and asks, “What’s up? I’m sure you didn’t come here just to kiss me.”

I grin up at him. “And what if I did?”

He grins right back. “That would make me a very happy man.”

“Well, as much as I would do that, I didn’t today.”

Matt takes my hand, and I follow him to the couch. He sits in the corner and pulls me down beside him, and I instinctively curl into his side as his hand comes to my hair and he runs his fingers through it.

“So, ah, Josh offered me a job.”

His fingers only pause for a second before they continue making their way through my hair. “What kind of job?”

The excitement is radiating through me all over again. “It’s a new position. It’s one that would be in charge of community outreach and fundraising. I would be working with both Josh’s company and the Cyclone. I’d be able to put my law degree to work with my understanding of contracts, and”—I sit up and turn to look at him—“I’d also be able to help make a difference in the community.”

“That sounds amazing, Bug. I’m so happy for you.”

I lean back into his side, wanting to open up to him some more, but not sure if I can do it while looking at him. “I think I’d want to do something to help people like my parents. People who are victims of addiction. I wasn’t able to help them when I was a kid. Really, I didn’t notice much of it back then. Henry and the boys kept me pretty well guarded from all of that until I was in high school.” I take a deep breath, fighting my tears, and lean into Matt more when he starts massaging my scalp. “Maybe we can do something for children of people with addiction, ones who don’t have family the same way I did who were there to protect me.”

Matt kisses the top of my head and holds his lips there. “You’re so strong, Bug,” he whispers against my hair, and his words break a dam I didn’t know I was holding together with every last piece of my will. It crumbles, and my tears fall.

---