Page 124 of Business Casual

Tre leaned forward. “You what? You can’t try to persuade her into—”

“And in an interesting turn of events,” Mr. Franklin interrupted, his booming voice quieting Tre and everyone at the table next to us. “Imani chose to end her contract rather than break up with you or let you lose your standing with the company.”

Tre turned to me and let out a shaky breath. “But you need the money,” he argued, searching my eyes.

“I need you,” I told him. “And if I void my contract to sidestep any impropriety on your part and to keep you doing what you love, your dad will secure me another contract and Franklin Financial will still pay me until I sign my next one.”

Mrs. Franklin laughed. “I like her.”

“So do I,” Mr. Franklin chuckled along with her.

“You don’t have to do that,” Tre said, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand.

“But the fact that she will is the reason that she doesn’t have to,” Mr. Franklin said.

Both Tre and I whipped our heads around quickly. “What?”

“When I was reviewing Imani’s contract with Clara, I realized that even though she was brought on as a contracted employee and given an office for her to complete her work, she is actually an independent contractor,” Mr. Franklin pointed out.

“Which means that Imani doesn’t work for Franklin Financial,” Mrs. Franklin elaborated. “She works for herself. She is an independent business hired to work with Franklin Financial. So your relationship isn’t a fireable offense if you’re both professionals in the workplace.”

“So, we’re good?” Tre asked incredulously.

“Yes son, you’re good,” Mr. Franklin affirmed.

Tre tipped my head up and planted a soft kiss against my lips. “Good.” When he turned back around, he smiled. “So, what was the meaning of all this?”

“Yeah, I’d like to know that, too,” I added. “I was stressed out about this meeting,”

“I didn’t know what the lawyers were going to find. But armed with this information, it’s not going to have an impact on either of your jobs if someone sees you two out together and reports it to the board,” Mr. Franklin explained. “And to be honest, I wanted to know your intentions, Ms. Jones. With Alex being the future of our company, we just didn’t want another incident on our hands.”

“I understand your concern,” I reasoned. “But it would’ve been my reputation on the line as well. I understand that your priority was to make sure Tre was good. But I’m in this as well and my reputation and my heart are on the line.”

“Alex has never picked a woman over his work before.” Mrs. Franklin grinned at me. “I think your heart is safe.”

Pulling me into him, he kissed my head and cheek. “Your heartissafe. And so is your reputation.”

“How is everything tasting?” the waiter asked as he popped up unexpectedly.

“We haven’t started eating yet,” Mr. Franklin informed him.

“We were too busy getting to know our son’s girlfriend,” Mrs. Franklin added.

“You okay with that?” Tre whispered into my ear as his parents started asking for extra plates and different condiments.

“Being your girlfriend?” I wondered.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

I bit my bottom lip. “Yeah. I think I can live with that.”

*****

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