Page 126 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

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Jonas

Dropping Mara off at the airport after such an incredible weekend was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. But today was the last day of tax season, and I had to be there. We’d finish strong, and then I would get the promotion I’d been working toward my entire career. Mr. Rusk had made that much clear.

I went into the office, trying to focus on my work instead of how much I missed Mara. After a month apart, I didn’t want to be away from her again, but I had work to do. As soon as I sat at my desk, Mr. Rusk knocked on my door.

I wondered what he was there for, but he only said, “Come with me.” He had an unreadable expression on his face as he walked me toward the conference room.

“What’s going on? Did I forget a meeting?” I asked. But then he opened the door, and I saw everyone inside with party decorations and a giant cake in the middle of the table that said, “HOWDY, PARTNER.”

“Congratulations!” everyone yelled, and while I was still speechless, Mr. Rusk said, “We’ve made it through another tax season, and I’m sad—happy, nervous—to say it will be my last of taking such an active role in the firm! We’re promoting Jonas Moore to partner, and he’ll be the man in charge next year!”

Everyone clapped for me, and Mr. Rusk said, “Jonas, would you like to tell them a little of what you have planned?”

I nodded, wondering why this didn’t feel like a massive success. It was. I could see on Jenkins’s face the gutted, disappointed look. He’d worked so hard for this. I was only thirty-two, and I was already partner. Plenty of people worked twenty years or more to get to this point. But I had been given the honor, and I wanted to let them know I wouldn’t take it for granted.

“Working at this firm for the last ten years has taught me so much. I’ve learned what I love about accounting, and of course, some things I’d like to change. One of the biggest changes I see coming in the next year is the ability to work remotely. Jenkins, I want you to go to your daughter’s dance recital and be able to work from home the rest of the day. Karen, I want you to work from home in case you need to keep an eye on your grandkids after school. I—”

Mr. Rusk cleared his throat, and I looked to see him shaking his head. He wore an uncomfortable smile as he said, “All changes are going to be approved by me, and we’ve never been one of those work-from-home firms. Face to face means a lot.”

I drew my eyebrows together, confused. We had all these people here, all my colleagues he was allegedly placing me in charge of. “So what does this promotion mean?”

He lowered his voice. “More pay, more hours, and more responsibility. I’m still the owner of the firm, Jonas.”

I blinked slowly, realizing everything I’d been working toward had been in the wrong direction. I didn’t want to run a business like Mr. Rusk did. I wanted my employees to have a life and the kind of love I was experiencing. But he didn’t want me to have that.

I missed Mara like hell, and I couldn’t imagine even more hours away from her. And then I realized I didn’t fucking have to.

We got to write our story, and I was done writing my part away from her.

“Thank you so much for the opportunity, Mr. Rusk,” I said, speaking just as much to him as everyone else. “I’ve spent the last ten years at this firm. I’ve made great friends, I love working with our clients, and the money hasn’t been bad either.”

My coworkers gave a polite chuckle.

“I’m so honored to be recognized this way, but unfortunately, I’m going to have to respectfully decline and resign, effective immediately.”

Murmurs broke out around the room, but I kept going.

“See, I met this girl.” I couldn’t help the dopey smile on my face. “And I miss her. I know I might be making less money and an opportunity like this might not come along again, but this girl is once in a thousand lifetimes. Stay in touch.”

As the murmuring continued, I walked out of the conference room, already on my way to my office to get my things and go. I wasn’t sure how I’d pay for my house, but I’d figure it out. Everyone needed an accountant, and I could do client work while Mara was busy writing.

I just missed her. I wanted to do life with her. And I knew, after this weekend, she wanted to do life with me too.

A heavy hand fell on my shoulder, and I turned to see Mr. Rusk with a murderous expression on his face.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked. “You’re throwing away the best opportunity of your life for some pussy?”

I stepped back, shrugging his hand off my shoulder. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that because I’m thankful for the work you’ve given me, but I’m done letting this firm run my life.”

Mr. Rusk sputtered, his face growing redder, but I didn’t wait for him to say anymore.

I was packing up my things, and I was going to the place I belonged.

As soon as my box was packed, I went to the parking lot, opened my trunk and put it in my car. But when I shut my trunk, someone else was there.

“Jenkins, what the hell? You scared me.”

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