Page 120 of Ten Rules for Faking It
Chris folded his hands in front of him and looked at Jane. “Those letters I asked you to bring in? Can you pass them out now, please?”
Jane stood up and went to the side table, grabbed a box, and began handing out orange manila envelopes to each of them. Their names were written across the front.
“If you could just wait a moment before opening those, I’ll explain.” Chris smiled at Jane. “Thank you. SCI stands forSquishy Cat Industries,” he said, his gaze zeroing in on Everly. She sucked in a sharp breath, held it. “My brothers and I have formed our own company. Under that umbrella will be the station, the cyber security and digital software companies that are still connected to us, and a very small-scale advertising firm that, under our guidance, will be run by our friend Mr. Lee, who I’m sure you all remember. While my oldest brother, Wes, is staying in New York, Noah is moving here, and I’ll help himrun his real estate development company. See, what I realized when I came here is that I don’t have an interest in a specific business but business in general. I like figuring out how to take small companies and make them stronger so they have the ability to last.”
He paused, and Everly felt like they were the only two people in the room. “I like seeing what makes them work and what doesn’t and figuring out a way to bring them back to life. That’s what I’ll do. For lack of a better term, I’m a consultant who owns one-third of SCI. I’m not your station manager, but I am still your boss. As such, you each have a new contract in front of you. Review it and let me know if you have questions or issues with what’s there.”
Everly looked around the table. They all shared expressions of awe and surprise and… relief. She looked back at Chris.
“There are some policy changes, some updates, salary increases. We’ve been able to save some money in a variety of areas, and the station is currently doing better than ever financially.”
“What sort of policy changes?” Stacey asked, playing with the opening of the envelope. “I’m not wearing a uniform.”
Chris laughed. “There are a few outdated policies—like no fraternizing with employees. Odd word,fraternizing.It can mean a lot of things. Since it was so vague, we took it out. Because if you care about someone, nothing should stop you from sharing it. Which means…”
Everly’s breath hitched, and Chris’s lips hitched up.
“Despite all measures being firmly in place to prevent any workplace harassment, say you accidentally fall for someone you work with, we won’t stop you from pursuing your happiness. Mari and Mason, you can quit hiding your relationship,” Chris said, smirking in their direction. “Wes is a master hacker. He found several emails. No one is losing their job over falling in love as long as you show up for work and do your job.”
Everly’s breath whooshed out of her lungs. Mari and Masonlooked at each other, and the smiles on both of their faces added to the energy of the room.
Stacey pointed. “I knew it!”
Mason laughed, moving closer to Mari. “Hard to hide it when you care so much for someone.”
He’s right about that.
“Now. I know I’ve dropped a lot on you guys, but if you could give me the room for a few minutes, you can take some time to look over your contracts, hopefully sign them, and return them to Mari when you’re done.”
Everyone stood up, so Everly didn’t know what to do. Mason and Mari shook Chris’s hand. The other deejays and producers did the same, but Stacey and Jane both hugged Chris. Everly stood, watching everyone file out the door.
“Ms. Dean? If you could stay behind?”
He walked over as Stacey closed the door behind her, leaving them alone. Everly clutched the envelope in her hand, doing her best not to scrunch it up in her fists.
“Your envelope is a little different. I’d hoped you could open it up in front of me.”
“Now?” Her voice came out as a squeak.
“I thought of a grand gesture, maybe throwing up my list on the big screen so there were no doubts, but I didn’t think you’d want that.”
Her heart fluttered so hard she lost her breath. Grand gestures were good things, right? He stepped closer, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I changed my mind, though. I wanted you alone for this. Just you and me.”
She had so much she wanted to say. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, and her chest expanded. She could breathe.
“Open it,” he whispered.
She carefully pulled the glued flap open, too aware of how close he stood, how much she had to tell him, how much shewanted him, how good he smelled. Her fingers shook. She pulled a single piece of paper from the envelope.
She read the title, tears immediately filling her eyes.Ten Reasons It Will Only Ever Be You.Her eyes scanned the list, and her heart moved into her throat. She looked up at him through lowered lashes.
He rubbed one thumb over her cheek, causing the tear to fall but catching it. The paper shook in her hands. He brought his other hand to her cheek and did the same thing with his thumb, then leaned in and kissed the spots where the tears had been. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes as if he were breathing her in, absorbing her into himself.
When he opened his eyes, they locked on Everly’s. This close, with their noses touching, he was a little blurry, but he was here and he was real, and she wanted this enough to ignore the fear.
“I love you,” he whispered.
The paper crumpled in her hand. She jumped back and smoothed it. She hadn’t even had a chance to read it thoroughly, but already knew she’d want to save it forever.
