Page 44 of Mostly My Girlfriend
The team erupted and I soaked it in. Months of negotiations and hard work by so many involved and now it was finally done. My vision was starting to come into focus. Faster, more efficient jets. Comfortable and more affordable travel. There were times it ha felt like I had to drag the world kicking and screaming into the future, but now it was finally here.
“Champagne for everyone!”
I’d bought cases of the stuff and had it on ice all morning, and I’d hired a catering crew to distribute the flutes among the team. I gave the nod to the headwaiter, and within minutes there were men in white shirts and ties walking through the factory lines with trays of champagne.
“And for God’s sake don’t spill any on the equipment!” I shouted. I glanced behind me to see Jules, who was still sitting at her desk looking at her computer as if her life depended on it. She was finalizing the cost of our venture into Japan and the grim look on her face said what it always said.
“We’re growing too fast,” she muttered.
“There is no such thing!” I laughed. I wasn’t getting off her desk, either. I was king up here. Looking out over the vista of all I surveyed. I’d done this. Built this. It was mine, and Jules was exactly where she needed to be.
Propping me up so I could continue to make this happen.
“It’s not sustainable.”
“It doesn’t have to be. I have a board of advisors, not investors. I don’t owe them steady growth year after year. I only report to me and Ilikewhat we’re doing, Jules.”
I hopped off the desk and pulled her to her feet. “Dance with me.”
“There’s no music,” she said even as I pulled her into my arms.
“There is the sound of people being happy and drinking champagne. Let that be our music.”
“You’re such a goof,” she said, but still she danced with me.
My phone buzzed in my back pocket and I ignored it, unwilling to let Jules go and ruin my high with whatever disaster needed my attention.
There were only a few people who had my cell number. Jules, who was dancing with me, and Daniel. If he was calling, then it was a definitely something he perceived to be a disaster.
Jules and I were staying in Nebraska for just the night then heading back to headquarters tomorrow. Whatever Daniel needed from me could wait until then.
Now was the time for celebration.
“You know what we need?” I said as the idea occurred to me. “A vacation. When was the last time we did something fun?”
I thought of Paris, but in the end, that hadn’t been fun. In the end, I’d driven her directly into the arms of CJ. Thank God that had ended. Although to this day, she wouldn’t tell me why.
“We should go to Fiji,” I said before she could answer.
“Why?”
There were times that Jules could be too practical for own good. “Why does anyone go to Fiji? It’s exotic. I’ll charter a yacht—fuck, I’ll buy a yacht! We’ll bake in the sun, swim with the sharks, all the cool, rich stuff. Come on, it will be fun.”
“A vacation.” She chewed her bottom lip like I’d just suggested she should have elective surgery instead. “Who would go on this vacation?”
Who would go on it? “Uh, duh. You. Me. Did you want to invite your family? My family? Oh please say no. Can you imagine Fiji with my parents? We could invite Daniel and Kaylee. Lord knows he needs a vacation.”
“They’re not going to want to take the baby all the way to Fiji,” Jules pointed out.
“Why not? Little Jasmine would love Fiji. We’ll just make sure we keep her away from the sharks, so she doesn’t try to snack on them.” I’d met Jas several times and I’d quickly come to the conclusion she was both fearless and a little frightening.
“Ethan, you’re just excited because of Japan.”
“I am, but that doesn’t mean I can’t want a vacation, too. I mean, what’s the point of all this work if we don’t take time to relax and enjoy everything we’ve earned?”
“You’veearned. It’s your company. Your dream. You just pay me to make sure you’re actually making money.”
“And I am, right? I’ve got, like, almost all of it in the world, so let’s go to Fiji!”
