Page 109 of Together We Burn
While you will be missed here at Jones Enterprises, your retirement could not be more well-deserved.
You’re free to live a normal life, Stevie. Away from the assignments, the tasks, the lies I know consumed you. I could not be prouder of the woman you are; I am lucky to have had you by my side for the last fifteen years.
I’m sorry for everything my company has put you through over the past year. Without it, I guess you wouldn’t be with the man who stole your heart.
I love you, Stevie. Now it’s time you go on that holiday you’ve been talking about.
Best wishes,
Alexander Jones,
CEO, Jones Enterprises
“You’re firing me?” I asked, my voice thick as my eyes burned over the page again.
“Seriously?” Alex scoffed. “That’s what you took from that letter? No, you idiot. I’m retiring you.”
“What am I meant to do with retirement?” I asked, letting the letter fall to the table. “I’m twenty-eight; I can’t retire.”
“Okay, then you’re fired.” He pushed up from the table and buttoned his suit jacket. “But then I can’t offer you your retirement package, so…” He mockingly grimaced and tucked the chair neatly away while I could only sit and stare stupidly at him.
Alexander Jones, CEO of Jones Enterprises.
“Is this really what you want?” I asked, getting to my feet and moving to stand in front of him.
“I never wanted you to end up in this line of work,” he said, tucking a strand of my damp hair behind my ear.
“No, not that,” I said, taking his hand in mine and worrying my lip as I looked into his handsome face with concern. “This–the CEO position. I thought you liked being the IT guy?”
“I did. I do.” He sighed. “This is just something I have to do.” He straightened his shoulders and forced a smile. “But, hey, maybe I’ll make a good chief.”
“The fucking best chief,” I said, throwing my arms around his waist and clinging to him tight. His hug was short, and then he was out of the door.
Jake padded through, wearing his low-slung grey joggers and no shirt. I turned from him, hiding the tears that lined my eyes.
Fucking emotions.
Wrapping an arm around my front, he held me to him, picking up the letter from the table.
“What’s this?”
“My retirement letter,” I said, dropping my head to his chest and closing my eyes.
“Wow.” He chuckled, placing the letter back on the table and holding me with both arms. “So what now?”
“I guess we go pack the rest of my stuff to move in.”
Epilogue
Jake
Twoyearslater
“Stefany,” I yelled from our bedroom, pinching my middle finger in my other hand, hoping the pressure would stop it from bleeding before it could start. “Why the fuck is there a knife taped to the underside of our bed?”
This had been the norm ever since she moved into my apartment after I got shot by her mom. But now, where some women started to nest when they got further along in their pregnancy, my girl decided the copious weapons she’d already scattered around the apartment weren’t enough.
In the cereal cupboard–one of her guns.
