“You swore that no one would know.”
“Who knows?” I ask, looking out my office windows behind her to see that most of the employees on this floor are looking at us. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. I can’t do this, Knox. I quit.”
“No,” I say as the first tears start to fall from her eyes.
“You can’t stop me,” she says.
“Chloe, wait. I’ll fix this. Tell me what to do and I’ll fix this.”
“You can’t,” she hiccups and my hands flex.
“Yes, I can. What I can’t do is lose you.”
She just shakes her head, her hands wrapping around her waist as she turns to the door. She opens it and I panic.
“I’ll close the business.”
“What?” she asks, spinning around and I can see that I have everyone’s attention with that.
“I love you, Chloe. I want to marry you. I want a life with you. If I have to close up shop to have you, then I will gladly do it.”
People start to shoot panicked looks around the office behind her, but Chloe just stares at me.
“I’ll lay everyone off. We can go back to Bora Bora or wherever you want to live. We’ll be happy.”
“No,” she says, her eyes still wide, and I wonder which part she is saying no to. “You can’t lay everyone off.”
“You are all that I need, beautiful. I just need you to be happy, so yes, I can. I’ll make sure that they get interviews elsewhere and I’ll give them all good reviews.”
Her eyes well with a new wave of tears and I take a step closer to her.
“I love you too, but I can’t let you fire all of these people. I can find a new job.”
“No, I need to be close to you.”
“I’ll get over the looks and whispers then. You can’t fire everyone.”
The relief from outside the door is palpable and I pull Chloe against me.
“Say that you love me again,” I whisper against her lips and she smiles.
“I love you, Knox. So much. I’m sorry that I got scared.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be there every time you get worried in the future.”
She nods, happy tears spilling from her eyes, and I kiss her.
“Love you, Chloe.”
A few cheers break out behind us, and I roll my eyes. I kick the door closed, my mouth sealing over hers once again.
EIGHT
Chloe
I don’t knowwhat I expected Knox’s house to be, but this wasn’t it. It’s almost… homey. Maybe I shouldn’t be so shocked though because Knox has always seemed down to earth and humble. He’s made me feel at ease from the very first moment so why shouldn’t his home reflect that.