He turned quickly. “Is that what you think about me? My work?” The idea that Joey still harbored such negative feelings about his work integrity was like a punch to the gut.
Joey shook her head. “No, Cole. Not you… I mean, maybe I did to begin with. But I see that I had misjudged you. Maybe it’s not every company, but you can’t argue that there are others who care more about profit than they do about science or helping people.” She wasn’t backing down. “They jack up the cost of basic prescription medications until they bankrupt people simply for being born with a certain condition.”
He knew exactly what she was talking about. It was a disgusting process, one that President Walters had vowed to put an end to. “Why do you think I bought Placana? That jerk Lionel was charging insurance companies four grand a month for a drug that cost $4 to produce. And he was putting every bit of it into his own pocket.”
He hadn’t publicized it, and the sale would be announced in a week or two. It was a stupid business decision, but one that had given him immense satisfaction.
Joey paused. “I heard it was a possibility, but it’s true?”
He nodded. “Every person who is on Lovenidia will have their prescription costs cut by 90% next month. That particular drug will still be very profitable for ZiaTech, but it will not bankrupt another family just trying to take care of their kids. It’s one thing to cover the expenses of research and development. It’s another to intentionally price gouge people.”
Emotion flickered across Joey’s face, each one undecipherable. She sniffed, and he stepped closer, coming around his desk toward her. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head and brought her hands to her eyes, wiping away tears. “I’m okay. I just… I’m really glad you’re doing that.” Her words were tight, and he could see she was fighting back more tears.
He sat in the chair next to hers, his hand coming to rest on her knee. “Of course… I’m just glad I can do things like this. Most people are powerless against people and companies like that.”
“Yeah, it sucks.” Joey’s words were laced with laughter. It was nice to see her smiling through the tears, though it was mostly hidden from his view as she kept her eyes on the floor in front of them. She sniffed again and turned to him. Her eyes shimmered as they searched his. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Cole didn’t know what to say. One thing was certain. He’d buy a hundred scummy companies if it meant Joey would continue to look at him with the joy and approval and respect for him radiating on her face right now.
“What is it? Please tell me,” he pleaded, desperate to understand why this meant so much.
Joey swiped at a tear and shook her head. She took a deep breath and let it out with a shaky exhale. “It’s fine. I’m okay. Just caught me by surprise. It’s a good thing you’re doing.” She looked around the office. “Here, this. All of it.” She laid her hand on his where it still rested on her knee.
Cole had received accolades and admiration before. People who placed him and his mission on a pedestal, sometimes because they genuinely supported it and others because they thought boosting his ego would help them get what they wanted from him. Usually money.
He nodded. He turned her hand over in his, studying the interplay of their fingers. He moved his gaze to her face. Joey’s approval wasn’t empty or self-serving. She’d shown that she wouldn’t placate him with praise. She didn’t even want to accept the few perks of his lifestyle he had tried to offer.
He wiped the trace of a tear from her cheek with his hand, sliding his thumb across the soft curve of her cheek. His hand trailed down, slipping behind her neck and resting under her ear. She tipped her head, gently allowing him access.
He’d relived the kiss in his townhouse a hundred times since Saturday. Gone back and forth, telling himself that it was a fluke. Then deciding that he should march down to the fourth floor and declare his feelings before convincing himself that even if it was real, it would never work. She wouldn’t want him, and he couldn’t jeopardize this operation for something that wouldn’t last.
All those arguments warred within him, fighting for the top billing in his mind as he leaned in to kiss her.
The moment his lips touched hers though, the arguments all disappeared, fading into the fog as the overwhelming sensation of kissing her took center stage.
* * *
Joey sighed, melting into the kiss. She leaned into Cole’s touch, letting everything inside that had been just slightly ajar click into place, like the tumblers of a padlock. He was the thief, slowly wiggling his way beyond her defenses, one by one. And on the other side of that connection she’d found she trusted him. The way she trusted Flint. The way she’d trusted others and ended up hurt.
Hearing that he was dismantling Placana and correcting the predatory medication pricing had disarmed her entirely. Lovenidia was the drug her sister had taken until they couldn’t afford it anymore. She’d died at just ten years old without Lovenidia to help her body guard against the impact of her disease.
It was a wrong she’d never been able to right. But Cole had, even without knowing the impact it would have on her. Cole had power now that she’d handed over. Willingly or not, she had given him power to hurt her. But she trusted that he wouldn’t.
Every doubt, every assumption she had, he’d quietly proven to be false.
She leaned into the kiss, unlike any other she’d experienced without any pretense left between them. Cole looked at her like she was the most incredible thing he’d ever seen. When he looked at her, she was beautiful and powerful and this man who somehow remained truly good, despite his wealth, power, and good looks… He wanted her. Broken and cynical and sometimes pushy. He wanted her.
Joey kissed him back, teasing his lips with her own and savoring the feel of his soft lips on hers and his raspy stubble brushing her cheek. Her fingers found his hair, and she buried them there.
The jarring ring of his phone interrupted them, and they sprang apart, like teenagers caught making out at the front door after curfew.
He frowned at the phone before answering with it on speaker. “Flint?”
“Is Joey with you?” He spoke quickly, and there was something in his tone. Worry?
“I’m here,” she said quickly, trying to reassure him. “What’s up?”