“What? What’s so funny?” Victor asked.
I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. ” I think we’re going to have to change the sheets.”
Victor chuckled as he pulled out, rolling to the side. I rolled along with him, letting him take me out of the dampness on the comforter and into his arms. He spooned me, brushing the hair out of my face and placing soft kisses on my cheek. When our laughter subsided, a sweet calmness washed over me. Then I was mortified. I covered my face and hid.
“What’s wrong?” Victor pulled my hands down, uncovering my face, but I was so embarrassed. I had never squirted like that before.
“I am so sorry that happened. I made such a mess.” I wished I could hide from him, but the damage was done. He’d seen me lose all control.
“Hey, I think that was so fucking hot. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Got it?” He winked at me, and I relaxed back against his chest where I felt safe. Victor was such an incredible man, and I was exceptionally lucky to have him.
“Marry me?” he whispered before nipping at my ear.
I tried to turn in his arms to look up at him, but he held me fast. Of course, I would marry him; there was no doubt in my mind that he was what I wanted the rest of my life. I just wanted it to be for me, not because I was pregnant.
“I—”
“And I will make you the happiest woman alive.” His hands held me closer still. I could feel his heart pounding against my back. “I need you, Katherine. And I don't want to spend another day without you.”
“Yes.”
The tiniest of whispers was all it took to forever seal my future. I needed him too. I just needed to know he needed me the same way. Now that I was certain, there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.
23
VICTOR
The discussion about whether Andrew Barker would sign with us or not had come to a stalemate. Charles and Adam insisted I take over the negotiations, and this time Ivy wasn’t there to be my moral compass. I’d put Charles’s hostile accusations against Katherine to bed, warning him strictly that if he spoke ill of her again, he would be terminated.
Since that point he’d been on his best behavior. But today, I had a different viper breathing down my neck. The Zoom was going as smoothly as it could, though Barker still dropped hints about his preferences. When faced with the prospect of Harwin Puschel being the only competition—and I knew Puschel’s morals were not a match for Barker’s business—Barker had to have felt pressured. He willingly agreed to the last-minute call.
“So, as we were saying,” Charles mumbled, “the retainer of ten-thousand would cover our first ten hours of work, and at the rate of one-thousand an hour, billed monthly, we would be happy to discuss a term of three years up front.”
I was relaxed. I had no issues with the negotiation, and I knew Barker could afford it. But he could also find a firm that catered to even his most ridiculous personal desires—like staff who all matched his moral idea of maturity. After learning more about his business, I realized he served mostly very conservative businessmen and women, who also felt the same about where they invested their money, so it was no surprise he was playing hardball with us.
“I’ve seen some bad press, fellas. I’m just not certain.” Barker might back out, and that didn't bother me a bit. Though, if we secured the deal, it would allow us a bit more flexibility in the other sorts of clients we worked with, and we could have a buffer for growth. It wasn’t essential to be on his retainer, but it was a wise business move.
“Hey, Vic!” Our eyes popped up to see Katherine standing in the doorway holding a brown bag lunch. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were on call.” She shrank back, doorknob in hand and Charles stopped her.
“No, you’re fine! Come in.” He gestured wildly, and I scowled at him. With things on the line like this, it was not the time to bring personal matters into it.
Kat glanced at the wall where the project image of Andrew Barker revealed his curiosity. She shuffled hesitantly toward my desk, and I extended a hand to her, offering a peck on her cheek as she tucked herself behind me.
“Who’s this?” Barker’s grin was magic. I saw the vigor in his eyes and played into it.
“This is my fiancé.” I looped my arm around her waist, smiling into her eyes at the pronouncement. I could feel the heated stares on the back of my neck. I hadn’t even told Adam or Charles about it yet. But Katherine was nothing but glowing.
“Oh, so wonderful to meet you, Ms…?”
“Katherine! Katherine Scott.” She tore her eyes away from mine and looked up at the wall.
“Here,” I told her, pointing at the small camera mounted on the corner of my desk.
Andrew chuckled and waved. “So nice to meet you, Ms. Scott. I believe I recognize you. You play in the symphony, right? I saw your performance a few months ago. Beethoven, right?”
Katherine nodded and grinned. “Yes, that was me.”
“Just fantastic. So incredible.” Barker couldn’t have stopped the grin if he tried.