by S J Abbott
“Aaron, she has leverage. It isn’t unfounded. To be honest, I think what she’s asking would work out well for you all. Bella won’t get out of jail even if you drop the charges. The police will just file them on their own,” Shannon responded.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to Gideon. He nodded. “She’s not completely wrong.”
Shannon glared at him.
Gideon winked at her before turning back to his partners. “Lily tricked me. She and Kayla were able to copy the plans for that new line that we were wanting to work with Eric on. She’s threatening to claim ownership of the idea if we don’t comply.”
Seth and Aaron both were turning so many shades of red that they’d begun to look purple.
“Gideon, what the fuck!?”
Gideon almost fell over hearing that word come out of Seth’s mouth so strongly.
“Look. I get that you’re upset. The thing is that we have her. We have them all.”
Aaron shook his head. “Gideon, you can’t be serious. This is isn’t like the rest of the shit that you’ve gotten us into and said was fine.”
“Dick,” Gideon said pointedly before he continued. “Maybe not, but it IS fine.”
Seth raged. “How? Stop with the fucking games.”
Gideon rolled his eyes at Seth’s childish antics. “Get over yourself, drama queen. It’s all good because I already filed all the paperwork to patent the design. There isn’t shit that she can do. Actually, we have the upper hand.”
Amanda actually laughed. The sound cut through the room like a rubber band.
“Why would you file for the patent without telling us?” Aaron asked.
Gideon turned his back to his partners. “Honestly, it was a whim thing. Then I was in Vegas, and then shit hit the fan. I just haven’t had a chance.”
The air in the room didn’t get any lighter with his confession. His partners were still angry with him. He knew he’d done the right thing though. They usually came around to his thinking, but sometimes it took some convincing. “Look, I know you’re pissed, but can’t we all agree that this is a good thing? Lily has given us all we need to wrap this up. The only thing I see worth debating is do we absorb Lily and Oak?”
The room was silent. Gideon knew everyone was holding their breath, waiting for Aaron and Seth to say something. He already knew what they’d each say, however, so he wasn’t worried. Aaron was too caring to put Lily and Oak under and destroy the lives of all that worked for them, and Seth had too big a head for business to let a huge opportunity like that pass by.
He watched as the two exchanged glances and nods, and then they turned on him. “This doesn’t mean we’re not still pissed at you.”
Gideon laughed. “You won’t be for long.”
Seth shook his head. “Amanda, please contact Peterson, Cahill, and Young, and let them know that we’d like to settle the case and absorb Lily and Oak.”
The room erupted. Everyone was smiling and laughing … except for Gideon. He was staring at Shannon. She’d helped him through every step of this process, been there for him even when he didn’t deserve her to be. He made his way over to where she was sitting and kneeled down before her chair.
“Thank you.”
Shannon’s eyes were bright with laughter at their shared victory, but when she smiled it seemed to be solely for him. “For what?”
He was lost. He’d been trying not to be. He’d even kept thinking that he could be who he’d always been, but he knew better now. He would never be the same. “I keep thinking that I can be who I’ve always been and still occasionally be with you. But I know now that that’s impossible, because you’ve changed me.” Shannon looked horrified. Gideon shook his head. “No, that isn’t right. You haven’t changed me; being with you has changed me. It’s made me want to be better. Be different.” Gideon watched how Shannon reacted to his words, making sure he wasn’t blundering the whole thing again. He felt like an imbecile. Here he was, smooth, slick Gideon Rees. He could have any female he wanted, anything he wanted, whenever he wanted it just by asking for it … yet here he was, stumbling over his words. It was pathetic.
Gideon could feel eyes all over his body. “I guess what I’m trying to say, though very poorly, is will you give me a chance to be better?”
Shannon’s eyes went from bright to damp. She reached for Gideon’s hands, and once they’d connected she nodded.
Epilogue
Shannon twirled in the mirror. She loved the deep purple dress she and Julie had found early that week in the city. They’d spent the day shopping while the guys had dealt with the paperwork wrapping up the deal with Lily and Oak.
Shannon was thrilled with the way everything had worked out. Genesis Inc. would absorb Lily and Oak, and it would become two umbrella companies: one that specialized in female-centric products, and the other that would move forward with Eric and the movie industry.
The only people that didn’t seem happy were Lily, Kayla and Justin. Once they found out they didn’t have any leverage, they kind of fell apart. Kayla, of course, was the most furious. She’d had no idea that Lily was working with her half-brother behind her back. She lost her business partner and life partner in one swoop. To her surprise, as well as Shannon’s, the guys had offered for Kayla to stay on and run the Oak umbrella of the company. It had taken a few days for the shock to wear off before she called and accepted.
Shannon spun one more time, watching the fabric change with the waves the air was creating. They were all going out to dinner that evening to celebrate. Aaron and Julie, Seth and Emma, she and Gideon … and they’d even managed to convince Amanda and Kayla to join them.
Shannon’s cellphone chimed. It was the new company driver, Stu, letting her know that he was outside waiting for her. She responded that she was on her way, and after one last glance in the mirror she bolted out the door.
Shannon stepped out her front door and froze. Gideon was standing beside the sleek black car, holding the door open for her. Shannon hadn’t been expecting him to be there with Stu. She thought they were meeting at the restaurant.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were stuck at work and were meeting me later.”
Gideon shrugged as he helped her into the car. “I wiggled my way out.”
Shannon laughed at him as he got in behind her and shut the door. It barely clicked before the car accelerated and they were off into traffic. “So tell me about this restaurant. I’ve never been,” Shannon asked him.
Gideon took her hand and used it to pull her close. He kissed her softly and whispered against her lips. “You’ll see when we get there.”
The rest of the drive went by in a blur. Shannon couldn’t resist him. He had been so amazing through all the drama. He’d kept his head and followed his instincts. She was really proud of him.
They arrived at Walker’s where everyone else was already seated at the table, which was large and took up eighty percent of the room it was in. Gideon took her hand as they followed the host to the entrance of the room. Gideon pulled her back as she attempted to advance towards one of the two empty seats. “Just a second,” he told her as he dropped her hand gently and fished around in his jacket.
Gideon pulled a jewelry box from his coat, and Shannon lost her breath as he bent down onto one knee. Gideon opened the box and revealed the most beautiful bracelet that Shannon had ever seen. “Shannon. I know that we started as an office fling, something fun and crazy. And though I don’t want to lose that, I finally can admit that I can’t lose you. I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?”
Shannon laughed but had tears falling down her cheeks. She’d vowed never to let anyone close. She was a cut and run girl, the one that no one took home to mom. But she wasn’t that girl anymore. Gideon had changed her just as much as he’d told her she had changed him. She’d unwillingly let herself fall for this man. She nodded. “Yes, I will. I love you too.”
About the Author
SJ Abbott is the spicy a
lter ego of Sara Jolene who has been writing sweet historical and contemporary novels and novellas for more than 2 years now. Writing under SJ Abbott is to distinguish between genres.
Sara Jolene/ SJ Abbott lives in upstate New York with her husband, two children, and two chocolate labs. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with all things relevant to Irish folklore, Gilmore Girls, and 16th century Britain. Oh, and in her spare time can be found either in a kayak or anywhere in the woods. She holds BA degrees in both English and history, has a profound love of nature, and a deep passion for books. Writing allows her to weave her interests and experiences into new worlds, and she is excited to share those stories with her readers.
www.sarajolene.com
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