Not every floor of the Goldstone Building is strictly meant for business. In fact, most of the ground floor is open to the public, including tonight’s room, the large ‘atrium’ that can, and has been, rented out for large gatherings.

But tonight, it’s strictly for Goldstone purposes, and it’s a perfect setup, fun for almost everyone.

Except Bill Radcliffe.

“Thomas?”

I turn around, once again floored at the sight before me. Since we said we love each other again, Mia and I have not spent a night together, ironically. We’ve shared time during our days and have spent hours over long talks, but that’s it. Step by step, bit by bit, better for her, better with her.

The physical piece of it will factor back in soon, and we can hopefully stop our torturous nights of phone calls where we invariably end up hanging up with fantasies roaring in my mind and my cock hard throughout the next two hours.

It’s not enough, not nearly, but it’s giving us time, and I’ve got a long and rather creative to-do list of ideas once she gives me the go-ahead. I’m hoping that’s tonight, but if not, I’ll wait as long as she wants to. Because she’s already earned her way back into my good graces, my healing heart, and my soothed soul.

I’m not sure she ever really left, even when I was so hurt and angry, but either way, she owns me completely now. I just want to own her heart again too.

I walk over to her, taking her hand and twirling her around so I can get a better look. Her black gown is satin, hugging her curves sexily, and it’s apparently a Vladimir Karakov original. Not bad for a man who says he’s just a tailor who specializes in menswear.

But the piece de resistance is the under-layer of the skirt that flashes Barbie pink with her every step and matches the two inches of pink she’s added to the bottom of her hair.

“You are stunning. I’m going to be the luckiest man in the room tonight.”

She presses her free hand down her dress, smoothing invisible wrinkles, grinning. “Pshh, you’re going to be the luckiest man in Roseboro tonight. Not because I can fill out a dress, though Damien and Papa really outdid themselves, but because this mess is finally going to all be over.”

I don’t want to talk about that right now. I’m a little nervous that everything won’t play out as intended, especially with John still handling some last-minute details. I’d wanted to be there for that, but Stan said he’d handle it and John had agreed.

You’d fuck it up. You always do.

“It's going to be fine,” I tell myself and Mia. “But let’s not jinx it. Shall we?” I offer my arm, and we take the elevator down.

The party’s in full swing already, our fashionably late entrance having just the right firework that I’d intended. People clap lightly, and I wave as Mia holds onto my arm for dear life, even though she’s surrounded by friends and coworkers.

Or maybe that’s why. It’s easier to fake it when you just have strangers around you. It makes it different from the charity event in Portland, and besides, there’s an air of something potent in the room tonight.

We work our way through the space, small talk here and even a few photos there. Apparently, some of the workers actually do like me . . . or more likely, they realize Mia’s stunning.

Kerry signals me, and I make my way to the stage, taking the microphone the DJ hands me.

“Excuse me, if I could have everyone’s attention, please?”

Conversation dies down as eyes turn my way. I meet Mia’s eyes, gaining the strength I need to say the things I’m about to say.

She blows me a kiss and offers a thumbs-up with a big grin.

“First, I want to say thank you for coming tonight. I know it’s been a rough couple of weeks for us, both Goldstone the company and Goldstone the man,” I say, pointing over the crowd and then to myself. “But I appreciate your taking the time to come tonight.”

There’s a polite applause, more out of expectation than enthusiasm, which is understandable. Nobody likes an executive who gets up on the mic and makes it all about himself. Especially if it’s a pity party.

“I’ve been the cause of a lot of concern and some media coverage, and you’ve paid the price for that along with me. And for that, I’m sorry. I said it in the press conference, but I’m saying it again. Profits don’t mean much when they don’t consider the people who produce them. And the simple fact is, I’ve spent too much time over the past six years thinking I had to put all of you on my back to drag this company up the hill. But the reality is, you are the hill, and I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. The giants who work on every floor, every day, busting your ass and not getting credit beyond a quarterly bonus from time to time.”

I can see heads nodding and some surprise that I’m being so harsh about how I’ve run the company, but it’s the truth. And I can see that now.

“But that’s going to change. It’s already changing, and I hope that you can feel that, in the building, in your departments, and in your dealings with me. We have some changes still to make, but it’s going to be a new era at Goldstone, starting fresh tonight. I’m still going to ask each of you to give your best, but I’m also going to give you my best. And if I don’t, I’m sure there’s a smart Russian woman who will put me in my place.”

I wink at Mia and the crowd laughs. “I watched a cartoon this week,” I start.

Mia calls out loudly, “It’s not a cartoon! It’s anime!”

I grin and conspiratorially tell the audience, “I like to tease her, but I know the difference. God help me, I know the difference between a cartoon and an anime.” Everyone laughs again as I look heavenward. “So I watched anime this week, and something resonated with me. It said, ‘Don’t ask for it, go out and earn it. Do that, and you’ll be rewarded.’ And that’s what I want to do, and what I want you to do. Let’s earn our way into making Goldstone the best it can be. We can reach that reward together. Thank you.”

The applause starts quietly, and I’m surprised as it grows organically. Leaving the podium, I make my way through the crowd to Mia and take her in my arms.

“How’d I do?”

She smiles, kissing my cheek. “You did excellent.”

More rounds of the room follow, and while everyone seems rather accepting of our relationship, especially considering the long weeks that have given time for the shock to wear off, there are still quite a few looky-loos. There are even some faces that let me know not everyone is pleased.

Before, I would’ve taken that challenge head-on, calling them out for daring to so much as have an opinion about who I keep company with. In fact, recalling one such board meeting, I cringe but then consider just how far I’ve come and decide the progress is worth celebrating.

Ironically, it’s Stan who approaches me as I think back to that meeting and then the one afterward in my office. He’d been correct in his advice, and I think I’ve followed it in a round-about, messy way.

“Thomas, if you’ll come with me. They want to run everything by you one last time.”

I nod and start to follow, bringing Mia with me. I need her with me every step of the way on this because I know how hard this is for her. Bill has been a great boss while she’s worked for him, and she’s told me how hurt she is that he’d do something like this. She’s a by-the-book, solve-the-puzzle type, and no matter which way you twist and turn this, Bill’s actions just don’t make sense. And that’s eating at her, slowly but surely.

This needs to be over, for her as much as for me.

But she pulls back. I turn, questioning, “Mia?”

She swallows thickly, keeping her voice low. “I know this is happening, and I want it to happen. This needs to be made right. But while you do your last check, I think I’ll go ask Bill to dance. One last time.”

I cup her jaw, looking in her eyes. “Are you sure? If you say the word, I’ll let it go. I have to fire him, but it doesn’t have to be this way.” I gesture to the full room around us.

She shakes her head and squares her shoulders. “No, this can’t be hidden in the shadows like he’s been doing. He needs to be called on the carpet, but not put on blast. And you need to show that you have the utmost control, of the company and yourself. This is where the fresh start begins, with you showing that you’re better now.”

I press my lips together and nod. “I’ll be right back.”

I walk out with Stan but glance back over my shoulder to see Mia smiling sadly as Bill sways her back and forth.

In the hallway, John is waiting for me with the city prosecutor and the police.

“Thomas, they feel like there’s enough to proceed with a criminal case if you want to press charges.”

I sigh, the moment suddenly real. I’m scared I’m going to lose it when I go back in there and see Bill’s face as the accusations fly. Especially if he’s confrontational.

You’re going to make an utter fool of yourself, just like always. You deserve his fucking with the company. You’re going to run it into the ground anyway. Might as well let him get a head start.

I shake my head, refusing to let my voice have the final say. I run a successful company, with the help of a great team. One team member needs to be removed for wrongful actions of his own doing. This is how I keep the company healthy. I will keep my cool.

The demon quiets, and I give John and Stan a look before nodding.

“Let’s do this.”

My entrance into the atrium ignites even more fireworks this time when uniformed officers are following me in. I head for Mia as every eye in the room watches. Her eyes meet mine, no doubt in them, and she steps to my side.

“Bill, these officers are here to arrest you.” My voice is steady, calm, belying none of my anger, none of my sadness.

One of the officers moves forward, taking Bill by the arm. “What? What the hell’s going on, Thomas?” he yells. “What are the charges?”

The silence from the crowd is shattered as whispers start. I can hear the soft murmurs of ‘What’s happening?’ and ‘The Ruthless Bastard strikes again.’ But I don’t let their words touch me, not now.

“We know you’ve been changing data, which in turn cost the company millions of dollars among the multiple projects you sabotaged,” I reply, making sure my voice carries through the entire atrium. “And we know you were the one who filmed the video and sold the lies that I’d physically hurt Mia.”

“I didn’t. I wouldn’t,” he argues, trying to pull away from the officer who clamps down even harder.

“Don’t resist or I’ll have to cuff you, Mr. Radcliffe,” he says quietly. “Don’t make me take down a fellow vet.”

Mia cries out, her emotions bursting through. “I know you did it! I’m the one who found the proof, Bill. I didn’t want to believe it at first. All the files you accessed, you were so careful but not careful enough. And the reporter gave you up. Was the ten thousand worth everything? How could you do that to me?”

Bill’s face is red, his breathing ragged. “I didn’t do anything to you. This bastard did! He’s the one who scared the shit out of you and hit you!”

“Don’t do that. He didn’t hit me and you know it,” Mia argues loudly.

Bill rolls his eyes, huffing. “Fine, I sold the video, but you have nothing on the data manipulation.”

His smug arrogance as he admits to selling the video sends a shockwave through the room. They know how much hell we all went through because of that—the protestors and media presence, the influx of phone calls, and lost stock margins. A lot of the people in this room own shares of Goldstone, and his actions have hurt everyone.

And with Mia and me both explaining repeatedly that, as crazy as it may sound, she really did run into a door, everyone believes the truth. That one of our own could do something so heinous and use Mia that way doesn’t sit right with any of them any better than it did with me.

John holds up his phone and Kerry rushes the microphone over. She’s good. I didn’t even know he was going to need that, but she’s on top of things, as always, anticipating everyone’s needs better than should be humanly possible. John holds the mic to the speaker on his phone and Bill’s voice fills the room.

“Really. We all do it to asshole bosses who deserve it. A little decaf here, a little fudged number there. It’s no biggie . . . we all do it in some way. One little slip as I’m typing, and oops, that four becomes a five.”

“How did you . . . that bitch!” Bill rages.

“Why?” Mia cries.

“Why not? I served this country for years! Saw shit that spoiled little brats like him would never understand! All I needed was a little fucking breathing room, a fucking break! Take your foot off my neck a bit, you know? Never once did he even give a shit whether I was okay.”

He sneers at me. “Not that you care, but I was fine. And ready to move back upstairs. And when I asked to transition back, you know what you said? Absolutely nothing. I emailed you, I left you messages, and you couldn’t even be bothered to respond. You trapped me and then left me there to die. Fuck you, Golden Boy!”

The officer hitches Bill up by his arm and starts forcibly leading him out of the room. At first, he’s frantically looking for help from others. “Guys, this is wrong. He’s the Ruthless Bastard, not me.”

But when no one moves to help him, he gets more agitated, exploding at the door just before the police take him out. He turns, yelling, wild-eyed and crazy, “This isn’t over!”

The threat hangs in the air, mixing with shock.

This is my moment to lead my people, to do better for them. I take the mic from John. “I’m really sorry you had to witness that tonight. And I will say that I probably have hurt many of you in the past six years. I can only say again that things will change. And I hope with a committed team of people who truly want Goldstone to succeed, we can move forward with the fresh start I spoke of earlier. Regardless of what I’ve done, Bill has been undermining our team for far too long, and I demand better. Not for me, but for you, the heart and backbone of Goldstone. Please enjoy the party tonight, celebrate the good things we’ve accomplished, and plan for the greater things we’re growing toward. Good night, everyone.”

I take Mia’s hand and together, we walk into the hall. John and Stan give a quick wrap-up with the city prosecutor, and then they leave as well, promising an update as soon as they have one. In a moment, it’s just the two of us.

“How’re you holding up, Mr. Goldstone?” Mia asks softly, her hand on my chest.

“Better than expected, Miss Karakova. Though I suspect you have something to do with that.” I hug her tightly, laying my cheek on the top of her head.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Mia whispers, and for a second, I think I imagined it, but when she pulls back and looks at me, I can see it in her eyes. Not just lust, but pride and love.

“Earned it?” I ask, cockiness creeping into my voice.

She laughs, tugging on my tie. “Fuck yeah, you earned it.”

I kiss her lips lightly, but the passion is already igniting beneath the surface. “Good, because you earned me back a long time ago. You’re a hard sell,” I tease.

She adopts her thick accent, humming. “Mother Russia is not easily amused, but I could be courted to your point of view.”

I sweep her into my arms and run for the elevator, not able to wait another moment to be inside her.