Chapter Thirty-Six
Molly
We spent the night before watching old movies and eating everything in the house. It was almost like I’d found more than a lover in Alfie. I’d found a best friend and a partner. He opened up about some of the specifics with his mom and dad.
My heart hurt for most of the night, and I found myself lying awake until the early morning, just simply holding him. Everything about the future felt so open and alive again, like nothing could stop me. I belonged in Europe, and I belonged with Alfie. Funny how things worked out.
Finally, sometime around four that morning, sleep took me. I was less than pleasant when the alarm went off two hours later.
“Up, sleepyhead. We’re going to be late.” Alfie popped my naked ass.
“Just one more hour. Please.” I rolled over and pulled at the covers.
“Nope. Come on. Get up and get ready. I want to introduce you to everyone at the office this morning. I already spoke with Bill, and he’s excited to meet you. You know, him and Gary actually went to Uni together.”
“Gary?” I rolled over and realized that I still owed Gary a phone call. I wouldn’t be coming in for a chat over getting my job back. It was a little unnerving to think I was placing so much hope in mine and Alfie’s relationship, but it was the right thing to do.
“Yep. Get up. I made pancakes.” He ran his hand down my thigh and squeezed. “And if you don’t get up soon, I’m going to strip and get back in the bed with you. You are far too inviting lying there like that.”
“Yeah, cause that’s a great reason for me to get out of this warm bed that smells like the man I love.” I rolled over and chucked a pillow at him.
“Tease.” He walked out of the room, and I rolled on my side, closing my eyes and breathing in deeply. Every desire I had for my future seemed to be teetering on the next few months and how things went with me and Alfie.
Time to get up and make things happen.
I got up and put on my favorite suit before doing my hair and makeup. Alfie called for me down the hallway, and I walked out with a smile on my face.
“What? It takes a little while to get all done up.”
He glanced up from the bottom of the stairs, the look on his handsome face one I wanted to memorize. “Wow. You’re not going looking like that. Go put a bag on your head and get some sweat bottoms on.”
I laughed. “I look nice?” I turned around slowly as he whistled.
“I’m hard as a rock. Does that help?” He turned and walked toward the door. “I’m two hours late, by the way. Bring your beautiful self down here, and let’s go.”
“What about breakfast?” I jogged down the stairs as best I could in heels.
“Here you go, madam.” An older gentleman walked out of the kitchen with a to-go plate in his hands. “I put a cup of butter and syrup in there for you.”
“You must be William.” I extended my hand toward him. “All of the time that I had spent here, and we never had a chance to actually meet though I’ve seen you here and there.”
He glanced at Alfie and chuckled. “Master said to make ourselves rather ghost like unless we’re needed to perform a duty.”
“Well, please don’t do that in the future. I like getting to thank you for all you’re doing.” I shook his hand and smiled as his cheeks flushed pink.
“You flatter me, Miss Molly.”
“All right. You two stop.” Alfie opened the door and shook his head as I laughed and walked out into the brisk morning.
“What? I was just saying thank you.” I reached for his hand after he closed the door.
He lifted our intertwined fingers to his lips and kissed my hand. “A beautiful woman saying just about anything pleasant here will cause a man to trip over himself. Behave.”
I snorted. “Not happening.”
“Good.” He squeezed my hand and released it as we reached the car. “I’ll enjoy spanking you rightly then each night.”
“Can we call the spanking foreplay?” I moved to my side of the car and licked the side of my mouth.
“Such a bad girl, Molly. What am I going to do with you?”
I got into the car and buckled up before smiling over at him. “I can think of a few things.”
“Save them for the ride home. I’d hate to scare everyone in the office with our attraction.”
“Hmmm… Might do them some good to lighten up.”
“Oh, Lord. Here we go.”
I laughed as he pulled the car out of the garage and headed for London. I could fall in love with the countryside around us much like I had the man next to me.
*
“All right, so Kent and Bill are in charge of the marketing department?” I brushed my hands down the front of my suit as we rode the elevator up the large high rise in London.
“Yes, but the team is made up of about twenty people. I’ll have you work beside them for a few months, and then we’ll announce that you’re taking Kent’s place as assistant Marketing Director. I’ll push Kent up to the Director position.”
“I like that.” I reached out and squeezed his ass seeing that it was just the two of us in the elevator.
He gave me a cute look. “And I like that, but behave. Make sure you keep things at the office professional.”
“At least until we’re married?” I moved in front of him and straightened his tie, tugging on it a little as I leaned in and kissed his lips.
“Married? Are you thinking I’m going to make a proper English woman out of you, lass?” he smiled and leaned in for another kiss.
I denied him access by stepping back and lifting my eyebrow. “Are you thinking that you’re not?”
“Oh, I very much am.” He reached for me as the door opened.
I turned and walked out, shaking my ass a little more than I needed to, but it was all in good fun. The sound of him growling softly behind me had my smile widening. I loved him with a crazy passion inside of me that I couldn’t remember feeling before in my life.
“I’m going to check in with Sicily, my secretary. The marketing team sits at the end of the floor. First conference room on the left is the team meeting in five minutes. Wait for me, and I’ll introduce you to everyone, or go on in. It’s totally up to you.” He touched the small of my back as he moved past me and turned to the right, heading down a long hall.
I stood in the middle of the hallway locked in indecision. I’d been confident and sure of my abilities where marketing was concerned and had never really met someone in a business environment that I couldn’t make a friend out of.
Was he testing me? It almost seemed silly to think he was, but my lover and future husband wasn’t just that, but now my boss.
I chuckled as I walked down the hall and into the room. Everyone stopped chatting as I stepped inside. It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t.
I lifted my hand and smiled. “I’m Molly Anderson. The new marketer?”
“Molly!” An older man with a great smile and warm eyes got up and extended his hand. “I’m Bill, head of marketing. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
I went through the motions, shaking hands and talking shop a little until we made it to the backside of the room. Bill turned to face me and crossed his arms over his chest.
“I just have to tell you, I’m impressed by your marketing strategy for our latest release. It was a skyrocket project. You took the concept and worked the right targets markets to make something incredible happen. I’m beyond pleased to hear that Alfie has twisted your arm to join us.”
I smiled, feeling right at home with him and the rest of the team. Finally. A place to belong. “Thanks. I just used past experience and tried to put myself in the shoes of the target audience I thought would have the best reach across the other generations.”
“Well, it was brilliant.” He reached out and squeezed my arm. “Did Alfie get you set up with your office yet?”
Alfie’s voice behind me sent warmth flooding my chest. “Not yet, but we’ll have Sicily get Molly set up as soon as we’re done with the meeting.”
“Sounds good, boss.” Bill nodded at me. “Welcome, Molly. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to come find me.”
“Will do.” I turned to Alfie, quite surprised to see pride on his face. “What?”
He reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my year, the expression on his face loving. “I’m just proud of you.”
I stiffened as a few gazes turned toward us. “I thought you wanted us to keep things a secret.”
“No. I changed my mind.” He touched the side of my face. “I want everyone to know who you belong to.”
“You’re so possessive.” I rolled my eyes as he laughed.
We turned, and he wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders. “Morning, everyone. As you all now know, Molly Anderson will be joining our team. She’ll be training with all of you as to learn our company as fast as possible.” He glanced down at me, his eyes beautiful and stealing my heart. “She is responsible for the greatest launch we’ve had here, and I’m proud to have her join our team. I only wish my father could meet her.”
A few people agreed. I tried to pull myself together. Alfie was being so sweet, so sensitive. He turned back toward the crowd.
“Among other things, she’s my girlfriend, so if you see us standing a little too close, please…don’t fret. She’s my girl.” Everyone laughed, and I tried to stop the flood of embarrassment racing through me. “But she’s not getting special treatment for that purpose. She’s brilliant and has proved that in the face of gaining nothing from it.”
“Thank you,” I spoke toward him and turned to face everyone. “And thank you guys too. I’m looking forward to becoming part of the team. I’ve been looking for my place for a long time.”
Bill smiled. “Well, kiddo. Looks like you’ve found it. Welcome. We’re almost more glad that Alfie is dating than we are to have a marketing genius like you join us.”
Everyone laughed, and I turned to Alfie. “It’s like family around here?”
“Very much so. These people are in my business twenty-four seven.” He smiled as they chuckled. “And now they’ll be in yours.”
“Good.” I smiled. “I like being a part of a family.”
“Then grab a seat, and let’s get rolling. This family is about to take over the telephone market, and you’re going to help us do it.” Alfie nodded at me and moved to the front as I sat down beside Bill.
The next hour was filled with Alfie leading the team through our next big product and launch. He was in charge, dominating, and had everyone captivated.
Especially me….