For some reason, my cubicle doesn’t feel like a prison anymore.

Probably because I know I have a corner office waiting for me not ten minutes away. Aaron did some amazing work over this last week getting the place in order, and it actually looks like a real business.

I have to keep reminding myself that it is a real business. Even if I have to keep pretending like I work at this place.

I finger the card in my pocket. I risk taking it out for the hundredth time today. Riley Hollins, Chief Technology Officer. The Solarhenge logo just below it. It’s a really nice card, an absolutely beautiful card. Aaron had them made almost immediately, right after hiring a graphic designer to put together our company’s look.

I hear footsteps on the carpet behind me and I glance over my shoulder. It’s Taylor, one of the engineers. He gives me a little nod and a wink, and I smile back at him as he continues on his way. He doesn’t need to say anything to me, not really.

Because today’s the day that we walk out of this shithole.

I’m practically grinning all afternoon. I can just picture the look on Mitchell’s face as eight of his engineers submit their letters of resignation all at the same time. They’re going to go ballistic, but we had to do it this way.

If we tried to go the more traditional route of everyone giving notice, they would have done whatever they could to keep their guys. Aaron and I need every single competent engineer we can get right now, and we can’t afford to risk Sunrise offering some stupid amount of bonus money to keep them around. This is definitely less ethical, but screw ethical. I’m done being ethical or worrying about what’s right.

I’m finally giving in. I’m finally trusting Aaron, giving myself over to him completely, and it feels… strangely good. I’ve never been the kind of girl to let a man tell her what to do, but I actually like that I don’t have to worry about what to do next with Aaron. This whole company is slowly coming together because of him, and all I need to do is focus on getting the product fully designed, built, and tested in our timeframe. That’s all I’ve been wanting to do anyway, he’s just giving me the means to focus exclusively on what I’m really good at.

It’s a miracle. Somehow this whole thing is coming together, and it’s a total miracle. I put my hand on my stomach, leaning back in my chair and looking up at the ceiling.

The chances that I’d run into Aaron again after so many years, let alone sleep with him, let alone get pregnant by him, are all pretty astronomically teeny tiny. I hate thinking in these terms, but this baby really is a miracle. I shouldn’t be able to conceive, let alone so easily, and yet here we are.

And all I’ve been thinking about is myself this whole time. I’ve been so selfish, so stuck up my own ass. I’ve been unable to see Aaron for what he really is. I have this prejudice against him, angry at the boy he used to be and angry at the idea of what he is now. I thought he was just another selfish sleazy salesman, and part of him is that and more. But he’s also handsome, intelligent, funny, giving, and he’s willing to sacrifice to give me whatever I want.

That’s the real miracle here, that I found someone who will work hard to make my dream come true. And to top it all off, he’s the father of my child.

I’ve been so selfish, but I’m starting to come around. The idea of keeping my baby doesn’t terrify me, not anymore. Not since I realized that Aaron’s going to be around to help me raise him no matter what happens.

I’m antsy. I can’t sit still. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m about to walk out on this job, or if it’s because I’m about to walk toward a future with Aaron that I’m completely terrified of.

I check my watch. Ten minutes until my meeting with Mitchell, which means ten minutes until all this shit hits the fan. The paperwork to hand the rights for my design back to me has already been drawn up and signed earlier this week, and I made sure that the lawyer recommended to us by Steve received a copy of the papers this morning. Now all I have to do is go to this meeting, and it’s all over.

I’m a nervous wreck as I walk down the hall. Every step is like a bomb going off, despite the way the carpet and all the cubicles tend to muffle sound. I feel like everyone’s staring at me, although only a few guys actually know what I’m about to go do, and they’re all gathering in the break room right now. Aaron should have given in his resignation letter already, so Mitchell’s going to be in something of a shit mood.

I’m a bundle of nerves as I approach Mitchell’s secretary. She’s a nice woman, older than him by a few years, but even she intimidates me right now. She smiles as I nervously sidle up to her desk.

“He’s expecting you,” she says. “Go right on in.”

“Thanks.” I slide past, hoping she doesn’t notice the folder I’m holding. I have this irrational belief that people can see through it and read all the letters of resignation I have tucked inside.

Mitchell looks up from his laptop briefly as I step into his office. “Come in, take a seat,” he says, distracted by something. “I’ll be with you in just a second.”

I sit down, shifting my weight in the uncomfortable chair. He’s frowning as he finishes typing and clicks a few times. I assume he just tossed off an email, probably complaining about how Aaron just left him high and dry.

“So, glad you could stop by,” he says, turning to me and forcing a smile. “Did you hear about Aaron?”

I wince a little. Of course he opens with that. “I heard,” I admit. No use in lying to him now.

He nods a little. “Guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Talented people are always getting poached. Annoying, but it’s the cost of doing business.”

“Sure. Definitely the cost of doing business.” He seems less stressed about this than I thought he’d be, which is a good sign. I start to feel a glimmer of hope as he smiles at me, a little bit disarming and calm.

“Okay, anyway, you’re here to talk about you, not Aaron. Did you get the design stuff all squared away?”

“I did,” I say. “Everything is signed and official.”

“Perfect. Listen, I hope you understand that this isn’t personal. Your designs are amazing, fantastic really, they’re the reason we hired you in the first place. It’s just this pressure from the board to turn a profit as quickly as possible with this new round of updates means we can’t incorporate the vast majority of your ideas.” He clears his throat and fidgets with his tie. “Maybe after this round of panels is through in a couple years, we can come back to them.”

That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one. “I’m not sure that’s going to be possible.” I can feel my tension easing slightly, and I’m now no longer certain that I’m going to vomit. Now I’m just pretty sure.

He laughs a little. “Okay, maybe not all of it, but most of it. I mean, retooling a factory’s going to be really hard, but I think we can incorporate some of your other designs without a major overhaul.”

I look away from him. I don’t know why the hell I’m doing this. I’m so afraid, so irrationally afraid, and I want to run away.

But that’s what I’ve been doing this whole time, running away. I’m so good at running, pushing, pretending like the world isn’t the way that it is. I keep wanting to bend it to. My will, trying hard to make myself into something that I’m not instead of embracing what I am.

Instead of embracing what I really want.

I place the folder down on Mitchell’s desk. “I’m sorry, Mitchell. These are the real reasons we won’t be using my designs at this company.”

He raises an eyebrow, still smiling, clearly not sure what’s happening. “More panel ideas?” he asks me. “You really are something, you know that, Riley? Impressive stuff, coming here with more designs.” He reaches for the folder like a greedy toddler. “Let me take a look here.”

“They’re not designs,” I say as he opens it up and skims the first page. His smile slowly fades away. “I’m sorry, Mitchell. That’s my letter of resignation, starting right now.”

He sighs, but to his credit, he doesn’t freak out. He keeps his face as straight as possible. “This is disappointing,” he says.

“I know.”

“It was my understanding that if we gave you back your designs, you wouldn’t be leaving.”

“I know,” I repeat. “But unfortunately, that isn’t the case.”

“We had an agreement.” His eyes meet mine and there’s a flash of anger. “I’m fairly sure you’re negating that agreement.”

“No, we didn’t,” I say. “There was nothing in writing about me staying here. The documents you and your legal team signed are now in the possession of my lawyer, and he assures me that I am free to do whatever I want with my own work now.”

“Your lawyer,” he says flatly.

“Please, look at the other letters.”

“Other letters?” He seems to realize for the first time that there is more than one piece of paper in the folder. He skims through them, face getting angrier and angrier. “What is this?” he demands.

“We’re leaving,” I say, standing up. “Effective immediately. I’m sorry to do this to you now, but like you said, it’s just business.”

He slams the folder on his desk. “You’re poaching half my fucking engineers!”

“A third,” I correct. “You’ll still be staffed enough to get your panels done.” I hesitate a second. “Although you’ll probably want to hire soon.”

“What the fuck.” He stands up as I back away from him. “Aaron put you up to this, didn’t he?”

That gets to me. I don’t know why, but it does. It’s like he’s suggesting that I couldn’t possibly have my own will or ideas or abilities and that it’s only Aaron that could pull something like this off. Maybe it was his idea, but it’s all based off of what I’ve done, and what I’m going to do. Aaron’s just giving me the chance to shine.

I’m taking that chance, and I’m making it all mine.

“Goodbye, Mitchell, and good luck.”

I turn and storm out of his office. “You fucking bit—” follows me into the hall but I slam the door before he gets the last bit out.

I know what he was going to say anyway.

His secretary gives me a startled look but I just grin at her. I nod and walk off, excitement pumping through my veins. I hurry to the break room where my engineers are waiting, each of them looking nervous, but excited at the same time.

“Hello, boys,” I say, grinning at the group. They’re a bunch of sexist nerds but that won’t matter. I’ll whip them into shape. “Ready to get to work?”

“Fuck, yeah,” one of them says and a few clap. I can feel their excitement as we walk out as a group, heading toward the exit in a mass of buzzing bodies. Mitchell and the lead engineer are in the hall, Mitchell yelling at the poor asshole. They both look over, Mitchell’s angry shouts strangled as we walk past them. I wink, not sure what makes me do it, and I can see Mitchell’s face turn a satisfying red.

We reach the stairs and burst through the door with a triumphant whoop. We trample down the steps, giddy now, giddy with the realization that this is really happening, we’re quitting a real job at a real company to start something new. These guys are risking just as much as I am, maybe even more, but they’re true believers, each and every one.

We push out into the lobby of the office park and stream into the glorious afternoon. The guys disperse, still chattering. The plan is to meet back at the new office and help set up. The first real day of work is tomorrow, although I suspect I’ll be working long through the night.

I spot Aaron standing off to the side, a grin on his face as we head toward the lot. I slow down and approach him, the other guys yelling greetings as Aaron nods at them.

“It’s done,” I say.

“How’d he take it?”

“Not well. He was losing his shit on Harold.”

“Poor guy.” Aaron doesn’t sound like he means it. “How are you?”

“Excited,” I say immediately. “I was terrified but now… I’m excited.”

He steps closer to me and I’m acutely aware that people can see us. It’s probably a bad idea, but right now, I’m embracing bad ideas if they’re what I really want.

And I really want this.

I reach up to him, touch his surprisingly smooth cheek, and pull him toward me. He’s smiling when he kisses me, his smell and taste flooding my senses. He grabs my hips, pulling me closer, pulling me tight to his body.

“We’re doing this,” he says softly.

“I know. It’s really real.”

“It’s real,” he agrees. “I love you, you know that? I fell in love with you a while back.”

“I know.” I grin at him. “I love you, too.”

The grin on his face makes my heart swell and breaks it at the same time. He wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but now I said it.

He kisses me again. We have a lot to learn, a lot to worry about, and a baby on the way, but none of that matters to me right now.

All I have, all I need, is right here. It’s Aaron, the only person to push me past my limits and to make me strive for even more. He’s the man that I need, the one that can take care of me even when I don’t know I want it. He’s the father of my child, the mastermind behind my company, the man that’s going to lift me up higher than I ever thought possible.

I love him, I love him so much, it actually starts to hurt. We break off our kiss and he squeezes my hand.

“Ready?” he asks me. “We have a company to go run.”

“I’m ready,” I respond, feeling more confident than I ever have. “Let’s go make history.”

We walk together, hand in hand, and I’m ready to face whatever’s out there.