It was hard to believe, Sam thought, that it had only been a few months since they'd met. She lay in Stone's arms, snuggled under covers while the cold, December rain fell outside. She felt so peaceful, like this was exactly where she was meant to be. Everything had been so crazy since the talks with Carnelian started, but it looked like things were really going to go her way. It absolutely, completely terrified her.

"Hey?" Stone asked softly, his fingers drawing circles on her arm. "What's wrong?"

Sam didn't realize her thoughts had caused her breathing to change, her muscles to stiffen slightly.

"You're too observant.” She remarked, shifting her position. "I was just thinking about how crazy it is that we've only known each other for a few months. I know I gave you a hard time in the beginning. I still feel like I’m groping around in the dark where relationship stuff is concerned, but you've been better for me than I ever could have imagined. I need to thank you for that."

She pressed up so she could brush her lips across his cheek.

"Thank you for not giving up on me.” She spoke quietly.

"Ah, Sweetheart.” He sighed. “I need you as much as I need the air I breathe. I'll never give up on you."

He stroked his fingers through her hair, and she let her eyes flutter shut, enjoying the gentleness, the intimacy of his touch.

"What else were you thinking about?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“I was thinking about the merger. Our shareholders vote is the day after tomorrow.” She pushed away from him so she could see his face. "Stone, I’m about to have everything I’ve worked for since I was sixteen years old. This will be the end of something that consumed my life. It's a scary thought, wondering what comes next. I have the Phoenix, but other than that, my future feels like this gaping hole that I’ll have to fill."

Stone rolled to his side and reached for her, gently cupping her face with his hand. “Samantha, I want to be your future. No matter what happens, I will be here for you, with you. I want to take care of you in every way that you'll let me. I want to be your everything, just like you're mine. No matter what happens, it will be ok." He leaned forward to kiss her forehead with excruciating tenderness.

Sam closed her eyes, wishing with every cell in her body that she could let go, let him be her everything.

“I promise, everything's going to be okay, Love." It was a fierce, whispered promise, one she held onto as she lay in his arms.

* * *

Wednesday night, Sam got the call she’d been waiting for.

“It’s done, Sam.”

Carla’s voice barely concealed her own excitement. “I just got off the phone with CGE’s lead council. They unanimously approved it. Sam, we got it all! We got every. single. thing. you ask for.”

Sam sank into the thick cushions of her sofa, closing her eyes, suppressing the urge to jump up and race through the apartment, shouting her triumph. She wished Stone were here to share this moment, but he’d flown out on urgent business that morning. In less than twenty-four hours, when her own shareholders voted, her life would be irrevocably changed.

“Sam, are you ok?”

Carla’s concern made her smile. “Yeah. I just can’t believe it. We’re done, Carla. We’re really and truly finished.”

Sam blinked back tears at the rush of emotion sweeping through her at the realization of it. “Thank you, friend.” Her voice was hoarse. She cleared it, started again. “I need to thank you, because you’ve stood by me since the day we met at Harvard. You’ve been there for me through everything, and now we’re at the end. I want you to stay on as my attorney for Phoenix, but this chapter is closing. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.”

“I love you, my friend.” Carla replied softly. “I love you. Don’t you ever forget it. I’ll be here for you always.” She cleared her throat. “Now, go get some sleep. Tomorrow’s the biggest day of your life.”

* * *

“I was supposed to get a good night’s rest.” Sam told Stone playfully the next morning.

He’d snuck into her bed sometime after the clock struck three. Hearing the news of Carnelian’s vote, he insisted on celebrating her victory.

“Stone?” She stared at him somberly, her eyes following his movements as he pushed up to look at her.

“Yes, Love?”

“Will you go away with me? After tonight, after whatever you planned for our date tomorrow. Will you take a trip, a vacation with me? Can you do that?”

She watched him look at the sheets, rub his hand across his neck, and thought, he’s not going to stay. He’s hesitating, procrastinating in his answer. Her heart sank, but she pasted a soft smile on her lips, forced it to go to her eyes, and brushed her lips against his with a thank you, when he said, “I’d love to go on a trip with you Sweetness”.

Sam didn’t know why he was lying, or what he was hiding, but she was more certain than ever that Stone Montgomery was hiding something.

* * *

“You seem distracted.” Nora observed when Sam strode into her office a few hours later. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” Sam answered honestly. “I don’t know, but there’s no time to think about it. The show starts in an hour. Are you ready, Nora?”

“Oh, I’m ready. Carla just called. She’ll be here within thirty-minutes.”

Sam smiled at her soon-to-be former assistant. “I’m so proud of you, Nora. It’s going to be strange not having you to run my life anymore.”

Nora grinned back at her. “I’m sure Mr. Montgomery will keep you right on track.”

“We’ll see.” Sam huffed.

* * *

Forty-five minutes later, the shareholders filed into their seats and the rest of the world ceased to exist as Samantha Covington made her final stand inside CSM’s giant conference room.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am excited to announce that the shareholders of Carnelian Global enterprises voted unanimously yesterday, in favor of merging our companies.”

Sam gave a meaningful glance to each person seated around the table. Olivia and Devon smiled approvingly, nodding along to her words. Bennet raised his water glass in salute. Andrea looked bored, like she’d rather be getting her hair done, or a facial, but Sam didn’t care where the woman wanted to be. As long as she voted properly, she could let her mind wander wherever she wanted to.

“There’s no reason to delay. All parties are present and accounted for, so let’s begin.” Sam looked to James and Norman, who had passed a note between each other.

“Gentlemen?” She addressed the pair. “Are you ready?”

Norman sneered maliciously, while James sat beside him wearing a satisfied smirk. "Oh, we’re ready, but I don’t think you are.”

Norman leaned back in his chair, reaching for his briefcase. “Were you aware, Ms. Covington, that your little boy-toy is the one you're giving this company to?”

"You're going to have to explain yourself." Sam answered, keeping her face a careful blank while her stomach knotted at his words.

"I'll let someone else do that." Norman pulled a magazine from his briefcase and slid it across the table to her.

There, staring up at her in full-color, a photograph.

She and Stone, hand-in-hand, leaving the ballet. Her heart stuck in her throat as the headline screamed at her.