CHAPTER TWENTY

It's Monday morning again, but I'm grinning like it's Friday afternoon.

All because Wyn loves me.

We're currently at our weekly meeting, and Wyn is presenting her latest campaign results.

She's captivating—totally commanding the room, and we're all under her spell.

The slight parting of her lips as she pauses for effect stirs something dark and possessive inside of me.

My sawolkeh.

Ever since I first met Wyn, she's had this undeniable allure that my inner Boggart sense recognized.

Wyn calls to me because she's the other half of my soul that makes me a whole person.

I need her like I need air, and I'm sick of pretending day in and day out that we're nothing but two people working at the same company.

Always, I cloak myself in a veneer of professionalism when she's around.

But internally, my heart races, a drumbeat echoing my hidden love and devotion.

Wyn draws her speech to a conclusion, pulling me from my thoughts.

"So as you can see, by providing the client with different alternatives, we can reach different demographics with the product."

Everyone in the room claps, and I beam at her with pride.

"An excellent and comprehensive overview, Wyn, thank you. However, I'm curious about the scalability of these alternatives. How do you envision adapting them for larger markets without diluting the brand's unique appeal?"

She meets my gaze, a flicker of surprise in her gaze at my question.

It's been a while since I've addressed her like this, our verbal tug of war laid to rest weeks ago.

But sometimes I still burn to see the fire in her eyes.

"Well, scaling up does pose a challenge, but I believe by focusing on the core values of the brand and tailoring our approach to each market, we can maintain the essence while still broadening our reach."

"And?" I prompt, eager to hear more of her insights as well as the sound of her voice.

"We adapt," she says smoothly, her confidence unshaken. "We're as fluid as the market demands."

"Perfect. Alright, everyone, that's a wrap. Sounds like we have great things waiting for us this week."

As the room empties, I watch Wyn. She lingers, scribbling notes in her notebook.

"Wyn, a moment of your time?"

"Of course, Mr. Ettin."

She shoots me a naughty smirk, but I deserve no less having called her out in front of everybody.

"Meet me in my office, please."

With this, I stride out of the conference room and down the hall.

The click of Wyn's heels on the wooden floor makes my tarse harden, and I scowl.

Not now.

Once inside my office, I allow Wyn to pass and then shut the door before sitting down behind my desk.

Wyn sinks gracefully into one of the chairs opposite of me.

"What's on your mind?"

"Aside from wanting to spank your ass?"

She leans back, legs crossed with a shield of nonchalance that doesn't fool either of us.

"Yes, aside from that."

"In the near year you've been here, you've acquired Boggleworks nothing but net gains with your creative campaigns that have our competitors sweating through their suits."

"And?"

"Your strategies are bold and brilliant. Your team listens to you—respects you. Hell, they'd follow you into a digital apocalypse armed with nothing but hashtags and hope."

Wyn snorts. "A digital apocalypse? Now there's an image."

I lean forward, elbows digging into the mahogany top of my desk.

"Which is why I'm promoting you."

Her face goes blank.

"What?"

"I want you to become the new head liaison of marketing."

"But what about Sarah—what about us? You said we could only be together as long as you weren't my direct boss. Are you seriously making me choose between my job and you?!"

"No. Sarah will still be the CAO, and I won't be your direct boss…I'll be your partner."

"P-partner?"

"Co-CEOs. I think it has a nice ring to it, and then we can go public with our relationship."

Wyn doesn't say anything. The silence stretches on as tension thickens the air.

"Everyone will talk, Bash. They'll say it's because we're together—that it's nepotism!"

"Nepotism?"

The word tastes like copper in my mouth, heavy with implication.

My mate's lips press into a thin line, and I can see the storm brewing in her dark gaze.

"Nepotism?! Is it nepotism to give the woman I love and adore everything I have to offer?"

"It is when you consider I was your employee first!"

I balk, refusing to back down on this, but Wyn is a thousand times more stubborn than me.

"People will talk. The entire integrity of your company will be questioned!"

"So let them talk! Do you think this is the first business to be whispered about? I'm a Boggart. People already make assumptions, so who cares? All that matters to me is you and Jake."

"And what about Boggleworks—the business you built from the ground up to prove to everyone that Boggarts aren't just nightmares?"

"You being my partner doesn't stop that. In fact, you being my partner will only make my company better. So no, promoting you isn't nepotism, Wyn. This is about recognizing and rewarding the best—and you are, without a doubt, the best."

Her stare bores into mine, a tempest of emotions playing across her features.

The weight of her undeclared decision hangs between us because we both know if she says ‘yes', there's no turning back in our relationship.

This promotion isn't just about Wyn's job—it's about us being life partners.

And she knows it.

"Can I have until Friday to make a decision?"

"Wednesday," I barter.

She scowls, unswayed. "Thursday."

"Deal, but I have to know first thing in the morning."

"Ugh, fine!"

"And I still want to come over for dinner every night this week."

"You're awfully demanding for someone on a Monday morning."

"What can I say, the girl of my dreams admitted to loving me this past weekend. I feel like I'm on top of the world."

Wyn's shoulders slump.

"Yeah, love always feels good—at first. But what if what we have fizzles out? What then?"

"I know you're speaking from experience, but it's unfair to compare your past relationship with ours. I'm not your ex, and you're not the woman who was married to them. You promised me long ago that you would give us a fair chance—don't go back on your word now."

"But Bash, becoming your partner is something altogether different! It's mixing business and pleasure in a way that could end up disastrous for both of us!"

"You don't think I've already spoken to a lawyer to have it claused in that if we break up, you remain my partner? It's unforeseeable to me this will ever happen—Boggarts mate for life—but I will always protect you and Jake, and if I know you wouldn't agree unless there were protective measures in place."

"Fine, send me the paperwork with everything and let me think on it, but no pressuring me!"

I place a hand on my heart, scoffing.

"Pressure you? Wynona Archer, when have I ever pressured you?"

"Stop it! Now who's being a brat?"

"Guess it's your turn to spank me."

The speculative gleam that enters her gaze makes my tarse stand at attention.

"Do you want to go use the gender neutral bathroom with me?"

Wyn bursts into laughter.

"You're so naughty—and no. I have a call in ten minutes and have to go."

"Maybe later?"

She smirks.

"Maybe. And don't forget it's your night for dinner."

"Already on. My man Jake said he wants to try sushi, so I booked us a reservation at a hibachi grill."

"Oh, we've never been to one of those. They sound fun, though."

"It's a blast. They cook everything in front of you, and the chef does little tricks while swearing in Japanese."

"Delightful. I can't wait."

Wyn gets up to leave but stops with her hand on the doorknob.

"You know, being partner is pretty serious, Bash. Asking me to do that is like asking…"

She trails off, not finishing her sentence.

"Like asking you to stay forever?"

"Something like that," she mumbles.

"And what if I am—asking you to stay forever?"

Wyn glances over her shoulder, a small smile tugging her lips.

"Then I'd say I probably will need until Thursday afternoon to decide."

With this, she opens the door and glides out, not once looking back, and I groan.

Of course, she got the last word.