42. Ember

42

EMBER

T he silence stretched so long I thought I might burst. Finally, Davenport cleared his throat. In no apparent hurry, the old man took the stage and waited for me to step aside so he could speak into the microphone. He shot me a quick look and a small smile, then faced the room and spoke.

"Miss Hartwell makes some excellent points about trust and change," he said. "And it took a great deal of courage to do what she did tonight. People do make mistakes. It’s part of being human, and one doesn’t reach my age without learning that lesson hundreds of times over. But Ember did tonight what few are willing to do. She owned her mistakes in front of all of us, even if it meant costing her everything. That is the sort of person I trust.”

“Thank you,” I said softly.

Davenport gave me a small nod, then continued. “I am also deeply troubled by what I’ve learned tonight.”

Cole was already rising, probably ready to spin some explanation, but Davenport silenced him with a look.

"Mr. Northman, you may leave. Your services will not be required."

The satisfaction of watching Cole storm out, face purple with rage, was almost worth everything else. Almost. A few of his employees awkwardly stood and filed out after him. The rest, I assumed, stayed to see how this drama was going to play out.

"As for Foster Real Estate," Davenport continued, "I find myself in an unusual position. On one hand, the original intent to exploit this legal loophole is vile and cruel."

In their previous interactions, I knew Orion would have jumped in now to defend himself or try to spin things in a way to alleviate Davenport’s anger. Tonight, though, Orion just sat patiently, eyes up on the old man and mouth shut.

Davenport’s lips twitched, as if he was noticing the same thing. “While disturbing, Miss Hartwell claims you have changed course completely, young man. That you now seek to protect my factories rather than destroy them? Is this true?”

"Yes," Orion said simply. "Though I don't expect that to excuse my original intentions."

"No," Davenport agreed. "But it does show something equally important—the capacity for growth.”

He lifted the proposal I'd drafted. "This is an innovative solution. One that would preserve these buildings while allowing for necessary modernization. But it would require someone capable of balancing business acumen with genuine care for legacy."

My heart was hammering so hard I could barely breathe.

"Mr. Foster," Davenport said. "Would you be willing to take on such a responsibility? To prove that your change of heart is genuine?"

"Yes, Sir. But..." Orion's eyes found mine. "Only if Miss Hartwell agrees to lead the project. This has been completely her doing, and she deserves the honor of taking charge of it."

A wave of whispers swept the room. I wished I had the podium to hold so I could keep from swaying.

"Well?" Davenport asked, turning to me with twinkling eyes. "Would you be willing to keep my factories safe? To ensure both their profitability and their legacy?"

"I—" My voice cracked. I swallowed and tried again. "Yes. Of course, yes."

"Then it's settled." Davenport smiled, really smiled, for the first time all evening. "Foster Real Estate will manage the properties under the conditions outlined in this proposal. The community board will be established immediately."

The room erupted in applause—mostly from the Foster Real Estate side, though even some Northman Group employees joined in. I barely heard it. I was too focused on Orion, who was making his way toward the stage with purpose in his stride.

He took the steps two at a time, reached for my hand, and before I could process what was happening, he was kissing me in front of everyone.

The applause got louder. I thought I heard Moira shout something surprisingly lewd.

When Orion finally pulled back, he was smiling—really smiling, the kind that reached his eyes and made those dimples appear.

"I have another hate note for you," he murmured, just for me. “This one isn’t blank. I actually wrote it last night…”

"Oh?"

He pulled out a card, and I recognized the familiar logo. But instead of hate, the words made my heart stop. Somehow, he had the whole hate notes logo repurposed so it read “love notes”.

He slid past me and took the microphone from the podium in his hand. He looked at me, but spoke into the mic so everyone could hear.

Dear Miss Hartwell,

I love you.

Orion

"I love you too," I whispered. “That note must have taken you ages to write.”

“Getting the art commissioned took two days,” he said, smirking. “Then there was a mishap with the printer, and I almost had to?—”

I grabbed his tie and pulled him down for another kiss.

Someone—probably Julian—shouted "Get a room!"

But for once in my life, I didn't care what anyone thought. I had Orion, I had a job I loved, and I had managed to fix the mess I'd made.

I may have started out looking for petty revenge, but somehow I had stumbled into something so much better.

“Hey,” I said softly as we pulled back from the kiss, hardly feeling the weight of so many eyes on us. “Does this mean we’re ready to… you know .”

A dangerous light flickered in Orion’s eyes. “You want to call me Daddy again?” he asked.

I laughed in surprise. “If you want? I meant… the other thing. The part we haven’t been doing.”

“Oh, right,” Orion said. “I’ll have to check my schedule, but I think I may be free tonight.”

I gave his chest a soft punch, but it probably hurt my hand more than it hurt him. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll free up a spot for me. Tonight.”

“Daniel,” Orion called. “Is my schedule clear tonight?”

There were confused looks in the crowd as everyone turned toward Daniel. He pulled out a phone, adjusted his glasses, and looked back up toward the stage. “Um, no, Sir. You have a meeting with a client. And then you?—”

“Clear it all,” Orion said easily. “I’m going to be busy.”

“Oh,” Daniel said, nodding. “Yes, Sir. What should I write in for tonight?”

“Just Ember,” Orion said, eyes shifting back to me. In that moment, I felt like the only woman in the world. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world.