Page 16 of Yours, Finally

Two hours later, I had waited long enough. I wandered out of my office to sate my curiosity. Very friendly, just to check in about the party planning.

The first hint of Vi to reach me was her laughter. As soon as I turned into the VP offices section, her energy made itself known. It called me in as it had for a decade, and I resisted it like I had for just as long.

I had lost her smiles when I kissed her and we decided to move on. As much as I missed her open grins and warm, bright laughter, I didn't make attempts to reclaim them. Getting them second hand was usually my best option.

I stopped at Violeta's assistant's desk. "Hey, Stephanie. How are you doing today?"

"I'm well, thanks, Jake. How can I help you?"

I stole a quick glance into Vi's office. The privacy glass was in transparent mode, and Vi's beauty hit me unencumbered. Herhair, a lustrous, loose river down to her breasts, begged for my fingers to check just how soft it was. Her grin lit up her office.

My heart skipped a beat, and I forced my eyes back to Stephanie. At least Lina was in Vi's office, giving me more of a reason to stop by.

I smiled at Vi's assistant. "Please reach out to Ryan and find a time in my calendar for my meeting with Vi for the transition. She and I will also have to block a few dates for a family project."

"For sure. Does Ryan know what you and Vi are thinking for the personal project? So we can coordinate with both your schedules."

"I need to finalize a few decisions with Vi. We'll let you know."

Stephanie nodded and, with no more excuses to stall, I went into Vi's space.

"I have a vision," Vi told Lina in hushed tones. "The fortieth is the ruby anniversary, so decorations should fit with that— oh, hi, Jake."

"Hey. Hi, Lina. Are you here for Gabe?"

I bent down to give a kiss hello to Lina, cheek-to-cheek Chilean style again. As my best friend's girlfriend, it was a sign of our friendly closeness. It was the same reason why she and Gabe had said goodbye to Vi that way the other night. Once more, the fact that Vi and I didn't do it stood out, stark in its absence.

Lina nodded. "His meeting went long, so I'm killing time by bugging Vi instead."

"Nonsense!" Vi exclaimed. "You could never bug me. What kind of sister-in-law would that make me, ah, cuñadita? Besides, if the door is open and the glass is transparent, then you can be sure I'm available."

"But I'm sure you're as busy as the rest of us," Lina said.

"Of course I am, but the work gets done, and I'm always happy to bond more with you."

"We should really make that chat group between us and Eva. Give the guys a run for their money."

"Poor Eva won't know what to do with chatty me." Vi laughed. "We'll have to break her in slowly. At least we know she likes chatty people since she fell for Max."

"Are you going to the gala this year?" I asked Vi.

Her eyes shot to me. Maybe any mention of the gala brought up the same memories for her as it did for me.

I shrugged, like none of it was a big deal. "Max said he's bringing Eva again. You can break her in a bit more then."

Vi hid a smile. "I am attending this year. Everyone has made it a point to insist. Apparently, it'll fit right around the official transition, and we're meant to celebrate. I heard you're going, too?"

I nodded, my eyes steady on her, my mind lost in the memory of our walk that night. The garden around us, and finally knowing what kissing her could be like. For a moment, the ghost of her lips on mine fought to take over.

"That's going to be fun." Lina smirked, eyes sparkling and taking turns between Vi and I. "In any case, we were talking about the party for your parents?"

Her voice had taken a quieter tone for the second half, so we wouldn't be heard. Vi pressed a couple of buttons and her door closed, and the glass turned an opaque white.

"There, that'll be easier," she said. "Did you and Gabe look at the guest list I started, Lina?"

"We did. Gabe added a few more people, but it's looking like we may end up having, what? Two hundred guests?"

"More, if we fly people in from Chile." Vi cocked her head. "I did some sleuthing and I got a couple of names, and reached out to the family and swore them to secrecy. I'll confirm who can come and add them to the list. We'll need that before sending the official invitations."