Page 76 of The Spare
“We’re a good team and exceptional at our jobs.” I learned early on that if I wanted to get the same respect as the men, I had to exude the confidence that even the mediocre ones seemed to have. I never said thank you, I kept the conversation moving. I didn't apologize. Instead, I offered solutions.
“And modest,” he said, chuckling to himself. He rarely lightened up, even with the partners he’d known for decades. The lightness in tone did nothing to quell the annoyance at his comment. He would have never said that to any of the male partners.
“Modesty is for the mediocre.”
“I knew I liked you.” Another chuckle. “What do you think about the London office being yours? Partner, then managing soon enough?”
What?
My heart got caught in my throat. But I pulled it together. I couldn’t let him see me sweat.
“The deal was New York.” I countered, my tone firm. I wasn’t even licensed to work in the UK. There had to be an angle here. My heart sank at the possibility that Reese wouldn’t hold up his end of the deal. It wasn’t like him. He was my mentor and wouldn’t have promised it if he couldn't deliver.
“And it can be, but this is global reach. All the firm's power, every large merger deal in the world, under your watch.”
“I can do all of that from New York,” I reminded him. I needed confirmation or some recognition that the terms of the deal hadn’t changed. I would rain down hell if it had.
“Don’t be so skeptical, Amari. This is what I look like when I’m impressed.” He was stoking the flames of my anger with his refusal to answer my concern. “Think about it. This is just hypothetical for now. We still have months to see if you can handle it.”
It should have been good news. It was all the power and recognition I deserved. It was everything I wanted.Right?
Despite having worked myself ragged the past few years, I had never stopped to think about whether it would make me happy. After all these years, this was the goal. What was I left with if I didn’t have a remarkable career?
Just me.
My entire body filled with an unfamiliar joy. I hadn’t given it much thought in those terms. Just me felt like enough.
I was going to be senior partner, though. Nobody double-crossed an Amari.
* * *
My office door was seldom closed. Usually that was because I was always in and out, so it was largely impractical. But between the non-stop texting with Marcus and all the work I needed to catch up on, it was better to do that privately.
“Thank you, Cecilia. A year would suffice.” I ended the call when I heard the door open. I assumed it was Penelope.
“Pen, let’s go to lunch. I want to hear about the whole ex—”
I stopped when I realized it wasn’t Penelope at the door. Marcus stood leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed. His dark gray suit mirrored the swells in his eyes. Knowing exactly what laid beneath the perfectly crafted fabric made my body fizz with excitement.
He had that look in his eye.
“What are you doing here?” My heart beat erratically in my chest.
“I thought we could test the desk,” he said plainly, as if he’d actually come to complete some mundane task. Keeping his eyes fixed on me, he turned the lock to my office and closed the space between us. He rested his hands on my hips and backed me up against the desk. “Make sure it is sturdy.”
My mouth went dry.
Sex at work. That was new.
I nodded. “So concerned for my safety.”
I jumped to sit on the edge. My hands had a mind of their own as I pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, unable to break his heavy gaze. Time slowed. I took my time unbuttoning his shirt, surprised by his patience as he let me do it at a tantalizingly slow pace. His eyes fixated on my chest when my breathing became erratic.
His hand lifted my chin and stroked my cheek gently. The calm before the storm.
“How do you want it?” His voice was low and controlled. The gentility was lost. He wanted me with an intensity that made me shiver.
“I’m all yours.” After the past weekend, I knew exactly which buttons to push. “You can decide.”
