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“Hello, Auntie. As much as I can, as always.”
She playfully swats his shoulder, her red lips turning up in a wicked grin. While they banter, I come to grips with this new information. Veronica, the classy woman I met at the investment dinner, is actually Drake’s aunt.
“But your last name isn’t Gallagher,” I interrupt, unthinking.
They stop their smalltalk, looking at me with similar straightforward expressions.
“It’s my maiden name, dear. Though I’ve considered changing it back. It may be time to move on from that ex of mine.” She taps her finger against her lips, obviously thinking. With cat-like speed, she changes the subject. “But this meeting isn’t about me, is it? It’s about you and your future.”
Like I’ve forgotten how to walk, I somehow make my way back to my seat and fall into it.
“Drake, please. What’s going on?” He’s got a wide grin on his face, the bastard. I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster, and he’s watching me from the ground eating cotton candy, enjoying my confusion.
“Please sit, Auntie.” He leads Veronica to the seat next to mine.
Instead of going back behind his desk, he half sits on the front of it. If I reached out, I could touch him. But I’m not sure I have that right anymore.
“Drake, what did you say to this poor girl?” Veronica scolds him, presumably in response to the look of absolute bewilderment I’m sure is on my face.
“I told her she was fired,” he says with a chuckle.
Veronica shakes her head, huffing in exasperation. “You silly, silly man. Did you want to give the woman a heart attack or did you want to give her a little romance?”
Without waiting for his answer, she takes my hands. “My dear, Drake and I talked. We want to help you start a new company. One where you can put all your brilliant ideas into action and take all the credit for their success.”
Flabbergasted, I respond haltingly, “But, you and I met just a few days ago. I was so careful to keep it secret so Drake couldn’t give me a hard time about it.”
“I know, dear. And your plan worked. Drake only knew about the meeting you had with the TetraTech gentleman.”
“Mateo?” Drake asks.
“Hush,” Veronica shushes him and continues, “He didn’t know about our meeting until I told him about it myself.”
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
“Because he called me first, my dear.” Her blue eyes smile into mine, finally allowing me to get centered. “He needed my help. He was falling for his brilliant and beautiful assistant, and he didn’t know what to do.”
“I wasn’t calling for help. I just needed some advice,” Drake grumbles.
“You were falling for me?” Feeling vulnerable, I search his gaze. His deep brown eyes look back at me, filled with warmth and caring.
“Not just past tense, pet.” He cups my cheek with his hand. “I’m falling for you right now, and for the rest of our lives.”
“Which is why we’d like you to start your own company,” Veronica chimes in. “You can’t work for my nephew anymore. You have too much spunk and ambition. You need to blaze your own trail, with a little help and support from the two of us.”
I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happening. “You want me to start a company, and you’ll both support me?”
Taking my hands from Veronica’s, I rest them over my face for a moment, gathering my thoughts. “So when you fired me, you were teasing me?”
“Well, I really am letting you go.” My eyes narrow at him. Noticing my expression, he raises both hands placatingly. “But only so I can support you in this new venture.”
“You son of a bitch,” I state, flatly.
His grin grows into a blinding smile. “God, you’re beautiful when you talk back to me.”
“You put me through the most hellish few minutes of my life just so you could see me get angry?” I start getting worked up again.
“You’re hot when you’re angry,” he responds, completely unrepentant.
