Richard marched into my office, his strides sharp. His fists clenched as he approached, his piercing gaze locked on Victor.
"Richard..." I whispered, but the sound got lost as Richard’s fist swung through the air, connecting with Victor’s jaw. The sickening crack made flinch, my hands flying to my mouth. Victor staggered back, catching himself on the edge of my desk.
"What the hell, man?!" Victor shouted, clutching his jaw.
Richard wasn’t finished. He lunged at Victor again as he managed to block it this ti. They stood there, locked in a standoff. Richard’s face was flushed with rage, his jaw tight.
"Calm down, Richard!" Victor bellowed, shoving him back.
"I want you out of my building right this minute!" Richard barked.
"I was leaving anyway!" He glanced at . "That’s what I ca to tell you."
"With your tongue in her mouth?!" Richard snapped.
Victor looked away, "I’m sorry," he said, though his words were directed at and not Richard.
"Just go," I managed to say. My pulse raced, my chest tightening as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
Victor nodded, and he walked out.
The mont the door closed behind him, Richard turned to , his eyes softening. He crossed the room in two long strides and wrapped his arms around , pulling into the safety of his embrace. "I’m here. It’s okay. Take a deep breath. Just listen to my voice and breathe out," he murmured, his tone gentle and soothing.
I clung to him, burying my face in his chest as the tears I’d taken a brief break from burst forth like a dam breaking. Relief and overwhelming emotion washed over .
"I need to go away," I choked out between sobs. "Anywhere but here. I need peace, Richard. I can’t do this anymore."
He pulled back slightly, cupping my face in his hands and brushing away my tears with his thumbs. "Anywhere you want, my love. We’ll go. You’ve earned it. We’ve earned it."
"We did?" I asked, my voice breaking, my heart daring to hope.
"We did," he confird, a triumphant smile tugging at his lips. "Sam is done. I got the contract back. This morning, I called an ergency board eting. I laid everything on the table, every sche and dirty trick he’s pulled since he started working here. The board saw him for who he really is. We took a vote. It was unanimous...he’s out. He has nothing on us anymore."
I stared at him in disbelief, the weight of weeks of tension lifting from my shoulders. A laugh bubbled up from deep within . My legs gave out beneath , but Richard held up.
"Okay," he said, a playful glint in his eye despite the seriousness of the mont. "I really want to kiss you right now, but I do know where your mouth has been. Let’s go ho so you can wash the scum off of you."
"Wait!" I said, gripping his arm. "Why aren’t you mad at ?"
His expression softened further as he looked into my eyes. "Because I know you, Nita. And I trust you. You’ve done nothing wrong."
My heart swelled with love. I smiled through the lingering tears. "Let’s go ho so you can help rember what you taste like."
Richard laughed, "One kiss from another man and you forget? Ouch! How dare you?"
"Stop being a baby," I teased, swatting his arm as he picked up my bag.
*****
Later that night, I felt truly at peace for the first ti in weeks. The chaos of the day felt like a distant mory, replaced by the warmth of Richard’s.
He kissed deeply, his lips claiming mine with urgency. His hands explored , his touch setting my skin on fire. He shifted my lacy nightgown aside, his lips finding their way to my neck, my collarbone, and then lower.
I arched beneath him, his mouth and hands worshiping every inch of . My hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I straddled him and took control of the kiss. His hands gripped my hips, guiding as I moved against him.
"God, you’re incredible," he murmured.
He flipped us over, his shorts and my nightgown discarded in an impatient flurry of motions. He entered with a single, smooth thrust, and I cried out, my nails digging into his back.
Our movents were frantic as we chased the release we so desperately needed. His na fell from my lips as I reached the peak, my body shuddering beneath him.
He followed monts later, his grip on my hips tightening as he found his own release. He collapsed beside , pulling into his arms and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you right back," I replied.
*****
Three Months Later
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, letting my fingers glide over the soft velvet of my royal blue gown. The fabric hugged my curves perfectly, the one-shoulder neckline emphasizing my collarbone. The dress drew attention to my baby bump. Life was growing inside . Look at that, Nita Nuro will soon be a mother. Who knew?
Nita Nuro. That na felt heavier tonight, in a powerful sense. Tonight’s event wasn’t just a party; my father-in-law’s retirent marked the end of one remarkable era, and my husband officially taking over as CEO symbolized the beginning of another. Our family was at the helm of one of the most powerful corporations, and I planned to make a statent as the CEO’s wife.
The past three months had been blissful. Sam was finally disgraced, Victor had moved on to other things, and Gwen, well... She’d been surprisingly cooperative lately, her claws kept in check under the watchful eye of my mother-in-law.
Abby, my mother-in-law, had been my rock.
Still, there was a lingering unease. I knew we hadn’t seen the last of Sam. People like him didn’t fade away quietly. I shook my head; I refuse to let that thought ruin tonight.
The door to my hotel suite opened, and Abby stepped in. Her face lit up when she saw .
"Oh, look at you, my precious pregnant baby!" she exclaid, her voice brimming with pride.
I rolled my eyes with a smile. "Do you have to add pregnant every single ti?"
"It just sounds so fitting," she said, taking a mont to look over again. "You’re glowing, my dear. Radiant. Are you ready to make your grand entrance?"
I nodded, my hand instinctively resting on my bump. "Yes, I’m ready."
"Good. Let’s go show the world how remarkable you are."
Abby took my hand as we made our way to the elevators. The caras and reporters were already gathered in the lobby. As soon as the elevator doors opened, the flashes began. I kept my smile poised and waved graciously.
By the ti we reached the beautifully decorated event hall, I felt unstoppable.
And then, I saw him. Richard. My husband. My everything.
He stood across the room in a sleek black tuxedo. As our eyes t, his face broke into a wide smile.
Richard signaled to his father, who slowly rose from his seat and made his way to the platform at the front of the room. The murmurs in the crowd quieted as he took the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlen," he began, "Today, another era begins. As I step away from my role as CEO, I know that my son will carry forward the legacy of this company. But before we move forward with the formalities..." He paused, "Our children have sothing special planned for tonight. They would like to renew their vows."
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