I walked into my office and I couldn’t help the smile that felt foreign but also right. I strolled past Lydia and said, “Good morning.”
She looked up at me from her computer screen and laughed.
“That must have been some weekend.”
I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped when I said, “You have no idea. Can you call Trevor and tell him I need to see him?”
Lydia smiled, “Of course. Coffee?”
I waved her off, “You get Trevor and I’ll grab coffee. Do you want one?”
This puzzled her, she raised her brows at me.
“Sure, but shouldn’t I be the one bringing you coffee?”
I chuckled, “You can get the next one.”
I strolled into my office, placed my things down then retreated to the break room to grab two coffees.
Once I was seated in my office Lydia brought Trevor in. He walked in and sat in front of my desk.
“What’s going on big guy?”
I nodded at Lydia, she retreated closing the door behind her. I looked at my friend and partner with a smile.
“Oh man, you’re smiling. What’s going on?”
I chuckled at him then said, “I have a lot of things to review with you. We have business to discuss but also I have news to share.”
Trevor sat straight up in the chair and eyed me suspiciously.
“Okay, so what’s going on? Lydia said you’re acting strange. I’d say I have to agree.”
I buzzed Lydia and told her to come in. She came in with a notepad in hand. She sat next to Trevor in front of me.
“I’m telling you both now. This goes to no one else just yet. I proposed to Lacie last night and she accepted. We’re getting married as soon as possible.”
Lydia gasped and smiled at me.
Trevor bolted out of his chair.
“What? The girl you just met? Are you out of your mind? Obviously you’re out of your mind. Did you think about this? No you didn’t think about this, or you wouldn’t have proposed. Of course she said yes, you have everything to lose and she has nothing to lose only to gain. Damn it Jackson, stop thinking with your dick!”
I shot out of my chair and growled, “Do not ever disrespect me or Lacie or I will be working alone!”
Trevor looked in my eyes.
“You can’t be serious. What the hell is going on?”
Lydia jumped up.
“Gentleman. Stop! Trevor relax. She’s a good person. She is his match. I know to you this sounds quick but take some time to reserve judgment. Meet her and you’ll see. Trust me. I believe this is going to be what’s best for Jackson.”
Trevor looked at Lydia. “Are you kidding me right now? You’re agreeing with his decision? This is too quick. Have you not learned anything from my past? At least tell me that you’re having her sign a prenup?”
I growled at him.
“No! I will not do that to Lacie. She would never marry me for my money or the company. Hell, she has no idea how much money I even have. You need to get your head out of your ass. I’m not an idiot. I know people. I made a mistake in the past with Diane, I believe I learned from that experience. There will be no prenup. I will not cut her out of my life in any way. Find a way to accept this or get out!”
Trevor glared at me for a moment then he looked at Lydia.
“What is happening to him?”
Lydia smiled. “Love. Love is happening to him. Trust me, Trevor. I was concerned too, then I met her. She did everything in her power to avoid him and to shake him loose. But somehow, he won her heart after all.”
I couldn’t help but grin at her.
“Thank you, Lydia. Look, Trevor, I don’t want to lose a friend. Give her a chance. Just meet her. I’m telling you she’s different. This one made me work for it. She didn’t just give in. She didn’t know who I was when we met and she sure as hell didn’t want to fall in love with me. She’s incredible. Everything about her is incredibly honest and sincere. She’s not after me for my money. Believe me.”
Trevor agreed to give her a chance. He said he would see me at my place tonight to drop off the table. He left my office then Lydia squealed.
“Wedding plans! So where, when, what do you want me to do?”
I laughed at her exuberance.
“We’ll talk about it later. Right now it’s still new. I’m not sure what she will want. I’ll give her as big or as small as she wants, as long as she marries me soon.”
Lydia laughed and said, “Trevor will come around.”
I nodded at her then she left me to my thoughts.
I emailed Trevor and told him we still had business to discuss and his reply was quick and short, ‘I have meetings the rest of the day. Tomorrow.’
I sat staring at the email and contemplated going to his office and telling him what I thought of his brush off, but then I figured I’d just give him a chance to cool off. I knew he’d been through a bad situation and me springing Lacie on him wasn’t going to go well. He just needed to meet her and he’d see how wonderful and perfect she was. She’s unlike any woman I’d ever met before.
The day was a blur. Lydia was in and out of my office more times than I care to count. My phone was ringing off the hook and the big deal we’ve been running was finally coming to a close. The property was perfect for the client. They were just trying to get it cheaper. But if you want a great location, you need to pay. There was not a cheaper route. Some days this business got to me. But for too long I let the business rule my life. Now with Lacie in my life that was all going to change. I was going to spend more time with her and less time here at the office. Time will change things for me, and I think my dad would be proud.
I grew the business, I molded it into what it is now and I made a lot of money for the family. Dad was worried for many years that I let life take a back seat to work and he was right. I turned to stare out my office window and I thought about several conversations I had with my dad. Many of which were about me settling down.
After Diane’s lies and cheating, I closed off. I shut down on an emotional level and I became I machine at work. I made deal after deal, I scouted land and opportunities for other people and I took whatever woman was throwing herself at me for the night. I was cold and I was not interested in anyone or anything but getting my dick dipped then moving on. Who was I? I wasn’t the man my dad raised and he knew it. He was trying to pull me back and rein me in, but it wasn’t time. I wasn’t ready then. I needed Lacie.
Meeting her was the best thing that ever happened to me. The connection was instant. The night I walked into that bar my life changed and I couldn’t be happier about it. She put a fire back in my soul. She brought my heart back to life and I don’t know how. It wasn’t just one thing. It was several things that did it. Her smile, her laugh. The way she called me out on my bullshit that night. I laughed sitting there. I heard a throat clear behind me and I turned to see Lydia.
“Something funny boss?”
She smiled at me as she said it.
I grinned at her, “Something to say, Lydia?”
She shook her head and laughed again.
“No boss. Just that I’m glad you’re so happy. I’m glad you got her to finally give in to you. I better be invited to the wedding.”
I laughed at her.
“We’ll see Lydia. Right now, I would take her away and just seal the deal. Just the two of us. But I want to give her what she wants, what she deserves.”
She moved in and sat in the chair she was in earlier and took a more serious tone.
“Jackson, I’m happy for you and I know this is right. Just give Trevor some time to see. Right now he’s hurting still and he’s hiding behind his past. He’s licking his wounds and not ready to believe in anyone just yet. He’ll see. One day he’ll meet his Lacie. Then and only then will he understand. Don’t let him push you into something you’ll regret down the line. Don’t ruin a friendship and a partnership over his ignorance to love. Not too long ago, you were the same way.”
I pulled my brows together to look at her. My serious look must have scared her and she stood up. I motioned her to sit back down.
“Lydia, you have been the best secretary that I’ve ever had. The only one brave enough to stand up to me and the most organized of them all. You have proven yourself more valuable to me than anyone in this company. I want to promote you within the company, but I don’t want to lose the best secretary, I need you with me. So you tell me, what do I do?”
She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face.
“Jackson, I appreciate what you say, but I don’t want to go anywhere else in the company. I want to stay with you and work with and for you. I never dreamed of doing anything else here.”
I leaned back in my chair. My thoughts whirling as I looked at the woman before me. I nodded at her then spoke.
“Okay, then, I guess there is only one position to give you then. You are the new Executive Secretary of the company. You will handle all the hiring of the secretaries and training. You will get an increase to your 401K. I will give you a substantial increase in your salary of which we will negotiate a sum that works for you, and I’m giving you and your husband a trip to be taken when you wish to, wherever you want to go. A two-week minimum on me. Just make sure your fill-in is adequate and ready to go before you do. I want you to go shopping prior to your trip to get appropriate clothes for your trip, again, on me.”
Lydia held her hands up to me to stop.
“Jackson. You can’t! I mean this is too much. I can’t leave for two weeks, let alone on you. Shopping? Are you serious? I can’t go shopping on you. I mean, I appreciate your generosity, but no. I’ll take the 401K increase. I’ll take a negotiable salary and a one-week vacation, but on my money not yours.”
I shook my head.
“Lydia, you have proven yourself time and time again to me in a very short period of time. I reward loyalty, hard work, and dedication. As a friend, I want to give you what you’ve given me, happiness, opportunity, and a chance to run away and love. Two weeks on me, non-negotiable. Shopping trip, again, non-negotiable. If it makes you feel better, you can take Lacie with you. The two of you can get to know one another and get some beautiful clothes out of the deal. I’ll have a driver pick you up and take you both wherever you want to go.”
Lydia stood in front of me. She was holding herself proud and determined and I stood as well.
“Do not test me, Lydia. I am doing this and your new position starts immediately. I want you to review all the staff’s secretaries and determine who needs a refresher and who is not going to cut it. I want an evaluation of everyone in a month. I want to know that my people have the most qualified people working with them. I want to feel that we can trust them as I trust you to handle things in the event of an emergency. I don’t want people with half a brain sitting behind a desk taking up space. I want efficiency. Start with Trevor’s secretary. He needs someone to help him and he needs someone who can stand up to him like you stand up to me.”
Lydia’s mind was spinning. I could see it on her face. She was overwhelmed and completely shocked by my generosity at this point, only I feel as though I’m doing nothing compared to what she’s done for me. She set me straight and she helped me with Lacie. For that I will be eternally grateful. Lydia looked me dead in the eye as only she could, spine straight and determination on her face.
“I don’t know what to say, Jackson. This is over-the-top too much and I can’t believe the generosity you have shown me already to this point. This is way more than I need. If you are determined to do this, then all I can say is thank you and continue to do the best job I’m capable of and more. I will not let you down and I will have those reports to you before the month is up. We can discuss salary after I’ve had a chance to talk with my husband and once I can wrap my head around what just happened here.”
Lydia turned to walk out of my office and I stopped her.
“Lydia.”
She turned and came back to my desk. I moved around it to face her. I reached out my hand to her. “Thank you for taking care of me and for helping me come back to life.”
She looked at my hand then at me. She swatted my hand away and hugged me. I am not a hugger, but since Lacie and since Lydia I’m a changed man. I hugged her back and with a soft thank you from her she pulled away and moved back to her desk. I turned back to my window and stared out. Somehow I knew my dad was proud of me, of my actions just now and of the man that he raised that finally has emerged from the shadow of darkness he had been living in.