"Hah!" Mr. Redmond howls. "The Prada Princess scores her a bruiser."
Suddenly, the moniker Prada Princess becomes so much more. I want to dance around the room in my two-thousand-dollar designer dress and squeal in triumph. Instead, I lean my cheek into Miller's chest.
"He's bossy, rough around the edges, and overly possessive."
"Take my advice, lock her down now. Then prepare for a life of headaches in the best way," Mr. Redmond joins in.
"She's a headache already."
"Hey!" I poke Miller playfully. "You better watch it. I just received an offer to be a partner in a prestigious law firm in Chicago. Your headaches can go away."
There's a quick silence, then every man erupts.
"On that note, we will let you get home." Mr. Redmond reaches in his pocket and pulls out two business cards at the same time Mr. Reid passes me one. "Arthur Kersh couldn't join us because he's putting out fires, but you will always have glowing references from us. Don't hesitate to use them. And if you choose to discuss our offer of virtual employment, it would be automatic approval."
I glance at the three business cards, scribbled with each man's personal email address and phone number. My throat clogs again because this is huge.
"Thank you. All those years here, and I lived under the impression you three men were unapproachable. Tremendous mistake on my behalf," I whisper, trying to compose myself, then think of something that needs addressing before they leave. I break away from Miller and swing open my door.
"Can someone please have Lena come to my office now?"
Bodies scramble, and Lena appears at the door of a tiny office a few doors down. She comes toward me reluctantly, her hatred still fuming. When she walks in and spots the two founders, her body tenses and she goes white.
"Gentleman, I spent the morning going through files Lena has prepared. She did an excellent job, captured key points, and shows potential to seal this merger. My notes are yours to do what you want, but this woman gave her all to the case, and it shows."
Scottie moves to my computer, printing the notes, and brings them back to me. I hand them immediately to her. "You can take my recommendations or not, but it's all there."
Her hands tremble as she looks them over. "Thank you, Ashlyn."
"Do you have a business card?" I ask Miller.
He takes out his wallet, eyeing me weirdly as he hands one over. I go to my desk, blackout his personal information, and scribble my number and email.
"Lena, you need me, here's my contact information." I wink, knowing she already has the number. "You have questions, you call me. Your work on this project has platinum player potential."
Her breath hitches and she dips her head, knowing I have given her the largest recommendation of her time here. "I'll call."
She leaves quickly, barely glancing at the partners.
The room is quiet for a second before Mr. Redmond speaks. " We're losing you to Charleston, huh?"
"Yes," I answer on a wistful sigh.
"My wife's been nagging me to go on a vacation. Mentioned a new resort down there, something about class, culture, and chocolate? You know anything about that?" Mr. Reid puts the question out there.
I rock back, looking at Scottie and Miller, and lean to the side cackling. "Yes, I know something about that! Two of the masterminds are standing right here!" I snort, slapping my hand to my face.
"You ever visit, look us up. We'll introduce you to the chocolatier," Miller adds.
Both men's eyes light up and they give a small chuckle, stepping in to formally introduce themselves.
I stand back, thinking my last memory in this place took a whole new turn.
Chapter 25
Miller
"We'll be home tomorrow afternoon. She'll want to come straight to her house."
"It's a showplace, brother, be ready," Pierce tells me something I already know.
"I left it completely done, except for the cleaning."
"Yes, but this shit shines and sparkles. I think Darby got jealous. She mentioned that damn closet three times."
"So, build her one."
"I'll get right on that. This time I'll have stairs to reach the fucking top shelves."
I chuckle, remembering him walking in to find Darby on a stepstool at six-months pregnant. "We'll call when we get into town. Thanks for everything."
"Miller, we're all fucking happy this worked out like it did. Dad, Edward, Evin, me, and Cole are ready to help put up the decorations as soon as she sees it."
"Appreciate that."
"Later, man." He disconnects and I stare out onto the Rhodes’ property, taking in the extravagant and opulent outdoor landscape. Ashlyn didn't exactly describe her Dad's business in detail. He's a fucking giant in the pool and outdoor design industry.
"Good call bringing her here." Dozer joins me, poking the fire pit to move the logs around.
"I figured she needed her family, and this was better discussed in person or waiting until y'all come to Charleston in a week."
"You feel confidant they are done with her?"
"Not at all, those old men are swooning over her. She'll hear from them again at some point, but it will all be complementary. Which is what she deserves. Scottie and I agree that their intentions were in the right place. Outside of supporting Ashlyn, there was another reason I was there. If they thought they'd walk in and steamroll, I was ready to tell them to fuck themselves."
"It sounds like my girl already had the bitch part handled."
"Not anymore, I wore her down."
"Did she really give him the ring back?"
"Put it in an envelope and left it with Brock’s secretary. I'm not gonna lie, I'd like to have seen his reaction to her throwing it at him. But she wanted no more drama. It was her call."
"Yeah, she's lived with enough drama because of that asshole."
I follow his gaze back to the windows that cover the back of his house and see Ashlyn and Janie wrapping presents. The Rhodes may plan to be in Charleston for Christmas, but it didn't stop Janie from decorating top
