That One Thing

"Tell me one thing that you wanted me to do but I didn't." She gave him a condescending look.

He had to hold back his words. Answering that question would be like disturbing the peace when everything was going smoothly. "We can discuss that later. Right now, let's focus on the details of our co-ownership."

"Oh, yeah. You're right." She smiled, a little embarrassed. "I got sidetracked."

"You always do." It made him wonder if she got sidetracked in other aspects of their relationship too. He was driven by goals, while she was all over the place, jumping from one thing to another. It was unpredictable and exhilarating.

"Not always." She made a face at him, and he couldn't help but almost smile. She was the only one who could make him genuinely happy, not just satisfied. "But yeah, please tell me the details. Just so you know, I'm not willing to work nonstop anymore."

"Not even for a five percent ownership?" Jia and Thomas each owned fifteen percent so that he would have sixty-five percent, well above the fifty-one percent needed for control.

"Five percent?" She didn't seem too thrilled.

"It could be worth millions, maybe even hundreds of millions."

"Oh." Her eyes drifted away.

He would give her a few moments to imagine all the things she could do with that money, to make her desire it, to see it. Let her envision the possibilities that a life with that kind of wealth could bring. Then, he would bring her back to reality. "Just think about what you could achieve with that money. You could start your own business."

"I could buy my mom a new house or renovate the old one." Her eyes sparkled. "We could even tear it down and build from scratch if she wanted."

"You could do those multiple times."

“I could buy a place nearby for Aunt Tiff too.”

“Yes.” He was astounded by her generosity. Most people thought of what they could do for themselves, but not her. He’d chosen well, and it was time to feed her dreams. “You could start that program that you’ve talked about—the one to teach impoverished children how to use computers.”

“I could give even the poorest kids access to computers.” She smiled. “I could do so much.”

“Yes, and the money will keep coming in. The software will have to be updated and maintained. We’ll make it more marketable. We’ll improve it and enhance it.”

“Like a living thing.” She smiled softly. “Sometimes I feel like it’s my baby.”

“Funny you should say that.”

“Why?” She focused on him for the first time since he’d said millions. “I created Climertrix. I know it’s not a real person, but it is part of me.”

“Because that’s what I want to discuss with you.”

Her nose wrinkled; she did this when she puzzled something out, and he found it adorable. “I don’t understand.”

“The other part of the deal. The part that you must agree to if you want co-ownership.”

“The other part?” Her nose wrinkled more, and then the confusion on her face cleared. “Oh, the catch.”

“I wouldn’t—”

“Just tell me. What is it? What do you want me to do now? I’m not working more. I can’t. I don’t think it’s physically possible to work more than you already make me work.”

“I agree.” He had to force himself not to lean toward her and pounce on his prey.

“You do? To which part?”

“You work too much and that also stops with this deal.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes. Once you agree and we sign the contract, I don’t want you working more than sixty hours per week.”

“Sixty?”

“I don’t think we can cut back to forty, at least not until we staff up. I’m thinking another senior programmer, maybe two, and a few more at a junior level.”

“You want to replace me?”

“No. I want you to be the lead. Train them. Let them take over the more tedious tasks.”

“Oh.” Her eyes got that distant glow again. “I’d be a good…” Her gaze sharpened as they met his. “I’d be their boss, right? Because I’m not going to spend time training people to have you work them until they quit or yell at them until they leave.”

“I don’t yell.”

“Your nickname is Barker.”

“My nickname? No one calls me that.” His eyes narrowed as she tried not to laugh. “You made that up, didn’t you?” His hand itched to put her over his knee and paddle that backside of hers, but that was off-limits. He wasn’t bringing any of his kinks into their bed. She’d be the mother of his child, not his sub or his lover. Okay, she’d be his lover, but only for procreation, nothing else.

“I didn’t make it up. You bark at me all day long and it just kind of…happened.”

“That’s the same thing as making it up and don’t call me that. Even behind my back.”

“You won’t know.”

“I’ll know.”

“How will you know? I’m not stupid enough to say it in front of anyone who’d tell you.”

“I’ll know by the look on your face.”

“Fine but I’ll think it.” One side of her mouth slid upward in a half-smile. “All the time.”

“I don’t believe you will.” Not after he’d fucked her and made her come over and over. She’d be putty in his hands, his to mold and transform.

“Okay. You’re right, Octa. You’re always right.”

“Don’t call me that either.”

“Right. Sorry. Oc…Flynn.” This time, she smiled like she’d won.

He couldn’t wait to show her that she’d never had a chance to win this game.

“So, will I be their boss? It’s the only way I’m going to train someone.”

“You can be their boss, and you’ll need to train them well enough to fill in for you fulltime for a few months.”

“Fill in for me for a few months? Why? Will I be going on a trip or something? I’ve always wanted to go on a business trip. Most people think it’s boring, but I’ve always thought—”

“It’s not a business trip, but in about nine or ten months you’ll need some time off.”

“I don’t see why.” Her nose wrinkled again, and then her eyes brightened. “Unless you’re giving me a vacation?”

“It’s not a vacation.”

“Then why will I need time off.”

“To give birth. I’ve chosen you to have my baby.”