Sleeping with My Boss (and his son?)

Chapter 27

Upon arriving at the cabin, everyone is on edge. We all five move to the family room and take seats, except Rafe who is leaning against the wall. Donovan is next to me with his arm across my lap, holding me close to him.

Rafe is the first to speak, "I agree with everything Donovan said. Your actions are not acceptable, dad. Aside from you cheating on our mother, you are actively, intentionally, pursuing women in Donovan's life. Why? I don't even work at the office yet, and I know that for more than a year, this man has done nothing but talk about this woman. You knew if he wasn't in love with her already, he was well on his way. You are his father, and pursued her intentionally."

Dimitri stands up to meet his son at eye-level, "and what right do you have, do any of you have, to demand that I do anything with the company I built?"

At this, Dominic steps in, "you're right, dad, we can't force you to step down. But we can sell every share we have in this company. And I would have to double-check with Gio, but pretty sure that equals millions between us.  We can easily turn around and start from scratch. And you know damn well with the knowledge the four of us have, we will succeed. And we will do it without you." He pushes for a moment before continuing, "What you're being offered, is the opportunity to retire with your dignity, and to have your sons, who somehow ended up with at least some integrity, run the company you built from the ground up so it stays in the Carrington family. No one is forcing you to do anything, but you will make a choice tonight."

Dimitri is fuming, but he also looks defeated. "You do know I have never set out to hurt any of you?" He takes a few steps across the room, "you boys are my life." He turns back to face them. "Draw the papers up." 

He begins to walk out of the room but Donovan stands up, "give me your phone, dad."

Dimitri doesn't move.

"Give me your damn phone." At that, Dimitri reaches in his pocket and hands his oldest son his phone. Donovan in turn hands it to Rafe, the techy one, "find the picture he took of her and delete it, I don't trust him to do it, and I sure as hell don't want to see it." He grabs my hand and we walk from the room.

As we do, we hear Rafe, "what's your password?" Dimitri mumbled something, and then Rafe, apparently having found the picture, says, "she's fucking crying, dad. And you thought she wanted this?" Donovan's arm tightens around me as we enter his room.

The moment he shuts the door, his arms are around me and I'm sinking into his chest. "Thank you, Donovan."

He holds me even tighter for a moment and then leads me to the bed where I sit on the edge. He kneels down and works my shoe from my foot, kissing the inside of my ankle. Doing the same with the other, he tosses my shoes across the room. "Madelyn Belle Tate," he says using my maiden name, "I'm so sorry I doubted you. You have every right to tell me to carry my ass. And maybe you should. But, sweetheart, I love you, and I'm begging you to forgive me."

I look at him and tell him the truth, "There's nothing to forgive, I wasn't mad at you." I run my fingers through his hair and he catches my hand. Looking down at it he sees the wedding band set still there. While he doesn't ask for permission, he watches me for any indication that what he's doing isn't okay, and he slowly slides my rings off my finger. I feel a sadness as I've worn those rings since I was 19, but I don't feel a sadness for my marriage, or for the end of my relationship with Jason. I will always love him, and what we had at one point, even amidst the abuse, but knowing it's over feels good.

Once off, he kisses my finger and then leans over and places them on the nightstand, before taking both hands in his. Still kneeling. "This is not me proposing, that would be insane in only 5 days actually together. But I am telling you, when you're ready, you will be my wife. And when that time comes, I look forward to dropping to one knee and asking you the right way. I'm also asking you, right now, to please introduce me to your children when you are comfortable, because I want your children to see you happy, and to see you treated the way you deserve. I can't wait for you to meet my daughter, she's going to adore you. I love you, Maddie. And I'm so grateful to finally be able to do this." And with that, he kisses me.

A few hours pass and Donovan and I have done nothing but change into comfortable clothes and lie on the bed talking. We have asked questions, told stories, shared dreams. I didn't realize how strong our friendship and relationship was already. Just from time together over time at work. And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm falling in love with him already. But, I know I can't tell him that before I've even told my husband that our marriage is beyond repair. As soon as it feels right though, I have a feeling he will already know.

His phones suddenly vibrates on the night stand and he grabs it. "It's Rafe, he said for both of us to head to the office."

I lean up and look down at him. "I'm not sure I'm up for that. I don't know that I can see him right now."

He nods and shoots a text back to Rafe, who quickly replies. They text back and forth for a couple minutes and finally Donovan says, "for legal reasons, he needs both of us. It won't take long and I'll be with you."

Nodding, I get up. He meets me at the door and holds my hand as we make our way across the cabin and up to the office. Just before we enter, he leans in and kisses me. "I love you."

Walking in, we find the other three men waiting. And taking seats on the couch, we sit in silence. Both of us waiting for someone to fill us in on what is happening.