A Night to remember : Book 3

Chapter 10

****Max****

"I'm going to Chicago for two weeks."

It's what swirled repetitiously in my head all night as I lay awake beside her. That was the surprise she was talking about that awaited me when I arrived home. She met me coming off the elevator with a beaming gorgeous smile and hauled me towards the bedroom filled with excitement. I barely had time to catch what she was saying because she was like the energizer bunny rabbit all over the room explaining to me about her latest acquired account. She was excited and I was speechless as I sat at the edge of the bed waiting for her to at least stop and breathe.

She finally stood before me long enough to place a chaste kiss on my lips giddily with a breathtaking smile before turning away towards the closet and coming out with a handful of suits and placed them neatly on the bed. She stood back and looked down at them, mentally choosing which ones to pack and I barely had gotten in a word. The moment she finally slowed down to take a breather is when I was able to wrap my fingers around her wrist and gently pull her forward to sit on my lap. My head barely had time to wrap around her actually leaving but the thought kicked in double time when she said two weeks. NO fucking way. Absolutely not.

Our gazes met and it was a struggle within me to not dampen her happy moment. "I don't want you to go." A shadow of sadness crossed over her face.

"Why?"

She looked disappointed, and even as the uneasiness of her going to Chicago lingered in my mind, I found myself saying, "I could go with you."

She searches my face and I don't know if she's confused or displeased. The outcome of all of this now could come out both ways. She could angrily protest or fight me on this until I cave. The little V forming between her brows means I am getting close to finding out. And I was ready for it.

"Max, don't do this," she exhales and tries to stand from my lap but I won't let her.

"Don't do what?"

"This Max," she tosses her hair from over her shoulder and squarely lands her gaze on me. "You are trying to persuade me from going."

A moment of silence grows between us as I play along in my head a plethora of reasons on why she shouldn't go. But not one single one is concrete. I exhale trying to rein in this situation and try to control this. "I don't want you traveling this early in your pregnancy."

I say it and I mean it.

She frowns and pulls away before I can hold her back. She turns to face me with a glower. "Is that the excuse you're going with?"

"It's true," I say as calmly as I can. "Beautiful, you're barely over your morning sickness," I point out.

"Hundreds of woman travel in my condition Max."

"Yea, but none of those hundreds of women are my wife." I stand to face her.

"Damn it, Max." she sighs in frustration and turns to look away.

"The one chance I have at actually landing a campaign on my own and you spring this up on me." she scoffs shaking her head.

"Well what would you have me do, Kira. Just idly sit by."

"Yes, I would prefer -...." She began then paused. "You said you wouldn't interfere in my career Max."

"That's before the baby Kira, and the fact that there is a mentally unstable woman walking the streets of New York that can potentially harm you. In case you haven't forgotten."

"No, I haven't forgotten. But I'm not going to let some lunatic dictate my life. And I am sure as hell not letting you control me."

I stepped closer. "I don't want to control you."

"Bullshit."

"I want to protect you."

"I don't need you to protect me, not like this." Suddenly everything felt too intense, too loud, and too vivid. Her chest was heaving and her stance was set.

"Jesus, beautiful" I said, shaking my head. "You're not going to make this easy for me are you?"

"Nope," she said crossing her arms before her. And there it was, that unspoken challenge. It was clear at that moment that neither of us would back down.

I could feel the adrenaline trickling into my veins, feel my muscles tensing as my resolve slowly slips through my fingers. I exhale and just stand in silence watching so many emotions play across that beautiful face.

I know I am being overbearing and unreasonable but can you blame me? I have yet to tell her about the merger, Lord knows how she will react to her dads' illness and Bianca's little delivery days ago did not make any of this easy. A Part of me doesn't want to relinquish the need to keep her close...safe. A part of me doesn't want to let her miss this opportunity which may not come again. I was pressed against the wall with this decision.

In all honesty as much as I hate to admit, it would be perfect timing for me to complete the merger to go forward while she is away. I hated this. God! I truly did.

I exhaled and watched her carefully.

"Fine, but you're going with security," I warn.

A grin wobbled at the edges of her mouth and she bit down on her lower lip to keep it in check. Her gaze flamed with victory which for now I will let her have it. I closed the distance between us.

"The first sign of trouble, I'm coming for you. Understand?" I warned wrapping my hand around the back of her neck. I pulled her to me, meeting her gaze. She bit her lip softly and nodded. The tense silence that lingered between us was short lived as she slowly wrapped my tie around her fist and pulled me close pressing her lips to mine. The tender kiss was soft and chaste, just as fast as it came; it disappeared with her grinning up at me happy as can be. I sat back in silence then and watched her finish packing.

It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning when she lay in my arms fast asleep, a shiver coursed through me. Two fucking weeks! What the hell am I going to do without her for two whole weeks? And what did I just agree to.

*******

Here we go guys

forgive me for posting so late and making  it  short...

Suffered two losses in the family . A double whammy on my emotions but I'm back on board.

you know what to do....

stay tuned....