Loving Lucian ✅

Chapter Thirty-Two

"You really strike fear in your employees, Lucian." Peyton said as she walked into my office.

"I know."

"There were more people than I can count on two hands that came up to me and thanked me for saving their jobs. There's a guy that you fired while I was away for not reaching the deadline sixteen other people were taking care of. He has seven little kids and a wife going through physical therapy from an accident she was in. Working here is the only way he can afford to take care of his family. And you almost fired him for missing something sixteen other people were covering, including me."

I looked up at her. "Are you trying to guilt trip me?"

"If it's not working, then you officially don't have a heart or soul." She sat in her spot on my desk and crossed her long legs. "I'm serious, Lucian. Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to fire people."

"Peyton, I have to—"

"Keep the company in order, I know, I've heard this a million times. But that doesn't mean you should fire people for the tiniest of things. You could kill a family doing that. If someone's mom or child had cancer and couldn't support their treatments financially because they got fired for something stupid, then that's a life gone. You don't want that weight on your shoulders, you have enough on your plate."

I sighed. "Fine, I'll ease up on the pink slips. But if I think it's unacceptable, I'm going to fire that person."

"Thank you babe." She kicked her legs back and forth a little and I grinned, taking her hands and pulling her off the desk to sit in my lap.

"So I want to take you out tonight." I said, wrapping my arms tight around her waist. Her green eyes glowed at me in interest as she smiled her beautiful smile.

"Really?"

"Of course really. The last time I took you out was before I even met your parents. I have a big night planned for you starting at six." I grinned at her and she raised a brow precariously.

"Does that mean a fancy date?" She fiddled with the tie she made me for my birthday that I wore at least twice a week.

"Well you count the places I go everyday as 'fancy', so really all of our dates are 'fancy'."

"You go to fucking Bergdorf Goodman at least three times a week—you're not really an everyday casual man. But at least you don't act like a snob. I would not be dating you if you were a total jerk."

"I was a jerk." I said, pushing out the memories of the first three months of knowing her out of my brain as soon as they came.

"Underlined word: was. If you were a jerk now, we wouldn't be getting married soon. To be honest, Lucian, I don't care about the way you were, I love you now and that's what matters baby." She kissed my forehead and grinned kindly at me. I gazed up at her and into her eyes that I was so in love with.

"Last time you looked at me like this and didn't say anything about it, was before I left and you told me how much you loved me after I asked what was on your mind. What's on your mind now?" She said softly.

"Same thing. I'm so in love with you. Obviously I've said it before but I honestly don't think I can let you go a day without a single reminder. I love you so much, Peyton James. I'd take a—"