Chapter 8 - A Seat at the Table
Two weeks later.
The high-rise boardroom on the 42nd floor looked drastically different. The cold mahogany table was still there, but the atmosphere had transformed entirely.
Richard Vane was gone, replaced by a newly elected board comprised of forward-thinking executives and union representatives. And standing at the front of the room, looking smart in a dark navy suit, was Maya.
She had resigned from her security position three days prior—not because I gave her a handout, but because I had hired an independent talent acquisition firm to review internal personnel, and they discovered she held a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration that she had been forced to put on hold when her husband passed away five years ago.
"The proposed safety and shift-restructuring plan for our logistics and building maintenance staff will increase retention by thirty percent," Maya said clearly, projecting her voice with calm confidence as she pointed to a slideshow deck on the massive wall screen. "By restoring full healthcare coverage and implementing a fair night-shift stipend, we eliminate high turnover costs while boosting worker productivity across all twelve regional centers."
The board members clapped enthusiastically. Eleanor Vance leaned back in her chair, nodding in deep approval. "Exceptional work, Maya. The numbers are solid, and the ethics are even better."
"Thank you, Ms. Vance," Maya replied, smiling warmly as she turned off the projector.
When the meeting adjourned and the executives filed out of the room, I stayed behind, sitting at the head of the table. Maya walked over, gathering her folders.
"How did I do?" she asked, a slight nervous flutter in her voice.
"You blew them away," I said proudly, standing up and walking around the table to stand beside her. "I told you that degree wasn't just decorative."
"It feels surreal," Maya said, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the icy blue expanse of Lake Michigan. "Two weeks ago, I was patrolling the dark hallways of this building at three in the morning, worrying if I could afford Lily's new winter boots. Now... I have an office on the 30th floor."
"You earned every inch of it, Maya," I said softly, reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. "I didn't give you this job. You fought for it and proved you were the best person for it."
She looked at me, her hazel eyes bright with emotion. "And what about us, Ethan? People in the building are talking. They know we've been seeing each other."
"Let them talk," I smiled, pulling a small velvet box from my jacket pocket.
Maya’s breath caught in her throat. "Ethan... what is that?"
"Relax," I chuckled lightly, opening the box. Inside wasn't a diamond ring, but a beautifully crafted silver keychain shaped like a tiny, stylized horse. "I had a jeweler cast this based on the drawing Lily gave me on New Year's Eve."
Maya gasped, touching the smooth silver charm. "Oh, Ethan... she's going to lose her mind."
May you like
"I was hoping the two of you would come over to my place tonight," I said, my voice turning quiet and sincere. "I hired a chef to cook chicken tenders for Lily, and a real dinner for us. No business. No boards. Just us."
Maya smiled, leaning up on her tiptoes to press a soft, sweet kiss against my cheek. "We'd love that, Just Ethan."
