He points at the drawer right in front of me. “There’s a tablet in there I need. I want to show you something.”
My dream of office sex won’t be coming true today.
I roll back to give him room to open the drawer.
He yanks out a tablet. He swipes a finger over the screen to power it up.
“I want you to look at something for me.”
I glance up to his face. He’s not smiling. If anything, he looks worried, or concerned.
Anxiety roots itself in my stomach in the form of a knot. What could he possibly have to show me? Please don’t let it be related to Drake coming back to New York.
I may have been eager for that to happen a few days ago, but now I want my brother to take his time.
I’m not ready to say goodbye to Case yet.
‘This is Letter Leap.” He places the tablet in my hands. “We’re working out a glitch, but you shouldn’t run into a problem if you play the first few levels. Give it a try.”
I scan the screen, taking in the brightly colored graphics.
When I gaze back at Case, he’s scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck. Something has shifted dramatically since he walked into this office. “You want me to play a game? Do you want my opinion on it? Drake sent me an early copy of Gem Stars.”
His eyes close briefly. “Please just start the game, Emma.”
Nodding, I set my focus on the screen. I tap the start now button and take time to set up the features, including adding my name. I choose the skill level of a first grader since I’ve worked with many during my time at Garrington Academy. I assume this is the point where a parent would hand the tablet over to their child to play.
An animated frog pops on the screen.
He croaks out a greeting to me. “ Hi, Emma. Welcome to Letter Leap .”
Working my way through the first few puzzles, I feel my pulse quicken. This is surreal. I can’t believe this.
I stop to glance up at Case standing next to me. “This is Spell Snake. All of it is exactly what I envisioned. I gave Drake all the details right down to the old talking apple tree with the crooked teeth and the long eyelashes.”
I expect a smile to creep over Case’s lips, but instead, I see fury behind his eyes.
I place the tablet on the desk. “What’s wrong?”
Case sets a hand on the corner of the desk, and the other on the back of the chair so he can lean closer to me. “Did he tell you he was using your idea?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“ Fuck ,” slips from between his lips.
“I don’t mind,” I try and smooth out his anger. “He’s my brother. It’s fine. I got him to help me with an English paper when I was in high school.”
His jaw tenses. “This isn’t the same, Emma.”
“It is to me.”
He crouches to look me directly in the eyes. “Did you come up with the concept for this game on your own?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer tentatively because I have no idea what’s running through his head. “I thought a snake was a great idea, but obviously, Drake thinks a frog is better.”
“You need a lawyer, Emma.”
Panic shoots through me. A lawyer? What the hell do I need a lawyer for?
In the scramble to rush to my feet, I almost knock Case flat on his ass. He stands, giving me room to do the same.
“What’s going on?” I knit my shaking hands together in a fist in front of my stomach. I feel nauseous. “Drake told me about people pitching ideas to Cabbott that were replicas of apps that belong to other tech companies. Do you think that’s what I did? You think I stole the idea for this app from someone?”
Case reaches for my hands. He quiets them immediately by drawing them to his chest. “I think your brother stole the idea from you.”
I laugh. “That’s not what happened. I suggested an idea, and he developed it.”
Case exhales sharply. “You are the creative mind behind Letter Leap. You’re entitled to compensation and recognition for that.”
I try to wrap my brain around what he’s saying. “What kind of compensation?”
He brings my hands to his face to skim his lips over one of my palms. “A royalty. We’ll work that out. You need to get a lawyer to negotiate terms, Emma, but Cabbott will be generous. I promise we’ll be more than generous for this idea and the development of Vary Tales.”
My head is spinning as I take it all in. “You’re going to develop Vary Tales?”
His eyes lock on mine. “I’d like you to consider joining the development team as a narrative designer for that project and others in our educational division.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means a full-time job at Cabbott.” He glances at the tablet before he levels his gaze back on me. “I’ll explain more if you’re interested.”
I’m interested. How could I not be, but... “I don’t know anything about coding or software development or the other terms Drake is always talking about.”
“You don’t need to be skilled in any of that.” He squeezes my hands. “Essentially, you envision the concept of the game or program and our software developers will help you bring it to life. It’s what we’ve done with Letter Leap. Your vision is now a reality.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I became a teacher because I want to help kids learn. It’s what I love to do.”
His hands move to cup my cheeks. “You will be helping millions of kids learn through these apps, Emma. You can make a difference in so many lives.”
Biting my lower lip, I suck in a deep breath. “Will I make as much as I do teaching?”
He cracks a wide smile. “The salary for a narrative designer is substantial, but you should know in terms of royalties on these games, you’re looking well into seven figures, if not higher the first year of release.”
My knees go weak for the second time today.
Case is there to catch me again. He circles his arms around me. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “No, I am… seven figures… that’s in the millions, right?”
His lips brush my forehead. “Yes.”
I hold tight to him because the earth just shifted under my feet.
Holy hell.
My entire life has changed in an instant.
Chapter 53
Case
I sit Emma back down in the chair because all the color has drained from her beautiful face.
A dozen thoughts crowd my mind, but all I can focus on is the fact that I can tell her that the job is based in San Francisco.
I could build a life with her.
We’d take Cabbott to the next level hand-in-hand.
“Are you mad at Drake?” Her question breaks through my fantasy.
“Disappointed,” I answer truthfully.
I was seething a few minutes ago, but I’ve placed the weight of the world on my best friend’s shoulders. I dropped my business into his lap seven years ago and expected him to take the reins until I found my footing again.
I gave him the impossible task of sorting through details of the life I left behind here in New York. No one should expect another to take care of some of the things I pushed at him.
But he did it. He never complained or questioned me.
He cared enough to give me a clear path to heal after the worst experience of my life.
How can I rail on him for this?
“I don’t think he meant to steal anything from me,” Emma says quietly. “Drake isn’t like that.”
Drake is as devoted to Cabbott as I am. Breaking into the educational app space is a big step for us. He looked to his sister for inspiration, so it’s on him to sort that out with her on a personal level. I won’t get into the middle of that, but I will do what I can do look out for Emma’s best interests.
I can fool myself into believing I’m doing this to cover Cabbott Mobile’s ass since Drake took her idea and ran to the bank with it.
That’s
not why I’m going to have contracts drawn up that guarantee Emma will be well compensated for her creative ingenuity.
I want her to get what is due to her.
She deserves this.
“I’ll talk to Drake about this,” I offer. “You’ll get to work finding a lawyer. I want all of this handled as soon as possible.”
Her gaze drops to her lap. “I know a lawyer in Seattle. He helped me with my contract when I signed on with the Garrington Academy.”
“Did Archie recommend him?”
She glances at me with perked brows. “Yes. Beauregard said he handled the estate planning for his grandparents too.”
“He’s not going to work for this.” I lean against the edge of the desk, crossing my feet at the ankles. “You need someone who specializes in contract work. I can have Elias put together a list of attorneys in Manhattan who are skilled in that area.”
“Someone in your back pocket?” She winks, or her nervous tic has got a hold of her.
“The only lawyers in my back pocket work for Cabbott.” I look her in the eye, so she understands I’m serious. “I won’t steer you wrong on this, Emma. I want this above board for obvious reasons.”
She drops her head into her hands, shielding her face from my view. “Is this really happening?”
“It is.”
Her hands fall to the desk, but she keeps her head bowed. “Where will I work? I mean, what city will I work in? I know you have different offices.”
With expectation swimming in them, her eyes meet mine as she waits for me to answer.
The urge to say ‘ San Francisco’ is almost overwhelming, but I stop myself.
“We’ll figure out those details in the contract.”
With a faint nod of her head, she glances at the desk. “When I came to New York, I didn’t think my entire life would change.”
Neither did I.
The moment breaks with a knock on the door.
Fuck.
“What?” I bark out, knowing that it has to be Elias on the other side.
He opens the door with a flourish and a smile. “We got it, sir! The framework issue on Letter Leap is fixed.”
“Thank Christ,” I mutter under my breath.
Emma slides to her feet. “We should celebrate.”
Elias nods a little too exuberantly for someone who isn’t getting near any celebration that involves Emma. “I’ll get some champagne.”
“You’ll get the hell out of the office.” I shoot him a look. “Give Emma and I a minute alone, and then I’ll head down to check out the fix.”
He laughs like I’m jesting.
Fool.
“Out, Elias.” I take a step toward him. “Get Drake on the phone. I want him informed of where we are on this.”
“On it, sir.”
Once the door is shut, I tug Emma closer to me. “I need some time to check on this.”
“I need some time too.”
She doesn’t expand, and I don’t pry. I just dropped a future in her lap that she didn’t see coming.
I wish to fuck I could offer more. I want to give her everything she deserves.
“I’ll see you at the apartment later?” She runs a hand over my bicep. “Or do I need to steer clear of the place?”
“Maya won’t show up today,” I assure her with a smile. “You are more than welcome to get naked and wait for me.”
Her lips brush mine in a soft kiss. “I might have to put that on my agenda.”
I scan the watch on my wrist. “I’ll do my best to make it back by seven.”
“I’ll do my best to not touch myself until then.”
A groan escapes me. “Fuck. You’ll make me hard if you talk like that.”
“Just think about it.” Her finger trails a path over my chin. “I’d give almost anything to feel this on my thighs again.”
I grab her hand and press it to the light beard covering my jaw. “This?”
With a perch up to her tiptoes, she kisses me again. Her tongue strokes mine, tempting me. “And that. I want to feel that again.”
“You have yourself a deal.” I cup the back of her neck with my hand. “I’ll see you later, Freckles.”
“You can count on it, Rush.”
Chapter 54
Emma
I could have stayed in Drake’s office and waited for Case to finish up with his work, but I needed time alone to digest what happened today.
I’m being handed a chance to change my life completely.
Although it couldn’t have come at a better time, something inside of me is mourning the life I had a month ago.
I don’t miss Beauregard. That’s not it at all.
I’ll never be able to drive over to the house I grew up in to hang out with my parents. I won’t braid Whitney’s hair while she complains about a guy she secretly wants to date.
Sandy and I will never again convince the woman who runs the theatre near my condo to let us sneak in just to buy a bag of popcorn because it’s the best we’ve ever tasted.
Beyond all of that, I’ll miss the kids I worked with.
I know most of them by name since I’ve floated in and out of their classrooms.
Life changes. I know that. I accept that.
I want that.
I move from where I’ve been standing near the window in Case’s apartment that overlooks Madison Avenue.
When I got here an hour ago, I let myself in and dropped the envelope in my hand on the dining room table.
Lester gave it to me as I was passing through the lobby on my way up here.
It’s the print I had made of Drake’s wedding that I ordered through the Printe app. I look at the envelope, suddenly wondering if Drake was actually the person who created the app or not.
I’ve never doubted my older brother, but I do now.
Faulting him for taking my idea and passing it off as his own won’t splinter our relationship. The only thing it’s proven to me is that he’s human.
He has flaws.
We all have flaws.
Setting myself into one of the dining chairs, I open the envelope and slide out the picture.
The quality is impressive. The colors are vibrant.
I’ve never ordered anything from the app other than snapshot size prints for my scrapbook.
My phone’s sudden ring jars me enough that the picture falls from my hands onto the table. I stare at it, marveling at how happy Drake looks even though he’s not facing the camera.
I fish in my purse for my phone and pull it out.
“Drake,” I whisper his name before I slide my finger over the screen to answer the call.
“Hey,” I say quietly.
“Em,” he pauses. “Fuck, Em. I’m sorry.”
Tears don’t come because I’m not sad. I’m feeling something that borders on relief combined with acceptance.
Drake is just a man. He’s not the superhero I’ve always made him out to be in my mind.
“I know,” I reassure him.
“You don’t know,” he counters. “I feel like shit. I should have discussed it with you. I should have gone to Case and explained that the idea for Letter Leap didn’t belong to me.”
“Case is handling it,” I say it with conviction. “I’m handling it.”
“I’ll make this up to you.”
How? He made a mistake. He’s apologized and since I’ll be working in the educational division at Cabbott, I’ll be in control of what I bring to the table. I’ll take ownership of that.
The blind trust I had in him may be fractured, but time can rebuild it to a place that’s more balanced.
“We found a house,” he blurts out before I can say anything.
I shut my eyes, trying to grasp what he just said. “What?”
“It was the first one we saw.” His voice climbs to a chirpy tone. It’s suddenly more cheerful. “We’ll put an offer in tomorrow morning.”
“Don’t you want to see a few others before you commit?”
“When you find something that’s perfect for you, why bother looking for anything else?”
I glance up when I hear the apartment door open.
Case’s smile is the first thing I see.
“You’re right,” I say to my brother. “Why keep looking once you’ve found perfection?”
***
“Did you give him hell?” Case asks as I place my phone on the table after ending my call with Drake.
I didn’t tell him I love him. Drake didn’t offer the words to me either, but the sentiment is there even if it’s buried under other emotions.
“Did you?” I counter.
“That and more.” He slides his suit jacket off. “I’m hiring someone to oversee him in London. Drake will be second in command there.”
It’s a demotion. It’s likely temporary but warranted all the same.
I sense that if anyone else in Cabbott’s organization tried to get away with what Drake did, they’d be fired.
“Is the London office an option for me?”
A slow smile spreads over his lips. “You’re not ready to take on the role of being your brother’s keeper, Emma.”
I laugh that off. “That’s not what I meant.”
He works to unbutton his shirt. “I know.”
He doesn’t expand on that, so I press for more. “Is New York going to be my home base?”
My breath catches when he opens his shirt because the man is gorgeous, and the sight of him takes my breath away every time.
“We’ll talk about that.”
I’d ask when but I can tell he wants something else right now. I step out of my sandals. Before I can drop my hands to the buttons on my blouse, he’s on top of me.
“How are you so beautiful and so smart and so everything, Emma Owens?”
Biting the corner of my bottom lip, I shake my head. “That’s a secret I’ll never share.”
“Do you have secrets?” He pops a brow.
“Do you?”
His gaze falls to the floor as he swallows hard. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“You know mine.” I try to lighten the mood. “I was celibate for a long time.”
His hands grip my waist. “A woman like you should never be denied what she wants.”
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