Chapter 265: Back Home
- DEX -
It’s the first day back to work after one week in Costa Rica with my fiancé and one week in Italy with my wife, and I pause outside the door to Mobius Media with Raya by my side. She has the nervous jitters wondering how everyone is going to react, so I take her hand.
"You and me, Raya," I say softly. "No one else’s opinion matters here."
Her eyebrows thread together adorably over those crystal blue eyes. "I know."
"If anyone crosses the line with a comment or makes you uncomfortable..."
"Dex," she says, stopping me. "I’m not that intern you needed to protect. I’m a grown woman with ambitions and talent. I’m an asset to this company, and I’m going to prove it. To all of them and to you."
"Oh, I already know it, angel," I chuckle. "There’s nothing to prove."
"I’m going to do it anyway." She lifts her chin stubbornly. "Watch me."
"You are so sexy when you’re confident."
Her cheeks flush while she maintains that arrogant, dismissive expression and fights a smile. I tug on her hand and pull her close.
"Who am I kidding? You’re sexy all the time."
She giggles and pushes away when I lean to kiss her. "Professionalism, Dex. We’re about to go in."
"Then meet me in the file room in twenty minutes. I don’t need to be professional there."
"How about we not create a scandal on our first day back?" Her eyes widen in warning as she pushes though the doors.
"I’m pretty sure we’re bringing the scandal with us." I lift her hand and look at the ring. "Might as well take advantage."
"We’re not having sex in the file room, Dex," she whispers harshly.
An anxious laugh beats me to a reply, and we both turn to see Jay stopped in his tracks. It looks like he ran up quickly to greet us, and now he’s frozen in awkward surprise, unsure of where to look or what to say.
"Welcome back," he says with that same nervous laughter. "Mr. Dex, Miss Raya. Hello. Hi, hello."
"Mr. Jay." Raya curtsies. "Thank you for the greeting. I missed you."
His eyes brighten and flick to me nervously like I’m going to be upset.
"She can miss you, Jay," I chuckle, slapping him on the shoulder. "I’m not an insecure man."
"N-no, of course not, Mr. Dex," he stutters. "I didn’t hear anything. Just now, I didn’t. In case you were wondering. Not that it would make you less secure if I did hear something. That’s not what I’m saying."
He looks back and forth between Raya and I, searching to see what meaning we’re receiving. Raya looks as confused as I feel, but there’s a hint of amusement tugging into a smile.
"You, Mr. Dex, have security, you are secure. You are the most secure man I know, and I’m so grateful to be working here. So grateful. I love my job." The last sentence is said on the verge of despair like I’m about to fire him.
"Jay!" Raya grabs him by the shoulder, chuckling. "It’s fine. Everything is fine."
His eyebrows pinch, unsure of whether or not to believe her. But Raya’s smile is contagious, and he ends up smiling too.
As if she can hear my thoughts, Raya glances at me. I raise my eyebrows and receive a wink in return before she guides Jay back the way he came. Maybe she can convince him that he didn’t just hear her talking about sex in the file room. Regardless, there is no way my wife will agree to meet me there now.
My wife. My fingers automatically find the ring that’s replaced the other one I used to wear, and I think back on everything that brought us to this point.
I was wandering for so long, avoiding home, avoiding the sorrow that my mother’s death caused and trying to distract myself with each new novel experience, each new country or culture. And then what brought me back was my father’s illness.
It feels like Raya was a gift, dropped straight out of heaven right here in our company, just for me. From the first moment I saw her, she was familiar. Now I know why. She was mine.
"Welcome back." Laurel smiles, standing when I approach her desk. "Jeremy said to let him know when you arrived. I know he wants to catch you up on everything from when you were away. Would you like some time to settle in or would you like me to let him know now?"
"I’ll go to his office, but can you do something else for me?"
"Yes?"
"Raya’s information needs to be changed in the system."
"Oh!" Her eyes widen, and she looks around behind me. "Is she no longer with us?"
"She’s with us. I just need you to update her name."
Laurel looks confused. "Did she... change it?"
"Yes. Now it’s the same as mine."
She continues to stare at me, not immediately understanding my meaning. And then all the sudden, her mouth drops. "You’re married?"
A bunch of heads turn and pop up, overhearing the exclamation. When they see me, gasps and whispers spread, but everyone looks away, afraid to be caught staring.
"Yes, Raya and I got married." I say it loud enough that everyone can hear, unable to hold back the smile that accompanies it. "She’s a Mobius now."
"That is..." Laurel searches for the polite, appropriate words, but has a hard time for a few moments before the professionalism finally begins to return. "... So wonderful. Congratulations."
When Raya and Jay walk in behind me, the room becomes filled with welcoming applause. Everyone who was avoiding staring at me alone apparently has none of those issues with her arrival, because there are smiles everywhere I look.
Jay bows, accepting the applause like they’re for him, which makes laughter join the cheering and makes Raya laugh, too. I grab her hand and pull her close, kissing the back of it for everyone to see. We’re partners. Husband and wife. The head of Mobius Media. The sooner that everyone accepts that, the better.
"When’s the party?" Cricket asks, running up to hug Raya.
"Oh. We hadn’t talked about a party," Raya says, turning to me with a silent question. Should we throw a party?
"You can’t get married and not have a party!" Cricket says, looking around for support.
"That would be fun," I agree. "We’ll arrange something."
"We could have it here," Laurel suggests. "Would you like me to work on the details?"
"It won’t be a business thing, Laurel," I tell her, squeezing Raya’s hand when I do. "But thank you, we’ll let you know if we need help."
Then Raya and I wade through the crowd while I pull her behind me, accepting well wishes and congratulations from everyone, but I don’t let go of her hand. This is how we’re moving forward through life now—together. Her and I. And I’m never letting her go.
