Chapter 51 – “The Answer He Brings Back”

The sun had barely broken through the city skyline when Will turned over in bed and watched Eliza sleep.

She always looked softer in the mornings — hair mussed, brow uncreased, lips slightly parted. Powerful women weren't supposed to look like this, he thought.

But Eliza always shattered expectations in the quietest ways.

He brushed her shoulder gently. She stirred.

"Eliza."

She blinked slowly. "You're leaving me for London, aren't you?"

He smiled faintly. "No."

She sat up, groggy but alert now. "Then what?"

"I'm not taking the job."

A pause.

She didn't exhale yet. "Why not?"

He took her hand. "Because I realized I don't want their version of the dream. I want ours."

Her eyes searched his.

"I don't want to fly solo through something amazing just to prove I can," he continued. "I want to build something lasting. And that doesn't have to mean staying static, Eliza. It just means staying together."

She didn't speak.

But her fingers tightened in his.

"I said no," he added softly, "but I also sent a counter-offer."

That got her attention. "You what?"

"I offered to lead the program remotely with biannual on-site visits and satellite hubs coordinated through our foundation here. I pitched them a hybrid model that keeps me home and keeps them global."

"You negotiated with a global philanthropy board."

"I've been dating a CEO," he said, eyes warm. "I learn fast."

She stared at him, something in her cracking wide open.

"You didn't choose me over you," she said slowly.

"No," he agreed. "I chose us."

Later that morning, while they drank coffee on the balcony and watched the city stretch to life, Eliza set her cup down and turned to him.

"I have something to tell you."

His brow rose. "Should I be sitting down?"

"You are."

She reached for his hand. Her pulse fluttered under her skin. But she didn't let go.

"I took my name off the quarterly CEO memo."

His face softened.

"I added yours."

He blinked.

"Eliza—"

She squeezed his hand. "No, not as co-CEO. That's still mine. But I added your title. Officially. Director of Global Equity Partnerships."

He laughed.

"You gave me a job?"

"I gave you a place," she said. "Inside my world. Publicly. Permanently. Not because I had to. But because I wanted to."

Silence.

Then:

"So," he said, trying to keep the emotion from his voice, "does this mean I get an office?"

She grinned. "It's already being painted."

He leaned in, brushed his lips against hers.

"This still feel like peace to you?"

She smiled against his mouth.

"No. Not just peace."

"What then?"

She pulled him closer.

"This feels like forever."