Chapter 6 Risking the Real Thing

Sunday morning arrived quiet and slow.

Agnes Hart stretched beneath the soft sheets of James's bed, sunlight casting golden slats across his impossibly white walls. The penthouse was still, save for the faint sound of coffee brewing somewhere in the kitchen. It felt like waking up in a dream-one that hadn't yet slipped away.

For once, there were no rules between them. No pretending. No strategy.

Just Agnes. And James.

And the weight of what they'd both begun to risk.

She slid out of bed, wrapping the silky robe around her body, and padded toward the kitchen, following the scent of roasted coffee beans and something else... bacon?

James stood at the stove in sweats and a black T-shirt, hair tousled, barefoot.

"Good morning," he said without looking back. "You eat breakfast, right? Or are you one of those 'coffee is food' people?"

Agnes smiled as she leaned against the counter. "That depends on how good the bacon is."

He finally turned and handed her a mug. "It's excellent. I personally watched my chef cook it once."

She laughed, accepting the mug. "You cook now?"

"I toast. I warm. I supervise." He pointed toward a box of fresh pastries. "And I pick up very expensive bakery boxes when I want to impress someone."

Agnes took a slow sip of coffee. "You're doing a pretty good job."

They ate together in the open space of his kitchen, a quiet intimacy forming between shared bites and soft glances. No questions. No pressure.

But as the silence stretched, Agnes felt a shift.

Because the closer they got to something real, the more terrifying it became.

The Unspoken Fear

After breakfast, they sat on the terrace, overlooking the skyline.

Agnes hugged her knees to her chest as the wind rustled her robe. "This feels... too easy."

James leaned back on the cushioned bench beside her. "Because it's not built on lies anymore?"

She looked at him. "Or maybe because we're trying to build something without a blueprint."

James watched the city for a long time before answering.

"I've never had a real relationship that didn't come with terms," he said quietly. "Even in college. It was always performance. Success. Expectations."

Agnes's heart ached at the confession. "And with me?"

"You weren't part of the plan. You didn't come with a price tag or a pre-written script. You looked me in the eye and saw something broken. And you didn't try to fix it. You just... stayed."

Agnes reached for his hand. "Maybe because I'm a little broken, too."

They sat like that-fingers laced, hearts soft-until James spoke again.

"I want this to work, Agnes."

Her breath caught.

"So do I," she whispered.

"But if we're doing this," he continued, "we do it honestly. All of it."

She hesitated. "What does that mean?"

"It means we stop hiding. At work. In public. No more lines. No more pretending it's casual."

Her pulse thudded. "So you want to go... public?"

"I want to be yours," he said. "And I want everyone to know it."

Agnes's heart swelled-and cracked.

Because deep down, she still feared the spotlight. The scrutiny. The whispers of being the assistant who slept her way up.

But when she looked into James's eyes, all she saw was truth.

"All right," she said. "We go public."

Monday – Exposure

The buzz began as soon as they walked into Reed Innovations together.

Agnes in a cream blouse and pencil skirt, James in his signature tailored navy suit. His hand rested gently at her back as they exited the elevator on the executive floor, the glass walls doing nothing to shield them from the open stares.

They hadn't said anything.

But they didn't have to.

By lunchtime, it was everywhere.

"Office Romance Confirmed: CEO James Reed and Executive Assistant Agnes Hart Go Public"

The press used older photos from the gala, the wedding reception, the rooftop fundraiser. Every image painted a perfect love story-the businessman and the woman who saw beyond the title.

But behind closed doors, Agnes still fought to breathe.

"I can't believe I agreed to this," she said in the privacy of James's office.

"You didn't just agree," he said calmly. "You said yes."

"I said yes to you. Not to becoming gossip fodder."

James crossed to her and gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Then let them talk. We're not a scandal. We're just... us."

She stared at him, and the fear inside her slowly quieted.

Trouble in the Boardroom

But not everyone was happy.

By Wednesday, the whispers had turned to questions.

At a board meeting, one of the senior executives-Gerald Langston, the kind of man who smelled like scotch and superiority-raised his hand.

"James," he said with a tight smile, "I believe we should address the elephant in the room."

James's jaw tightened. "Go on."

"This... relationship with your assistant. There's concern about optics. Favoritism. Workplace ethics."

James didn't flinch. "Agnes no longer reports directly to me. As of today, she's been reassigned to the Strategy Department under Claire Yu."

Agnes blinked. That hadn't been discussed.

Gerald arched a brow. "That's sudden."

"It's appropriate," James replied coolly. "And removes any conflict of interest."

"But still," Gerald said, voice low, "some of the board feels your relationship could damage the company's image."

James stood.

The room fell silent.

"If anyone in this room believes I've made poor decisions for this company," he said calmly, "then speak now. But if your concern is rooted in outdated ideas about women and power, then I suggest you reconsider your position."

No one spoke.

Gerald looked down.

Meeting adjourned.

The Promotion

Back in his office, Agnes stared at James.

"You reassigned me without telling me."

"I did it to protect you."

"And what if I didn't want protection?"

He stepped closer. "Would you rather I let them tear you apart in that room?"

Agnes crossed her arms. "I can handle being judged, James. I've done it before."

"I know," he said softly. "But I'm not letting anyone diminish you to a headline."

She looked away.

He reached for her hand.

"It's a promotion, Agnes. Claire's team is leading the expansion into Europe. You'll be strategy lead."

Her eyes snapped to his. "That's... huge."

"You earned it," he said. "Not because of me. Because of you."

Tears burned behind her eyes. "And you'll still see me?"

James chuckled. "Agnes. You think I'm letting you escape that easily?"

Friday Night – No Turning Back

That weekend, James invited her to dinner again. But this time, he didn't take her to a penthouse. He took her to a quiet restaurant on the city's edge, away from flashbulbs and the usual crowd.

"I thought we were going public," she teased.

"We are. But not everything has to be for them."

Over wine and candlelight, they talked about books, childhoods, fears, and futures.

And somewhere between dessert and the drive home, Agnes realized something terrifying and beautiful.

She was in love with him.

This wasn't about revenge. Or strategy. Or power.

It was about two people who were finally brave enough to try.

As he walked her to her door, James hesitated.

"I want to say something," he said.

She waited.

"I know I'm hard to love. I know I screw things up. But I don't want to screw this up."

Agnes's heart squeezed.

"You won't," she whispered. "Unless you stop trying."

He kissed her slowly, sweetly, deeply.

And for the first time in years, Agnes felt safe.

Not because James was perfect.

But because he was trying to be-for her.