Her neck snaps down and she stares at me, bewildered. “What? What the hell are you talking about?”

Emma got promoted to partner two days after our night at the museum. I left the firm immediately after, taking my time to sort out the next steps professionally and to make sure everything I’ve been working toward is going to plan. She also stopped her companion services, too; reluctantly letting me pay off the rest of her remaining student loans.

I had a whole speech planned for this moment, but right now words are failing me. I can’t remember what I wanted to say. The points I wanted to hit. The plans I wanted to share and the blueprints sitting in my satchel.

“I can’t imagine not working next to you. While I’ve enjoyed the freedom the last couple of years, it’s also really freaking lonely, Emma, not having you by my side in an office. Or, more aptly, getting the chance to stand by your side. This is step one in world domination.”

“Henry Dawson, did you buy me a whole damn building?” she exclaims, and I chuckle.

“Just part of a whole damn building. I’m going to go through this, with or without you, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. But sweetheart, you’re the best attorney there is. If you want to stay where you are, you know I’ll support you. You’re doing such a magnificent job and I don’t want to take that away. I was entertaining the idea of creating something diverse, inclusive, and revolutionary. Together. Like we talked about years ago.”

She gasps, hands flying up to cover her mouth. “Oh my God, how could I say no? Henry, it’s amazing! Yes, of course I’ll join you!”

I laugh as she wraps her arms around my neck, squealing while I pick her up and spin. “I was so nervous to ask.”

“What’s step two in world domination? Did you buy a spaceship?”

Settling her back on the concrete, I motion for the door. “I’ll show you.”

We walk across the quiet lobby. It’s a newly developed building, and only a handful of tenants have moved in so far. Filing into the elevator, I press the button for the seventh floor.

“We could bang in here,” I suggest.

“Before you even buy the space? I’m sure the future landlords would be thrilled to clean up the mess.”

“Mess? Who said anything about a mess? You could just swallow.”

She flicks my ear. “I like the mirrors, though. We should do something about that.”

“Noted, sweetheart. I’ll make our living room look like Versailles.”

When the doors open, I grin. I’ve been to the space dozens of times over the last couple of months, already having plans for desk setups and cubicle areas without putting a deposit down yet.