Final Chapter! What started as a random thought as I lounged around my pool one day became something really fun to write. Hope y'all enjoy. And now I can start posting my new story after this. I'm afraid I've started something I can't stop!

And Thulas- thanks!

Chapter 10

Emily stepped off of the elevator onto the executive floor of McCullers Enterprises. On the drive over she wracked her brain on how she could explain this to Nick McCullers. She doubted he would see her side of things. She fully expected him to fire her from the account which would in turn mean dismissal from Instinct.

Sandy greeted her outside of Nick McCullers office. "Emily, hi. Thanks for coming at such short notice. You can go on in; Mr. McCullers is waiting for you." Emily took a deep breath, steeled her nerves, and pushed through the door to face Nick McCullers.

"Emily, so glad you could come in," Nick said with a smile on his face.

He doesn't look pissed she thought to herself. "Uh, no problem Mr. McCullers. Sandy caught me at a good time," she managed to say.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you in with such urgency. I'm heading to New York tomorrow and I wanted to talk to you before I leave. I've been very impressed with your work on the branding campaign for Energetic." Where is he going with this Emily thought to herself. "I need someone with your expertise to join the marketing department here at McCullers Enterprises. I'm hoping you'll consider taking the job."

WHAT?! Emily was dumbfounded. Her mouth went as dry as the Sahara. Time stretched before her until she was able to reply. "Wow, thank you so much Mr. McCullers for considering me. I'm sorry, I'm just a little shocked. Can I take a few days to think this through before I give you my answer?"

As she walked out of the building the weight of the situation hit her like a truck. Paige. This changes everything.

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Paige was panicked after she saw Emily's text. What's worse is that Emily wasn't answering her phone. She had to know what happened. She raced to her dad's office and ran up to Sandy's desk. "You just missed her, Sugar," Sandy replied knowing why Paige was there.

"Sandy, what is going on?," Paige asked pleading for some sort of answer.

"Your dad just offered Emily a job," Sandy explained. "I saw the package from HR, Paige. Emily would be crazy not to take this offer."

"Oh. My. God," Paige said in shock. She knew what she had to do now.

Paige walked into her dad's office. There were pictures of her as a kid and later as a swimmer at Stanford lining his credenza. They had grown closer the past several months as she spent more time at the office helping with Energetic. She hoped this revived relationship with her dad would soften the blow of what she was about to do.

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Emily was staring at the water from a bench in Battery Park. Her car seemed to steer her here of its own volition. This was where she met Paige months ago. It seemed only right to come here now. The decision Emily was tasked to make would have a lasting impact on both of their futures. She was deep in thought as she heard someone approach. Somehow she knew who that someone would be.

"Emily, can I sit down?," Paige asked, approaching hesitantly. She wasn't sure what kind of head space Emily was going to be in right now.

"You know, don't you? That's why you're here," Emily responded.

"I do. In fact, I just left my dad's office. Emily, it's a great offer, you need to take it," Paige said, surprising Emily. She felt a little hurt thinking that Paige might not actually want to be with her. Paige saw this in Emily's eyes and responded quickly, "I just sold ownership of the company, Em. I'm no longer affiliated with McCullers Enterprises."

"Paige, no, you can't do that. You can't jeopardize the relationship with your father. I can't ruin your life, I won't!" Emily said, tears starting to cascade down her cheeks.

"Emily, I don't want to know a life without you in it. I love you; I know this may seem soon and maybe it is but my feelings for you are real. All I want to do is be with you. McCullers Enterprises was never going to be my life's work. I would never forgive myself knowing that I held you back if you don't take the job because of me."

Emily heard the sincerity in Paige's words. The girl had made a huge sacrifice for her. She loved Paige for this and so many other reasons that she felt her heart would explode. "I love you too, Paige. So much. I want to be with you too," she said as she wrapped her arms around Paige and kissed her, pouring every ounce of love she had into it.

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Emily thought for sure Nick McCullers would be angry with her this time. Paige went back with her to McCullers Enterprises as moral support. Emily was getting the worse kind of déjà vu when she stepped back onto the executive floor. Paige called Sandy on the way over and let her know they were coming. "Go on in hun, I told him you were coming," Sandy said to Emily, squeezing her hand.

"Mr. McCullers, thank you for seeing me again before you leave," Emily began.

His expression was stoic as he looked up at her. "Emily, I think at this point you should call me Nick," he said back.

"Ok…Nick. I'll get to the point. I love your daughter very much. She means the world to me. We recently started a romantic relationship, which I guess you know about now," Emily explained. "I tried for so long to keep my distance from her but the connection between us became too strong to ignore. I'm sorry the circumstances resulted in Paige selling her ownership of McCullers Enterprises. I apologize if you feel that I have betrayed your trust. But I can never apologize for loving Paige."

Nick could see that Emily loved Paige with her whole heart. He wasn't sure how he missed it before. "You know, this wasn't the life I planned for Paige. When she graduated Stanford I expected her to join McCullers Enterprises," he said with a hint of resignation in his voice. "When she told me she was going to start her own business I was furious. This caused a lot of friction in our relationship over the years. I'm not proud to admit that I resented Paige for her choice not to join the family business. That said, she has done a wonderful job with Progress. She is every bit the talented businesswoman I knew she would be," Nick explained. "Recently I have noticed a change in her, and now I know why. It's you, Emily. You make my daughter happy. You have brought Paige back to me, and for that I am thankful. You have my blessing to date my daughter, and I hope you take the job," Nick said, shocking Emily.

6 years later…..

Emily was at another annual conference for McCullers Enterprises. She had spent the past six years devoted to the company. Emily made a name for herself there, and it wasn't just because she had dated the owner's daughter. Her hard work paid off. Within three years she had been promoted to Vice President of Marketing for the company and had nothing but a promising future in front of her.

Nick McCullers was on stage greeting the attendees at the opening meeting. He was about to introduce Emily on stage. Where IS she Emily thought to herself. Paige always was a balm for her nerves. Almost instinctively Paige walked up, putting her cell phone away. "I was just on the phone with Abbey. The new Progress in Charlotte grand opens in three weeks. She's stressing a little," Paige said as she approached.

"How is everything?," Emily asked a little distractedly.

"She is adjusting to her new role as VP of Operations. I think the expansion into neighboring states is exciting for her yet stressful at the same time." Paige looked at Emily and saw the signs. "I know you are nervous. You get this way every time you have a speaking engagement and every time you leave the room with a standing ovation. You're going to be great," Paige said, reassuring Emily.

When Paige sold her ownership of the company six years ago Nick came to accept that McCullers Enterprises may leave the hands of the family. He never considered that another McCullers could step in and take the helm one day. "Ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to announce the new Chief Operating Officer and part owner of McCullers Enterprises, Emily Fields-McCullers."

"Knockem' dead, babe," Paige said to Emily with a smile. Show time Emily thought as she kissed her wife and ascended the stairs to the stage.