BACK TO WORK
740 Words
_Day 27. 6:00 AM. Penthouse._
Lily woke up to Damian already in a suit.
No Bali. No pool. No "unavailable indefinitely."
Back to reality.
"Morning, Mrs. Hart," Damian said, tying his tie. "Board meeting at 9."
Lily groaned into a pillow. "Can we call in sick?"
"Nope." Damian sat on the bed. "We have a company to run. And people who think you were just a contract."
He kissed her. "Time to show them we’re real."
Lily sat up. "What are we wearing?"
"Power," Damian said. "And tacos after."
---
_Day 27. 8:45 AM. Hart Tower._
They walked in together.
Holding hands.
Two rings.
The lobby went silent.
Then phones came out.
_WHART HARTS BACK FROM HONEYMOON_
_CE0 AND COO ARRIVE TOGETHER_
Maya met them at the elevator. New Maya. Not the mole.
"Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Hart. The board is waiting."
Damian squeezed Lily’s hand. "Ready?"
Lily nodded. "Let’s burn it down."
---
_Day 27. 9:00 AM. Boardroom._
12 board members.
Eleanor at the head. Smiling.
"Mr. Hart. Mrs. Hart," Eleanor said. "Welcome back."
Damian didn’t sit at the COO chair.
He pulled out the chair next to him. For Lily.
"This is CEO Hart," Damian said. "And she speaks first."
Lily stood. 10 days tan. Two rings. No fear.
"While we were gone, 3 things happened."
She clicked the remote.
Slide 1: _STOCK UP 14% SINCE BALI ANNOUNCEMENT_
Slide 2: _WHITAKER NETWORK: DISMANTLED_
Slide 3: _NEW PROJECT: HART GLOBAL. LAUNCH Q2_
"I’m not here for 90 days," Lily said. "I’m here for good. And I’m here to double this company."
The room was quiet.
Then one board member clapped.
Then another.
Eleanor smiled. "Motion to make Mrs. Hart Co-CEO."
"Second," Damian said immediately.
"All in favor?"
12 hands.
"Motion passes." Eleanor looked at Lily. "Congratulations, Co-CEO Hart."
Lily exhaled. "Thank you."
---
_Day 27. 12:30 PM. The First Fight As Co-CEOs._
Office. Door closed.
"We need to address Sophia," Damian said.
"She’s in jail," Lily said. "What else?"
"Her trial. Next month. She’s claiming Eleanor made her do it."
Lily froze. "What?"
Damian nodded. "She says Mom paid her $2 million to forge the prenup."
Lily sat down. "Is it true?"
"No," Damian said fast. "But we need to prove it."
Lily looked at him. "Then we do. Together."
Damian came around the desk. "Are you okay? With all of this?"
Lily took his hand. "I’m okay. Because it’s us now."
Damian kissed her knuckles. "Co-CEO Hart."
"Co-CEO Hart," Lily said back.
---
_Day 27. 3:00 PM. The Press._
They had to do it.
Press conference.
"Mr. Hart, is your marriage real?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Hart, did you marry for money?"
"No. I married for love. Twice."
Cameras flashed.
Damian put his arm around her. "Any more questions?"
A reporter: "What about the contract?"
Damian smiled. "We burned it. On our honeymoon."
The room erupted.
---
_Day 27. 7:00 PM. Home._
Takeout on the couch.
No board. No cameras.
Emma was with Eleanor tonight.
Just them.
"I’m exhausted," Lily said, head on Damian’s shoulder.
"Me too," Damian said. "But we did it."
"We did," Lily agreed. "Co-CEOs."
Damian laughed. "Sounds dirty."
Lily hit him with a pillow. "Damian."
He caught her. "I love you, Lily Hart."
"I love you too, Damian Hart."
They ate tacos.
They talked about the future.
They didn’t check their phones once.
---
_Day 28. 8:00 AM. The Email._
Lily opened her laptop.
_Subject: Welcome to Hell, Co-CEO_
_From: unknown@hreport.com_
_This isn’t over. - M_
Lily showed Damian.
He went cold. "M is back."
"Then we find M," Lily said. "Before they find us."
Damian pulled her in. "We will. Together."
---
_Day 28. 6:00 PM. The Plan._
War room again.
Adesina. Security. Eleanor.
"Options," Damian said.
"Find M," Lily said. "And end this."
Eleanor nodded. "Then we can finally have peace."
Damian looked at Lily. "You sure?"
Lily smiled. "I’m sure. Because I have you."
Damian took her hand. "And I have you."
---
_Day 29. The New Beginning._
Hart Tower. 40th floor.
Two desks. One office.
_CEO: Lily Hart_
_COO: Damian Hart_
No contract on the desk.
Just a photo from Bali.
And a note: _Tacos Friday_
Lily sat down.
Damian sat next to her.
"Ready to run a company, Mrs. Hart?"
"Ready to run it with you, Mr. Hart."
Outside, the city was theirs.
Inside, the war wasn’t over.
But they had each other.
And it was enough.
_TO BE CONTINUED..._
- Writer
