Darius rested one hand against the doorframe near her shoulder. He did not touch her. “You did good.”
Vanessa looked at the open door. “I did not lock it this time.” Darius smiled. “That is something.”
They returned downstairs. Nia immediately asked for pie. Vanessa gave her half of her own slice after Nia finished hers.
“Are you eating that?” Nia asked. Darius said, “Nia.”
“I’m only asking.” Vanessa slid the plate across. “Please take it.”
Nia accepted it without shame. Darius laughed. Vanessa watched the two of them with an expression Darius could not ignore.
At eight-thirty, Nia fell asleep on the couch. Darius carried her to the Expedition and returned for the pie dish. Vanessa walked him to the front door.
The night was warm. Buckhead’s expensive silence no longer seemed empty. It simply seemed temporarily asleep.
“She is extraordinary.” Vanessa looked toward the car where Nia slept. Darius nodded. “She knows.”
Vanessa smiled. Then her expression became serious. “I want more evenings like this.”
Darius looked at her. Vanessa continued before courage changed its mind.
“I do not know exactly what this is.” She touched one hand against the doorframe. “But I have spent six years wanting nothing personally.”
“I want more dinners.” Her voice softened. “More Nia.”
Then she looked directly at him. “More you.”
Darius held her gaze. “I can do that.” Vanessa released a breath.
He started down the walkway. Vanessa called his name. “Darius.”
He turned. Vanessa smiled faintly. “That first-night joke.”
“The excellent proposal?” She ignored the description. “I knew you were joking.”
“I know.” Vanessa continued. “But for a few seconds, I felt like somebody saw me as a woman instead of a company.”
Darius said nothing. Vanessa looked toward him. “That had not happened in years.”
“You were always both.” He nodded toward the house. “CEO and person.”
“Some people just stopped looking past the first one.” Vanessa stood in the doorway until he drove away.
The following Monday reminded Darius that private progress did not make professional politics disappear. His promotion was formally announced to senior leadership. Vanessa called a meeting with Chief Financial Officer Gregory Sloan, Chief Operating Officer Patricia Lane, and Chief People Officer Stephen Keene.
Darius joined them at ten. Stephen looked at him with the carefully neutral expression executives used when neutrality required effort. Gregory barely looked at him at all.
Vanessa began immediately. “Effective Friday, Darius Coleman has been appointed Director of Infrastructure Integrity.”
She outlined the responsibilities. Three Atlanta properties. Compliance oversight.
Critical systems. Risk prevention. A four-person team.
Stephen interrupted first. “Was there an external search?” Vanessa looked toward him.