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As time went on and lunchtime got closer, Poppy and I only got more agitated, frustrated, and angry. We were trying to work but neither one of us seemed to be able to focus or find a moment to be alone. We still had thirty minutes until lunch and I had to talk to her without being interrupted or being nervous about someone overhearing us.

I scribbled down 'signal' on a post-it note before standing up, sticking it onto her desk as I walked out. I ran a hand down my face, loosening up my tie and going into the coffee room, which was luckily empty. I rolled up my sleeves and began making a coffee for myself and tea for her but just then, Katy walked in. I stopped what I was doing and gave her a nod on my way out.

With a quick look around, I opened the janitor's closet and slipped inside, groaning as I kicked a bucket closer and sat on top of it since it was upside down.

It took a minute or two before the door opened a sliver and she quickly came in, closing the door softly. "Jesus, why are you sitting in the dark?" She reached up, tugging on the chain and lighting up the room. She looked down at me and neither one of us uttered a word. She paused, folding her arms across her chest. "What do you want to do, Josh?"

"It's not about what I want to do, Poppy. We have to stop her."

"We can't," she replied, "think about it. We have every disadvantage possible and she's got the upper hand in all aspects. Our best shot is at finding a solution. In terms of what to do once Lydia knows."

"Should we just tell her ourselves? Confess?"

"I don't know," she mumbled, "what if Valerie is just bluffing? What if she won't tell Lydia?"

"She has every reason to."

She nodded. "Okay, but what's going to happen if we confess? It doesn't change..." she trailed off in thought before agreeing. "Yeah. Let's confess."

I blinked in confusion, lifting my head to look at her. "Why do you think we should? I want to know what you're thinking."

She agreed too quickly.

"Well," she cleared her throat, "if we tell Lydia ourselves, she'll be less angry, obviously."

I nodded in agreement.

"And um." She fidgeted with her earrings. "If we tell her, chances are only one of us will be blamed. We both know Lydia doesn't play fair anyway. So, worse comes to worst, one of us will be fired."

"That's what Valerie wants anyway."

"Yeah, but Valerie wants to get you fired. And Lydia won't fire you."

"Yeah, but she'll fire you."

"She'll fire me. Not you."

I stood up, brows knitted together in confusion. "Poppy, we agreed. If one of us goes, we both do."

"I know we did, but Josh just think about it. You've been working here for five years and you've worked hard to get where you are today. You—"

"Where am I today?" I scoffed softly, "Look, being your boss's favorite isn't how you measure success."

"Josh, you're her favorite, rightfully so. You've earned it all. And it shouldn't be taken away from you because of me. How would you feel if the roles were reversed?"

"But Poppy, this isn't your fault."

"It feels a bit like it. How come everything is on the line for you but not me? We both are just as involved as the other person. How come you could lose it all and not me? Let her fire me, it's not like I care so much about this job. I've learned the hard way that over the years, Lydia loses her manners and this office loses its glamor. But you like this job, don't you?"

"I like this job because I get to work with you, Poppy. I would have quit a long time ago if it weren't for you. If it weren't for coming to work and bickering with you, or getting to see you every day, or getting even just a silent minute alone with you in the coffee room. I stuck around for you.

"I was on the verge of quitting when you came here and I stayed because I wanted to be around you. I felt drawn to you. And you know what? I can quit this job, Poppy, but I can't quit you. Because I've never loved anybody the way I love you and I never will again. I told you before, you're worth every fucking regret and every rule I break. I meant it."

She stared at me silently before blinking away, lowering her head and staring at her shoes, shifting her weight. "I don't want to cost you anything," she mumbled.

"You're not." I stepped forward, tilting her chin up with my knuckles. "And even if you were, you're worth more than anything. Poppy, I love you. And this job wouldn't mean to me what it does today without you."

She sighed and then snuck her arms around my torso. "But you like the job."

"I like to travel. Get me any job where I can do that with you and I'm set."

"Yeah, but... what if that job isn't as good as this one? What if you don't get to travel as much? What if you lose more than you gain?"

"Oh well," I shrugged, "I'll still be with you. If I can't travel as much, we'll travel outside of work more often together. If I lose more than I gain, you can make up for it."

"With what?"

"Just you. Just by being around me, with me. By being mine. Do you have no idea how much you mean to me?"

"I do. That's why I don't want you to hate me if you regret it later. If you decide one day that I'm not worth losing—"

"You're worth everything in this world."

She paused for a minute, moving a hand up to brush my hair back. "Josh. Are you sure?"

I nodded immediately. I didn't have to think about it, there was no doubt in my mind.

"We're both quitting then," she concluded.

I wanted to tell her to keep the job, but if the roles were reversed, I know I wouldn't. If I know how much she means to me, I shouldn't doubt how much I meant to her. But I still asked, "You can keep the job if you want. Why don't you?"

"I don't want to work here without you. I don't want another travel partner, I like this one. Actually, I love this one." She came up on her toes as I leaned down, our lips colliding in a kiss.

My arms tightened around her waist while she pulled me closer, her lips moving against mine in perfect rhythm. I slowed down and pulled away but she was grabbing my tie and drawing me back in instantly. Taking a step forward, I heard her back hit the door gently and I reached forward, trailing a hand up her thigh and under her skirt.

She smiled against my lips before grabbing my hand, pulling away, and breaking the kiss. "Not here," she whispered, shaking her head.

"Then let's go home for the lunch break," I replied, lifting a brow at her.

Laughing, she fixed my tie, "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. I think an hour is enough."

She shook her head, smirking, "I don't."

I watched her, my lip quipping into a small grin. "Oh, okay. After work then."

She nodded, coming up and placing a kiss on my jaw and then moving to my cheek. When she went to kiss my cheek a second time, I turned my head and caught her lips in another kiss, earning a soft giggle against my lips before she slowly pushed me off. "Okay. Self-control."

"Went out the window," I mumbled, fixing her hair.

We stood in silence for a moment. "Do you think we should wait until the end of the day?" she questioned.

I shook my head softly. "We should tell her now. Then we can have lunch that lasts longer than an hour and sex that lasts the whole day."

She rolled her eyes while I pressed a kiss to her neck. "Should we go then?" she asked.

I nodded with a hum. Pulling her away from the door, I twisted it open and took her hand, leading her to Lydia's office with me.

I knocked on the door until she said we could come in and when we walked in, we saw that Valerie was right here. She was standing in front of her mother while Lydia ate her lunch, glaring at Valerie. "Yes, Josh and Poppy? What can I do for you?" she sighed.

I glanced from Valerie to Lydia.

Did she already tell her?

"We had to tell you something," I said.

"Go ahead."

I nudged Poppy. "We're quitting," she announced.

Valerie relaxed, shrugging at her Mom. "See. I told you they were together."

"Valerie," Lydia scolded.

"Whatever," Valerie groaned, rolling her eyes and strutting out.

"She told you?" Poppy asked.

"Yes. About five minutes ago."

I hesitated, "And?"

"And?" Lydia replied.

"What are you going to do?" I questioned. "Fire us? Put us in different departments? What will it be?"

"Nothing," she chuckled. "I'm well aware that you're breaking the rules but I can't afford to lose my best writers."

"Are you kidding?" Poppy scoffed beside me. "You can afford to lose great employees but not us when we break the same rules? Just because we have the most readers?"

"Yes, precisely."

"No," she shook her head. "That's not fair."

"Life's not fair," Lydia shrugged.

"You don't get to decide what people's lives are like, Lydia," I said. "You can't be so blatant with this. If you'd fire anyone else, fire us."

"Like I did Owen?"

"Yeah," we replied in sync.

"No. Owen wasn't as good as you," she said, looking at me. "But, you want to get fired? Sure." She turned to Poppy. "Honey, Poppy, you're fired."

"Excuse me?" Poppy laughed. "And why just me?"

"You broke the rules."

"So did I," I scoffed.

"Well," Lydia said nonchalantly, rolling her eyes. "Look, as the CEO I have to weigh out my pros and cons. Losing you, Josh has more cons than losing her."

"Well, sorry to disappoint, but we're both quitting, Lydia."

"You're not."

"We are," Poppy smiled.

"Josh..." Lydia said, sounding worried now.

"Bye, Lydia," I said.

"Josh, listen to me. You can't quit like this."

"We'll leave resignation letters, don't worry."

"Josh!"

"Bye, Lydia," Poppy grinned, her hold tightening on my hand.

"Josh!"

I rolled my eyes, pulling the door open, both of us walking back to the main office. We pulled up the template of the resignation letter and filled it in with our details. I stood up first, sending a print command, stopping at her desk.

"What am I supposed to put here?" Poppy asked, looking at me over her shoulder.

I reached over, keeping one hand on the table and the other over hers on the mouse, clicking the textbox before typing in her information.

"Thanks," she faced me.

I sent the print command, looking down at her. "You're welcome." Lowering myself, I kissed her, hearing the gasps and curses around the room before I pulled away. "Shall we leave now?" I beamed down at her.

She stood up, grabbing my arm. We stood by the printer, taking the papers and when Jamie was walking by, I stopped him.

"What's up?" he asked, glancing at our hands. "Oh, congratulations, you're official," he chuckled.

"Give these to Lydia." I handed him the letters.

He saluted me with them. "Will do."

And then we left the office for good.

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