by Carter Blake
I chuckle, relieved that seems to be the only things on her mind. “You noticed that too, huh? Yeah I think there might be.”
“And what do you think about that?”
I consider that for a moment, considering it from every angle. “Well, I suppose we could be mad. They caused all this trouble with their feelings for one another, and now they are just… together. Or we could see it as something sweet. They loved one another once, but their lives took them in different paths, and now they’ve found one another again.”
“I don’t want to think of it at all,” she jokes. “But I guess we might have to, if we’re going to see them every day.”
“You are okay with that, right?” I ask her curiously, deciding to just get the damn answers already. “You don’t mind that I did that?”
“Of course I don’t. The only reason that I got involved with all of this was to make my Dad happy, and you’ve found the best way to do that.”
“It’s for me too,” I tell her honestly. “I meant what I said, and I truly do think that all my Dad would want is for all of us to be happy.” I glance at her out of the corner of my eye for a moment. “I know you might have been raised to see him as a bad man, but he really wasn’t. He was kind, with a big heart.”
“Like you,” she interrupts quietly. “That’s exactly how I see you.”
“And is that something you like?” I ask, with a grin on my face. “Do you think that’s the sort of qualities you would like in a boyfriend?”
“Why is that what you want to be?” she teases. “You want to be my boyfriend?”
“Of course I do,” I exclaim happily. “That’s all I’ve wanted for ages now. I have never ever wanted anything so much. I want to be with you, so what do you say?”
She kisses me sweetly, before giving me a smile. “Of course I want you to be my boyfriend, now are you coming inside, or what?”
As I follow behind her, realizing that this is the first time I have ever been to her house, I smile secretly to myself. Me and Naomi are together now, it’s official, and I’m so excited for what the future holds. There is still so much that we need to learn about one another, still so many journeys that we need to go on, and I cannot wait for all of them.
Naomi Hayes Norton is wonderful, a truly incredible woman, and despite the fact that we’ve already been through more bumps than any other couple in the world, we’re still here, still going strong, it shows that we have what it takes, and that means so much more to me than anything else ever could.
I love this woman, and I always will.
Epilogue
Naomi
“So, how is it living with Wesley?” Amber asks me over our morning cup of coffee. Despite the rocky way that our relationship started, we’ve actually managed to become good friends.
She was frosty with me, because she – rightfully – suspected that I was up to something, and now it’s been almost a year since all of that happened, and it’s all far behind us, we’ve really managed to build something incredible.
“It’s good,” I smile warmly. “I mean, it’s taken us a long time to get to this point because I really had to sort myself out first, but now…well, the timing is right, and it’s incredible.”
Wesley has to be the kindest, most understanding person that I’ve ever met, and I’m really lucky to have him in my life. While I went through the healing process, including therapy, most men would have run a mile, but Wesley stayed, supporting me every step of the way.
“I’m glad we’ve finally made that move.”
“Come on, girls, back to work.” My Dad races past us, giving us his little joke, “This company isn’t going to run itself.”
“I don’t think you and Madeline need us anymore,” I shout as he gets away from us. “You seem to have total control of things all by yourselves.”
Having them on board really has been a blessing for Future Pharmaceuticals, they’ve progressed things to a level no one could have imagined. At one point my Dad did suggest bringing Oliver back in, just so we can all keep an eye on him, but Wesley shot that idea down right away. Oliver’s belief that he should be paid more for his mediocre skills will never go away, and that isn’t the sort of people we need working alongside us.
“Things are going really well for them too, right?” Amber whispers, making me smile.
“They are. Yes. Things are great now. It is like they’ve managed to find their way back to one another in this crazy, mixed up world. But the great thing about it is neither of them regret the missed years, because they both had other loves, so actually it doesn’t feel too bad. I don’t think Wesley is too bothered by it either.”
“Who would have thought it…what a crazy, happy family.”
“Yeah, I suppose it is a little strange,” I giggle alongside her. “But it just works, so that’s alright for us.”
“Well, we better get to work. We don’t want to get in trouble with the boss.”
I can tell that something is up, the entire day long. Things are progressing well, but we don’t have any drugs ready to launch, yet Wesley is acting like the entire weight of the world is on his shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him for what feels like the millionth time. “What is going on with you?”
“Nothing.” He waves his hand dismissively at me, but I narrow my eyes regardless.
He can’t fool me, I know him way too well for that. Something is troubling him, and I want to know what.
“We are still on for dinner tonight, right?” He asks, still not looking at me.
“Dinner?”
“You know, the one to celebrate us finally moving in together. I told you about it yesterday. At that fancy French place that just opened?”
He finally looks at me, rubbing his forehead as stress overcomes him even more.
“Okay sure, I vaguely remember that. But we moved in together a week ago, why are we only celebrating that now?”
Something is fishy about this, but I can’t quite place my finger on it. Am I forgetting something? A birthday? An anniversary? Nope, nothing comes to mind…
“We just are, okay? Now get out,” his tone turns teasing now. “I have too much to do to be fooling around with you.”
***
I can’t focus all day because all I can think about is Wesley and his strange behavior. There’s no denying that he’s acting totally crazy, but I still can’t work out why. That gets even worse when I finally get back to our home – not that I’m quite used to calling this ridiculously huge mansion ours just yet – and I spot a parcel sitting on the bed addressed to me.
‘Naomi, I brought you this to wear tonight. I thought you deserved something new. Wesley xxx’
What I pull out is the most incredible, floor length red designer gown that I have ever seen in my life. It’s completely obvious just from the feel of the material that it’s incredibly expensive, which makes my heart race a whole lot faster. I know that Wesley is always saying that he doesn’t mind spending his riches on me, but it does make me feel a little uncomfortable, especially knowing that I’ll never be able to afford the same for him.
“What is this?” I mutter to myself in bewilderment. “What the hell is going on?”
The fact that there are also some gorgeous kitten heels in the box has my mind reeling everywhere. He has something incredible planned, that much is obvious, but why? And what? And more to the point…where is he? I know he said that he might be working a little later tonight, so I should go off without him, but this seems a little suspicious now.
I call him, just to see if I can get him to confess all, but he doesn’t even answer the phone to me. He lets it ring out, until I feel the like frustration inside of me might just burst free.
Right, screw it, I finally give in. Just get dressed, go out to dinner, and find out once and for all what is going on.
It’s clear now that I’m not going to be able to find out any other way, so I may as well focus on looking my best.
/> I slide my work clothes off quickly, leaving them in a heap on the floor, and I tug the gown up over my head, stopping for a moment to notice how good it actually looks on me. The way it fits around my body, it’s as if it’s actually been made just for me, which makes me feel really special. I never realized just how amazing the right clothes could make me feel, until I put on this dress. It covers up my breasts, but molds to the shape of them perfectly, still allowing me to feel sexy. It cinches in at the waist, highlighting my curves, and despite the fact that this is floor length and I’m not very tall, it somehow manages to make my legs look like they reach my arm pits.
It’s safe to say that this is the best that I’ve ever looked, and that revelation makes me even more excited for what tonight might hold.
By the time I’ve run a brush through my hair, making it look presentable enough to leave it hanging loose, and painted the makeup on my face, I hear a loud honking outside, which makes me rush to the window. There I see the largest, most luxurious limo sitting on the driveway.
I run down the stairs with my heart pounding joyfully, and it isn’t long before I’m next to the driver’s side window, placing a sweet kiss on his lips.
“Don’t rich men like you hire drivers for them?” I tease.
“You know me, I’m not like other men. I do the driving myself, now be a good girl and hop into the back, will you?”
“What is all of this?” I gasp as I climb onto seats so comfortable, they could actually be a bed. “What is it with you tonight?”
But he doesn’t answer me, he just leaves a small smile playing on his lips.
The restaurant, when we finally get there – it turns out that Wesley isn’t quite the expert driver when it comes to massive long vehicles that he thought he was – is incredible. The food is delicious, the décor amazing, the whole place just screams romance, and it leaves me feeling really in the mood.
As we enjoy the wine, and laugh with one another, I allow my foot to slowly and seductively run up and down his leg, trying to get him in the mood. I can see that it’s working from the way he keeps blushing and shifting in his seat.
“Are you alright?” I ask a little huskily. “You seem distracted.”
“Okay,” he sighs, looking a little defeated. “I was going to wait until after dessert, because I know that’s your favorite course, but I feel like if I don’t get this out now, then I never will.”
He breaths deeply for a couple of seconds, before standing up.
“What are you–” I start, before everything comes clear and he drops to one knee.
My hand claps across my mouth in shock, and I can feel my entire body clam up in surprise. This is what tonight was all about, I never would have suspected in a million years. My heart is racing, my emotions spinning, my mind flickering everywhere, and he hasn’t even opened his mouth yet.
“Naomi Hayes Norton, I want to start off by saying that you are the most amazing woman that I have ever laid eyes on.” I can tell that everyone else in the building is looking at us, but I honestly don’t care. All I can focus on is Wesley and the wonderful words coming out of his mouth. “Sure, things between us haven’t always been easy, or conventional for that matter.” I laugh a little, but the moment really is taken over by the tears filling my eyes. “But we’ve made it through all that, and now we’re stronger and better than ever.”
He pulls a box from his pocket, and inside it I can see the largest diamond I have ever seen – it’s much too big for me, I won’t even know how to wear it, never mind act when it’s on my finger.
“You honestly do make me the happiest man alive. I want to be with you forever, to have children with you, to…I don’t know see the world together… whatever it is that you want.”
Yep, that’s it, the tears are streaming down my face now.
“All I’ve wanted since I first laid eyes on you in that very strange interview is to make you mine, and to make you happy. So what do you say to being my wife?”
“Of course I will,” I murmur through the tears. “Nothing would make me happier.”
The restaurant breaks out into cheers, as Wesley slides the ring onto my finger. Once it’s there, it actually feels very right. In a way, I suppose it symbolizes us.
At first glance we look like we don’t belong, and there are hundreds of reasons why we shouldn’t work, but with a bit of time, and a bit of opening up, we have come to realize that we’re perfect together, and that there isn’t any other way that our lives could have gone.
“You mean all that stuff?” I ask him quietly, as he pulls me in for a hug. “About having children?”
“I do,” he replies warmly. “I think we would be amazing parents.”
“Then get me out of this place,” I tell him teasingly. “I think we can skip dessert tonight. There is a wonderfully comfortable limo out there, where I think we should get started.”
“Always so impatient,” he jokes, taking my hand in his. “But I guess that’s why I love you.”
“I love you too,” I tell him seriously. “And I’m so glad that I get to keep you forever.”
Finally, I feel like I have my place in this world, the one thing that I’ve really been looking for this entire time. It might be by the side of my supposed enemy, but then again, not everything goes to plan, which I think we have proven more than once. Sometimes it takes a lot of mistakes and a lot of forgiveness to finally get your happily ever after.
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The moment Brooklyn Walsh walked into my office I wanted her. No, scratch that, I wanted to f*ck her. To pull up that tight little skirt she was wearing, bend her over my desk, and make her mine.
But damn if it doesn’t go against my one and only rule – never mix business with pleasure.
She looks at me like I’m Prince Charming, here to fulfill all her deepest fantasies, but I’m far from the man she thinks I am.
Filthy rich. Dominant. Possessive. I’m the Big Bad Wolf her mother warned her about, ready to devour her innocence and her heart.
Despite how difficult my delicious, little assistant has made it, I’ve kept my distance.
Until tonight.
Because tonight, I need her to pretend to be mine.
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