Boss Next Door

by Mia Ford

  We smile at one another, almost as if we are sharing a little secret with one another, and I can’t ignore the way that my heart flutters for this woman. Yep, it may well be crazy because we haven’t exactly known one another for a very long time, but we have also been through enough to last a lifetime, so I guess it makes sense as well. I have fallen in love, I am in love with this woman, she really is my everything. I need her back in my life for good.

  But now isn’t the time, now is the time for me to go to the office and for Serena to spend some time with her mother. There is far too much drama in our lives at the moment and I think we need that to settle down before I can come back to her. Maybe it will happen naturally over time, or perhaps it won’t. I can’t push it anymore though. I need to take a step back and to allow things to happen as they will. There is nothing else I can do.

  “Right, well I will see you later.” I give her an awkward wave. “Have a good time, okay?”

  “Yep, and thanks again. This really does mean the world to me right now. I don’t know where we would be without you. I wouldn’t have been able to convince Mom to come here otherwise.”

  I nod, understanding her completely, I get why this means everything to her right now because I really do understand her. She has peeled back the layers of herself and let me see her. She hasn’t ever had support like this, none of them have, and now I can be that for them for as long as they need me to.

  Chapter 19 – Serena

  “Has Will gone?” Mom asks me as soon as the door closes behind him. “Because if he has, I would like to have a talk with you.” She must have seen the horrified look on my face because she quickly laughs and rectifies herself. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound quite so daunting. I just haven’t had a chance to speak to you about this yet.”

  Mom takes a seat on Will’s couch and pats the chair beside her. I tentatively sit in it but I have to admit that I’m a bit shaken by the whole thing. Something about this feels nerve wracking, however much my mother tries to convince me otherwise. “What’s going on, Mom? You have a strange expression on your face.”

  “What is going on with you and Will? And please don’t give me the ‘friends’ nonsense. And definitely don’t try and play me off with ‘he’s just my boss’ because I won’t buy it. I know you far too well for that. You might assume that I have always been distracted by David, and in a way you’re right because I was always on egg shells around him which made it very difficult to see anything else, but I have always seen you and I know that it’s more.”

  I sigh loudly, knowing that I’m going to have to be honest with my mother now, however hard this is. “There was something between us, before I realized that he was my boss. When I assumed that he was just my neighbor we had a great time together. But then I walked in to my new job, and there he was in charge…”

  “Wow, that must have been awkward.” Mom laughs and I think she can imagine the sight in her mind. I suppose if it wasn’t such a tragic heart shattering mess, it would be funny. “How did you get over that?”

  “Well, I ended things right away because I thought that it would be a nightmare. Then…”

  “He was the person that you called whilst in an emergency.” Mom’s expression softens. I’m transported back to the moment that I stood outside that stupid nightclub all desperate and in need. “And he was there for you. More than there for you. He not only gave you a ride, he took down David, he stayed with us and has now let us stay here.”

  “You make it sound like he’s a hero.” I try to laugh, to make this less tense, but I can’t make it happen.

  “He is a hero. And he is also madly in love with you. I can see it when he looks at you.”

  I suck in a breath and hold it hard. I don’t think that I can let any more air into my lungs while the word love is floating around in the air. It might not have been Will who said it, but it was all linked to him.

  “Oh, come on, Serena.” Mom rolls her eyes in my direction. “You must be able to see it too. The man adores you. And from the point of view of someone who has far too much experience with bad guys, I can assure you that yours is a good one. He is a wonderful man and you would be crazy to let him go.”

  Her words cause a physical ache in my chest. I actually grab on to my heart at the prospect of losing Will for good. I keep trying to let him go because it seems like the right thing to do, but I can’t quite manage it.

  “I know that he is a good man, Mom, that was never in question,” I gasp back, struggling to speak now. “But that doesn’t mean he can be mine. I might feel the same way too, I might have…” I can’t say love however much I want to. “Feelings for him as well, but he’s my boss. That hasn’t changed. I can’t lose my job.”

  Mom is silent for a beat too long before she continues. “I don’t get it. I don’t understand what the issue is with him being your boss. Why does that even matter? If it’s true love then nothing should get in your way.”

  I don’t know if my mother is really in the position to be giving me love advice considering all of the mistakes that she has made along the way, but I’m also very aware that she only has my best interests at heart. She only wants what is best for me, and if she thinks that is Will… well, she’s probably right. However complex it is.

  “It could get very messy though, couldn’t it?” I ask her desperately. “I keep thinking about everything that could go horribly wrong and it scares the living shit out of me. I don’t know if I can take it to be honest.”

  Mom wraps her arms around me in a comforting gesture. “Things might go wrong, there is no denying that. You can’t predict what will happen in the future. But I don’t think that you should live in fear of that either. I’m sure that I might have been the one to put that fear into you, but I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere. I will be here to pick up the pieces if things do go wrong because it’s time for me to be a mother to you.”

  Tears start flowing down my face and I can’t quite work out if they are happy or sad ones. I’m just emotional to finally have my mom here with me looking much stronger mentally than I have ever seen her before. I can’t help but think that this time she means it, now she will actually keep away from David for good and be with me. It seems to me like she is actually ready which is what I have always been hoping and waiting for.

  “You are going to stay here with me?” I whisper, really hoping that she nods, which thankfully she does. “You won’t go anywhere near him again? I won’t be able to stand it, Mom. I’m telling you…”

  “Seeing you get a fresh start and blooming so well has inspired me.” I can’t believe it, she is finally telling me what I have wanted to hear forever since I first planned to move away. “I want some of the happiness that you have found here and living around all of those bad memories won’t be good for me. I am going to cancel the lease now, and start working on getting a job to save up some money to live somewhere here around you.”

  I throw my arms around her and hug her with glee. I want my mother here where I can always keep an eye on her and support her. I am determined for this to become a reality, I want her here so badly.

  “I would love that, Mom, that will be amazing. And whatever I can do to help you, I will.”

  She pulls back to give me a serious look. “I need some time to heal first. I don’t want to push myself too fast, too soon. Will has been amazing to me and I want to make sure that I repay him by making something amazing of myself. So, for now you need to let me get on with that while you sort yourself out.”

  “There is nothing I need to sort out right now,” I insist. “I am completely here for you.”

  She cocks a knowing eyebrow my way. “So, that talk we just had about Will meant nothing to you. Because I am dead serious. I think that you and him should give it a go. I think you need it.”

  I hang my head low, unable to meet her eyes because I’m scared of giving my real feelings away without meaning to. “I don’t know what I will do. I need some time to thi
nk about it. I don’t want to rush into anything and make a mistake that I will regret later because there is so much riding on this now. My job, your home, my heart…”

  “You do what’s right for you… even though we all know what that is. You need to be with him.”

  I stand up, ending the conversation between me and my mom, but her words stick with me the whole time as the afternoon rolls on. I can feel her looking at me the entire time as well, questioning me with her eyes which doesn’t help things. How am I supposed to come to some sort of logical conclusion with her gaze on me the entire time? It’s hard because I want to give in to her idea so badly, I want to have it all, but I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if anyone should ever get to be that lucky. Especially after everything that I have been through…

  But the moment that Will steps back into his house and his eyes meet mine, I am flooded by the wisdom that my mother has imparted on me. I feel the love that I have been doing my best to suppress overcome me once more. God, he really is the perfect man, isn’t he? I would be utterly crazy to say goodbye to him right now.

  Mom leaves for her room. She pretty much fades away into nothingness, almost as if she knows what’s about to happen. Will can sense it as well. His eyes nearly pop out of his head as he edges even closer to me.

  “I love you,” I gasp out, unable to stop the unexpected words from flying from my mouth. “I have been trying to ignore it because of the work situation, but after everything that’s happened…” The words get caught in my throat as a ball of emotion grabs me. “And after you being a hero all the time… well, I can’t ignore it anymore.”

  “I love you too.” He drops his briefcase by his side as if it’s nothing. “I love you so much and I have wanted you to be mine ever since I first met you. But I don’t want to push you into anything that you don’t want…”

  I shake my head and run to him, leaping up into his arms so that I can possessively grab him and make him my own. Yep, Mom was right, this is definitely right for me, nothing could be more perfect than this. Will came into my life for a reason, fate brought him to me, and I don’t want to turn my back on that.

  He lifts me up and spins me around with a giant smile on his face before crashing his lips to mine and kissing me like there’s no tomorrow. My heart explodes, it erupts like a volcano, the lava of love flows over me and clings to every inch of my skin, finally making my life complete. I don’t know how, but it seems like I am going to try and have it all. My mother with me, the job that I love now working from home so I can look after my family, and the man of my dreams. Maybe luck finally has come my way and I have just finally been brave enough to take it.

  I don’t know what my future will look like with Will, there is no guarantee that it will be perfect forever, but I’m willing to put my heart and my life on the line to give it a try because Will is worth the risk. The heart ache will be terrible, but the potential rewards if this does work out will be absolutely everything.

  “I love you,” I tell him again as we finally pull apart. “So much.”

  “I will never get tired of hearing that.” He kisses me again. “And saying it too. I love you as well, Serena.”

  Chapter 20 – William

  Six Months Later…

  “Wow, you really have made this place your own.” I smile at Maria as I look around the apartment which she has brought to life. I knew that it would be a good idea, bringing her in as a tenant. “When I lived here it was always blank and boring. But that’s because it was a weekday apartment, not my permanent home.”

  I want to give her a good start in life, so I kept my apartment even when I stopped staying in it during the weekdays. Maria needs a landlord who will look after her even when times are tough because although she is doing well at her job right now, Serena is worried that at some point the past will come back to haunt her and that Maria at some point might crumble. She is being strong at the moment, and she has been ever since David got locked up, but there’s no guarantee that will remain. That’s why her rent is minimal and I won’t kick her out no matter what happens. This apartment is near to her work place as well, and of course it leaves her near to her daughter, so it works out well for everyone. Serena adores having her mother nearby. It’s great for the pair of them to keep that bond going. They missed out on a lot of years as mother and daughter just because of David. They can get that back now.

  “It’s weird to think that Serena once lived next door to this place.” Maria trails her hand down the wall. “Not for long, of course. It wasn’t long before she moved in with you full time just like I knew she would…”

  “It’s a good job she did move here or I would never have met her. I would hate that.”

  “You two are destined to be together, Will.” She smiles happily at me. “Somehow, you would have found your way into one another. Destiny would have pushed you two into each other’s arms.”

  “Well, speaking of that…” I pull a little box out of my pocket and show it to Maria. “I wanted to ask your permission to propose to your daughter. I know that it might seem a little soon but me and her are in love…”

  “Oh my goodness!” She clasps her hands to her mouth in shock. “Are you for real? Of course you can! You two have been through more than most couples do in a life time. You two are meant to be together.”

  She wraps her arms around me and envelops me in a tight hug. This woman has quickly become a member of my family too, over time. I have loved having her live with me and watching her finally shaking off the shadow that David had clinging on to her for far too long, and I’m pleased to make it something official.

  “Are you going to propose to her tonight?” Maria pulls back with happy tears swimming in her eyes.

  “I am. I am going to set out a romantic dinner and propose with some sweet romantic music in the background. Nothing too intense because I know that might be a bit much for Serena. Something sweet instead…”

  “That sounds perfect,” Maria swoons, the tears dripping down her cheeks. “Oh I am so happy for you. I couldn’t be more pleased. Honestly, you have brought Serena out of her shell and made her the best version of herself.”

  “She does the same for me as well, believe me,” I assure Maria. “When I was married before, it brought out the worst in me, I thought that I was happy then but Serena has shown me what real happiness looks like.”

  Telling Serena and Maria that I was married before felt like it was going to be a heavy load. I hadn’t had the chance before, it was the layer of me that I never pulled back to show her because the time never came around, but she took it surprisingly well. Serena isn’t bothered about my past at all, she is just happy to share a future with me.

  “You both deserve to be happy, so I’m glad for the pair of you.” She rubs my arm reassuringly. “The wedding is going to be amazing, as is the rest of your life together. I believe in you.”

  I had a feeling that Maria would give me her blessing, but really feeling it is something else. I can’t stop myself from smiling wildly from ear to ear and hugging her once more. But asking Maria is the easy part really. Now, I need to go home and ask Serena if she is ready for this commitment, if she wants to be with me forever more. Ever since we have committed to each other, we have gone from strength to strength and there is no sign of our passion and chemistry fading, nor our love for one another. Still, she might not want to be my wife…

  Oh God, but I can’t get myself all caught up in terror. I can’t get all confused because I might talk myself out of this, and this is something that I have wanted since the moment I first saw Serena struggling up the stairs with that giant box of stuff. Little did I know then that we would end up in that place for real…

  “It’s going to be okay,” I breathe to myself as I hop anxiously from foot to foot, waiting for Serena to finally come home. “She will be here soon and all will be fine. Everything is set up, all is in place, it’s all good…”

  The dinner smells amazing, I have bee
n practicing my cooking to try and match the same standards as Serena and I think that I might almost be there, the roses look great, the soft lighting is perfect, the mood music is wonderful as well, I really think that everything is as good as it can be. I’m also really happy about the ring that I have chosen as well. A small princess cut diamond that isn’t too overstated so as to be obnoxious – nothing like I would have been able to get away with Molly, she wanted big, bright, and very expensive which should have been my first warning sign that she was a gold digger – so I am set. Now, I just need the love of my life to appear to make this complete.

  “Honey, I’m home.” My heart begins hammering as I hear Serena’s sing song voice. “Where are you? Oh, and what smells so good? I didn’t know that you were ordering a take out for us today.”

  “Oh, very funny,” I laugh back, trying not to let my nerves blast out obviously. “I cooked.”

  I’m sure that Serena is about to make another joke, but the words fall apart on her lips when she walks into the dining room and she sees the romantic set up that I have been working on all afternoon. “What is this?”

  “Serena Galloway…” I was going to wait a few moments before I landed the big question on her, but the look on her face is giving me the instincts that I should do this right away. I am all about following my gut these days. I drop to one knee in front of her and chuckle as her eyes pop wide with shock. “I love you. I can’t even find the words to express to you how much I love you. It completely consumes me every single day and fills me with warmth every time I look at you.” Tears bubble down Serena’s cheeks, making me overly happy as well. My smile stretches right across my face as I continue speaking. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Serena. I honestly can’t even begin to imagine what life would be like without you. You are beautiful, sweet, friendly, just the best person that I have ever met in my life. I love you from the bottom of my heart and I want to make our love official. I want to scream it from the roof tops that I am yours and you’re mine. I want to… to…” Oh God, my speech is flowing away because the intensity of this moment is more overwhelming than I was expecting. “I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy, making your life incredible, I want to be everything to you, Serena, just like you are to me.” I suck in a couple of breaths before I continue, trying to get my head in order. “So, what I really want to ask you, Serena Galloway, is if you will make me the happiest man alive and agree to be my wife?”