Page 45 of Faking It With My New Boss

He nodded. “I likely wouldn’t have pushed so hard had it not been for your father,” he said. “You are aware that their relationship was tumultuous to be kind.”

I nodded, thinking back to my early childhood when Mom was still alive. “Yes, I remember. They had separated before she passed.”

“And your father tried to reconcile,” grandfather said. “But it was too late. He had done enough damage by then. You were the saving grace of that relationship, as far as I was concerned. Your father was a screw-up, and I was constantly on top of him, fixing his mistakes. He never grew up, Bryan. He never ceded to the one truth. That people are made to go together. We are not meant to be alone on this Earth. And that the bond between partners, it is essential, and fleeting. It is so delicate, and if it leaves you, you are forever scarred.

I was scarred deeply when your grandmother passed. Your father was scarred deeply when your mother left him and then passed. What I did not want for you was for you to make the same mistake.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.

“Because it is a great shame,” he said. “I have lived my entire life being the stern authoritarian. It is how this company runs.” He paused for a second and shrugged. “Ran. How it ran. Not anymore.” He leaned forward more on his seat, his eyes intense as they bored into mine. “I ran this company based on the scars of my past. Your father did the same. You must break that cycle, Bryan. I was immeasurably upset when I heard her say your engagement wasn’t real, but after what I heard about what you did, the spectacle you made of yourself to win her back, I know our business is in good hands. You are a good man, who handled yourself with integrity. She is a good woman, and you are extraordinarily lucky to have her.” He stood, straightening his jacket and holding out his hand. I stood and took it, shaking. “Don’t screw it up, son,” he said. “This company is yours now. With it and Courtney at your side, you have the world in your palm. Good luck.”

My grandfather’s words resonated in me as he walked away, getting on the elevator and heading down. I didn’t know where he was going, and truthfully, I didn’t think he did either. But it seemed like, for once, he had let go. And he was damn happy about it.

As soon as he was gone, I ran to Courtney. She was in her own office, going through something on her laptop and jumped up when she saw me, a smile on her face and an expression that only made me love her more. I scooped her up and planted a deep kiss on her before she could say anything.

“What was that all about?” she asked as we parted lips.

“I want to start planning for the wedding. For real. Right now,” I said.

“What?” she said, surprise, confusion and excitement mixing on her face as she processed what I was saying.

“I don’t want a long engagement. Let’s see what we can think up. I am sure you have a few ideas in your back pocket. Tell me,” I said.

“I love you,” she said, clearly thrilled, tears forming in the corners of her eyes as her lips stretched into a wide grin.

“I love you too,” I said. “So, got anything?”

“You bet I do,” she said.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Courtney

Neither one of us wanted a long engagement and with Bryan's money and connections, it was easy to put together the wedding of my dreams in only a few months. I didn't think that was possible. Everything I'd ever heard about wedding planning emphasized that it took a year or more to actually plan a wedding unless you wanted something small and simple.

And it was absolutely no surprise that Bryan wasn't in the market for anything small and simple.

He and Vanessa got along very well in that regard. Throughout the planning process, the only disappointment I faced was actually on the part of my best friend. She wanted more of the pomp and circumstance, more of the shopping trips and tastings. Everything was too fast and smooth for her. She told me a dozen times her best friend was only going to get married once and she wanted to be able to have fun with the planning and the buildup.

After the last time he heard her say it, over a final menu tasting for the reception, Bryan promised her we would have repeat weddings every few years and she could always be a part of the planning. That seemed to assuage her and Vanessa settled into nibbling through all the options and voicing her opinions.

I knew she was going to hold him to that. And there wasn't a doubt in my mind Bryan would live up to it. He might not say it, but he was enjoying the planning as much as we were. He always had an opinion to share and wanted to make sure everything was exactly perfect. It felt like there were a thousand little decisions to be made and things to do, but they were all falling into place.

And then suddenly, it was there.

Even though the engagement was short, I was so excited to be Bryan's wife it felt like the wedding day was never going to come. The last time I could remember being so excited and looking forward to something so much was Christmas morning when I was a little girl.

When the day finally arrived, all the emotions hit me. I was bubbling over with excitement, but was also nervous. More than anything, I was completely amazed that life turned out this way for me. I never would have expected anything like this. When I made the decision to move and get my fresh start, the idea that I could fall in love and get married in less than a year was not even close to what I had in mind.

I thought that life was behind me. That maybe I wasn't designed to have a partner. I thought I'd resigned myself to that and was okay with not having that type of future for myself. I could immerse myself in my career and find meaning and purpose in helping other people through law.

And then Bryan. That was what kept rolling through my mind when I thought of how much life had changed. That one mix-up, the one moment when I made an impulsive decision I thought was just a means to an end, was what gave me the life I could never have imagined, but that turned out to be what I'd always wanted.

Vanessa and I spent the morning in the bridal suite of the hotel just enjoying being together. Champagne and treats kept arriving at the door and we indulged in them as we reminisced about our friendship and everything we'd been through all these years.

The morning seemed to go by fast and suddenly the makeup artists and hairstylists arrived to get us ready. I had never felt so beautiful and special as I did when I was sitting there getting pampered.

That is, not until I walked down the aisle.

---