Boss With Benefits (Billion-Dollar Bet, #2)

EPILOGUE

Fourteen months later

S TANDING IN THE centre of the ground floor of the newly refurbished Montague’s, listening to the hubbub going on around her, Ella couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so nervous.

Three hundred guests were in attendance at this launch party, and she’d spoken with many of them, but she could not recall a word of their conversations. She felt as though she’d drunk a dozen glasses of champagne instead of just the one. Her stomach seemed to be on a spin cycle.

She glanced around for the man of the hour and spotted him by the jewellery case that contained a million-dollar diamond necklace and matching earrings. At the sight of him, in a black dinner suit that emphasised his dark good looks, her heart turned over as it always did.

They’d come a long way since the Labor Day Adam had stepped into her condo and started the rest of their lives together with a kiss that she could still recall. With his support and advice, she’d decided not to take up any of the many job offers she’d received and to set up her own business instead. Now she employed two other auditors, and in time she hoped to expand her workforce and maybe, just maybe, even add a crèche.

True to his word, Adam had dated her and wooed her, even though she’d repeatedly told him that he didn’t need to, because she’d actually forgiven him the moment he’d explained why he’d fought his feelings. He’d loosened his grip on the company and it was flourishing. He’d also let go of the guilt, and, free of the cage the past had trapped him in for so long, he’d pursued a relationship with his sister, which had gone from strength to strength.

When Montague’s had become available, Ella had encouraged him to take it. He’d said he didn’t need it, but because she’d thought he might nevertheless regret it later, she’d prevailed, and it had not escaped her notice that he’d taken more than a casual interest in the relaunch.

Once in his possession, he’d begun to raid it for gifts. A tennis bracelet here, a pair of diamond stud earrings there. Not an engagement ring, however. He’d broached the subject of formalising their relationship a mere three months into it, but she’d been a little more circumspect. It had felt too soon. He’d never given her any reason to doubt his commitment, and she knew he loved her, but she’d spent over a decade fretting about compromise and sacrifice and her independence, and old habits died hard.

However, a lot had happened since then. Six months ago, he’d persuaded her to move in with him, which had been a major step for her. But as it had turned out, compromise and sacrifice weren’t a problem at all when the person you were accommodating was doing the same for you. Independence didn’t disappear just because someone else’s wishes became as important as your own.

And so now she was going to take an even bigger one.

‘I need you for a moment,’ she murmured when he reached her side, drawing him behind a pillar and away from the throng, her heart practically in her throat.

‘That’s something I’ll never tire of hearing,’ he said warmly, gazing into her eyes and smiling.

‘I love you.’

‘I love you too. More and more each day. Body, heart and soul.’

‘That’s how I feel,’ she said, her voice a little shaky. ‘I love how I can depend on you. I love how you lean on me. You make me feel protected and secure and at the same time, as if I can take on the world. I never thought I could ever have this. I thought I was destined to be alone for the rest of my life. You’ve made me happier than I ever believed possible.’

‘Right back at you.’

‘So I have a question.’

‘What is it?’

She took a deep breath. Then she got down on one knee and held up a band of platinum. ‘Will you marry me?’