EPILOGUE
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SEBASTIAN
Three weeks later
We’ve had my in-laws staying with us for forty-eight hours, and I’m ready to throttle Roger Harper. For some insane reason, Emily wanted them to stay with us instead of a five-star hotel.
I even offered to put them up in a penthouse suite at the Dufort Hotel.
Emily said she needed her mom close.
God, the things I do for this woman.
Fortunately, they fly home tomorrow after our engagement party tonight, which is in full swing.
“Snagged yourself a rich man, aye, Emily. Smart. Now you don’t have to work.” I heard Roger say last night.
Dick.
“First, Dad, that’s a crass thing to say. You are disrespecting my future husband and my relationship. I love Sebastian, no matter what his bank balance is.”
“Yeah, right.” The man laughed.
I leaned on the wall outside the guest bedroom, where they were all chatting. If he pushed her further, I’d intervene, but Emily was learning to speak up for herself, and I needed to let her do this.
“I am continuing to grow my career, and Sebastian is very supportive of that,” Em said, and I was so damn proud.
“He’s making you work? That’s not on.”
I almost heard her eye roll.
Emily shared her green plans, as Khalid called them, with me one night. It meant a redesign to create green spaces inside the complex.
Once we got the plans back and I approved, we went down to the protesters, where I met with Gordon Fanning and told him what we were doing.
Not only did it put them to rest, but it also got some great press coverage. Then Khalid phoned me and wanted to reinvest.
Since then, Emily has started studying urban planning. She has a real passion for it and asked if she could learn from my team.
It’s her business as well now. While that’s taking some time for both of us to wrap our heads around, we agreed there was no hurry.
With Victor gone, Remington Obsidian feels like it’s moving forward again. A new CFO starts in a month, and I’ll take time off when we marry to enjoy a long, sexy honeymoon.
“Dad, you’re just old and don’t get it. Careers are not just about money and paying taxes, they are about expressing your talents and creativity. About finding yourself.”
“Jesus these generations,” he muttered. “Lucky you found yourself a billionaire.”
I grit my teeth.
I heard the bed move then. “Well, enjoy the job you hate and have hated for twenty years, but I’m creating more in my life.”
I couldn’t hear what he said in response, but Emily added, “So far, it looks like I’m doing pretty well.”
I chuckled, and she stepped out the door and saw me.
Then paled.
I walked to her and pulled her into my arms.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yes, you did, and good for you.” I kissed her nose. “You did snag me and that was not a simple thing to do.”
“Not because of your money.” She shakes her head.
“I know. Never once did I question that.”
Okay, I might have for about thirty seconds, but Emily doesn’t need to know that.
“Can we talk?” She tugged on my hand, and we headed to our bedroom.
I’ll admit, panic tore through me. Was she changing her mind? Did she want to go home?
Had her father’s comments gotten under her skin?
“Tell me.” I closed the door and stood there ready for battle.
To fight for her.
Emily paced the bedroom floor, biting her nail.
Jesus I’d never felt so sick in my life. The bottom of my stomach almost dropped out.
“Emily, fucking hell. What is it?”
She spun and walked to me. “Please don’t be mad.”
Pretty sure my face had gone pale.
“You are not leaving me,” I’d said, and even to me it sounded like a threat.
“Okay, well, that bodes well because”—her blue eyes finally met mine and they were glistening with unshed tears—“I’m pregnant.”
Words cannot describe the five million emotions that shot through me at that moment. Joy. Fear. Panic. Relief. All of them. One after the other and then all at once.
I picked her up and swung her around. “I’m going to be a father!”
Emily hung onto my shoulders, giggling. “Well, that was a better response that I was expecting.”
Only Lexi, both our parents, my sister, and the guys know. Tonight, her sparkling water is cleverly disguised as champagne in a flute, so the media attending doesn’t leak the story.
Catherine hugs Emily. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Will you join us for wedding dress shopping tomorrow?”
Catherine looks at her drink. “Afternoon? I’ll be sleeping in because I don’t have the kids tonight.”
“Deal.” Emily grins. “Oh, have you met Terri, she works for Bastian.”
Terri and Lexi made friends extremely quickly upon meeting, and the three of them are at our place often.
My world has changed.
It’s filled with love, laughter, and a lot of chaos.
Mason sidles up and slides a hand in his pants, lifting his whisky to his lips.
“Might have to fire her.”
I turn my head. “Lexi? Why?”
“I fucked her in the stationery closet yesterday. I tried Sebastian. I tried. Three long weeks I tried.”
Oh, Jesus.
I take a long sip of my own drink and rock back on my heels.
I’m far too happy tonight to worry. I stare at my beautiful bride-to-be and take in how happy she is. I know Emily doesn’t have a baby bump yet, but I keep imagining one, and it makes my heart dance with joy.
I’m going to be a husband.
I’m going to be a father.
I turn to Mason and simply say, “Just marry her.”
“Christ, are you insane?”
Laughing, I slap his shoulder and join my fiancée.
“I need a minute with my bride,” I tell my sister, and when she’s gone I kiss Emily softly, gazing into her happy eyes. “I love you.”
“Are you okay?” She studies my face.
“I promise to be the best husband and father to our child and never hurt you again. I mean it Em.”
She blinks, emotion filling her eyes.
“I wouldn’t be marrying you if I thought you would.” We share a lingering kiss, then she tiptoes up, whispering, “Now, can we get this night over with Mr. Remington? I need you to take me home and make love to me.”
God, I love it when she calls me that.