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God, I sounded like an idiot. I was gushing about him like a little girl with her first crush.
He smiled, a genuine, heart-melting smile. “You don’t have to thank me for any of it. You earned the job. As for me, you claimed my heart the minute I saw you in that graduation line. I love you, Ryleigh.”
“How did I get so lucky?” I murmured, marveling at the way he looked at me.
Oliver put down the report, his gaze intense. “It’s me who’s lucky. I waited thirty-six years for you. Honestly, I never thought I would marry.”
“I still can’t believe none of those gorgeous women you dated ever captured your heart,” I said, shaking my head.
“My heart was open, but it was waiting for you. None of those women ever meant anything compared to you,” he replied, his voice earnest and sincere.
Before I could respond, his phone rang. He excused himself and took the call in the bedroom. I picked up the report he had been reading, delving into the details of the real estate project as I ate breakfast. By the time he returned, I had finished my meal and had about half an hour to get dressed.
“Everything alright?” I asked, noticing a slight tension in his posture.
“Yes, fine. Just some loose ends at the office. It was Henri,” he replied, taking a seat.
“Why don’t I ever see the other two assistants?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Because Henri is their boss. He handles everything directly with me and delegates the rest to them. They’re quite capable,” he explained.
“What are their names?”
“Anna and Melissa,” he answered, raising an eyebrow. “Why the sudden interest?”
“Just curious. Where do they sit?”
“In the cubicle area,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Is this what you want to discuss this morning? The assistants?”
“I’m just curious,” I repeated, shrugging.
He chuckled, reaching across the table to take my hand. “Let’s focus on getting ready. We have a big day ahead.”
I headed to the bedroom while Oliver answered the knock at the door. Our security team was here, stationed in rooms on either side of us. Vlad, the supervisor, was a man built like a brick wall with beady dark eyes. He rarely spoke to me, and I never engaged him in conversation when he drove me places without Oliver.
Quickly, I dressed in a black business suit and a sleeveless white blouse, opting for my sneakers instead of the matching black heels I preferred. I pulled my mahogany hair into a ponytail, applied a light layer of makeup, and finished with a soft pink lipstick. When I exited the bedroom, Oliver noticed my sneakers and smiled.
“Good girl.”
“Don’t patronize me,” I whispered, frowning.
“I’m sorry.”
The project site was near the ocean, a group of rotting buildings that needed to be torn down and redeveloped. The limo felt crowded despite its size. Our security team, consisting of Vlad, Trevor, Jamal, and Brenda—the only woman—sat on the two bench seats opposite each other. I’d never had a full conversation with any of them.
“Are you okay?” Oliver asked, his voice low and concerned.
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” I replied, trying to sound confident despite the knot of nerves tightening in my stomach. This project was huge, and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself by saying something stupid.
“You seemed a bit tense back at the hotel.”
“I’m not a child, Oliver. I might be fourteen years younger than you, but I’m an adult,” I snapped, my voice sharper than intended.
“I only commented on your sneakers.”
“You called me a girl.”
He pressed a firm kiss to my cheek and whispered in my ear. “I think you need some sex.”
