Page 19 of Forbidden Office Daddy

“The makeover… I took the opportunity after your breakup, because I was scared someone else could come and snatch you up.”

“You’re the most beautiful woman, Manuela. With or without makeover.”

“Come here…”

She pulled him into a kiss, every fiber of her so fucking happy that this was finally happening. He was hers, she was his, and a pillow was definitely involved.

EPILOGUE

Three weeks later…

“Are you ready?” Nate asked her, as he opened the door for her.

Manuela slid out of his car, and nodded. She’d already visited this venue—a lovely winery, located not too far from Tulip—to make sure everything was in order for the party. In the past weeks, she’d been busy with the RSVPs, organizing the event, communicating with vendors and entertainers.

And now, they’d finally make an appearance as a couple for the first time.

In the office, a few people had already noticed, because even though they acted professionally around them, they had been arriving and leaving together in his car. They’d made no efforts to smash rumors, and today, no one would have any doubts.

They strolled into the event, side by side. Because she had helped organize, she ended up having to check on a few things to make sure everything went according to plan.

She was talking to the caterer when she noticed Clarice Sampaio walking her way, with a handsome man in his thirties. Leonardo, her son, whom she’d met briefly the day Clarice left the hospital.

“Hi guys. I’m so glad you could make it,” Manuela said, erasing the gap between them.

“Thanks for having us,” Leonardo said.

“We won’t be staying for long, but I wanted to say hello.”

“And congrats again on the new home,” Manuela said, remembering that Clarice had recently closed on the purchase of the house.

“Thank you. I’ve been telling my friends about how kind you and Nate were during the entire process,” she said, and Manuela knew she’d meant the rich Brazilian friends from the community. Which was just what Nate had wanted from the beginning—to expand his clientele and nab that piece of the market. He kept talking about retiring early, but she doubted he’d leave the business so soon.

Maybe after they started having kids—in a year or so.

“We really appreciate that.”

“That’s a big ring, dear,” Clarice said, glancing down at the solitaire diamond on Manuela’s finger. It sparkled as she instinctively moved her hand, still getting used to being a fiancée—he’d proposed a week prior.

“Thank you. I’m not sure you know, but Nate and I—”

Clarice winked at her. “Oh, I’ve known.”

A wave of heat spread across her cheeks and neck. Thankfully, Leonardo nudged his mother, and they went to get drinks by the bar.

Manuela shook her head, like she had so many times the past weeks, still in wonder. She was getting the guy—she got her guy. A warm sensation fluttered in her stomach, quickly floating to her chest.

“Everything good?” the man occupying her mind said, walking up to her.

She looked at him, the stir in her stomach amplifying. “Everything's good,” she said.

He pulled her to him and kissed her on the lips. A quick, sweet kiss that did enough damage to her nerve endings.

“So much for your office policy, huh?” she whispered.

“Yes, I already have a memo that will be out on Monday explaining I had a change of heart, so that our being together won’t make it awkward for anyone.”

She touched his tie, smiling at him. “Always so professional.”

“That’s the man you got.”

She kissed his cheek. “That’s the man I love.”

“You’d better…”

***