The Billionaire’s Surprise Baby by Lisa Kaatz
Epilogue
"Idon't know what I'm supposed to wear to these things," I sigh. "How am I supposed to fit in with this crowd when I don't own any Chanel or Dior?”
"Since when do you care about fitting in?"
It's a good question. I don't know. I've never cared, or so I thought. But Nate is one of the most powerful, richest men in the world and his fame has skyrocketed in the last year since merging his empire with my family's.
Tonight is a big night for him. He's managed to pull it off. Renovating the Heron building without having to demolish a single historical aspect of its old structure. Not a single pillar fell, and he even preserved the famous stained glass windows in the front, the ones of birds of every shape and size against a blue backdrop.
"I guess I just want to make a good impression," I sigh. "I don't like being known as the forgotten trouble-making Adler sister...but I don't want to be known as Nate Madison's embarrassing girlfriend and accidental baby momma either."
"You're not known as either of those things," he says crossly. "The tabloids aren't the same as the mainstream press, Sydney. You let those harsh headlines wear on you and I wish you'd just ignore it all."
"Easy for you to say when all they ever write about you is good stuff," I grumble, but I accept his embrace. He smells good, his warm musk filling my nostrils and comforting me. "They write about you like you're perfect. And I'm the temptress who's just with you for your fortune. I set my sights on you on purpose, and now you're under my spell."
"Well if that's what they're saying then they got one detail right for once," he says. "You are a temptress, and I am completely under your spell."
I turn back to the three-way mirror where I've been turning and looking at my silhouette in the dress for half an hour, trying to decide whether I should change one last time.
"You look great," Nate says, kissing my neck. "Don't change dresses again. This green makes your hair look fiery. I like it."
"It also shows all of my tattoos," I say, looking at my shoulder in the mirror. "Not exactly a high society image."
"That's what I like about you," he says, kissing the tattoo on my upper arm. "Keep the dress. Now, what about accessories?"
"I'm just wearing this necklace," I say, brushing my fingers against the charm at my throat. "And my diamond earrings. Why? Do you think it's not enough?"
He tilts his head as though thinking hard about it.
"It looks...incomplete," he says. "Like you're missing something."
"You think I should put the hair pins back in?" I ask. "I knew it. It just looks all wrong with my hair down like this."
"No, no," he stops me from darting across the room to the vanity, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me to him. "It's not the hair pins. Something else just feels...missing."
"Well, Nate, I don't know what to do," I sigh, exasperated by his lack of helpful feedback. "I mean, you said not to change the dress but if I..."
He pulls something from his breast pocket and my heart stops.
It's a small box.
A small, velvet, ring-sized box.
I start to cry before he can even get onto one knee.
"Sydney Adler," he says, opening the box to reveal a glimmering diamond on a white gold band surrounded by silver vines and leaves. "I've never met a woman quite like you before. You make me a better man. You make me want to do more than I thought I could, to be more than I ever believed I could be. You make me want to be selfless instead of the selfish bastard I once was. And you made me a father. For that I'll forever be grateful. Ever since we met, the only thing that matters to me anymore is you and Thomas. I want to make you happy. I want to spend the rest of my days being the man you inspire me to be. Please say yes to being my wife."
"Of course,” I say.
He slides the ring on my finger and then rises to his feet, pulling me into a tight embrace and taking my mouth with his.
"I love you, Sydney. Forever.”
