The Billionaire and the Assistant (The Billionaires 3)

It went unspoken that the first time around we’d not had time to get an engagement ring before we’d rushed headlong into the marriage.

“Will you marry me, Alex.” He said. “Exactly twelve months from today?”

I nodded. “Yes. Yes, I will.”

As he slipped the ring onto my finger, fireworks exploded from outside the window and what I’d not noticed to be a curtain backdrop at the back of the restaurant, fell to reveal family and friends.

“Oh my God, you flew everyone out here?”

“I’m a billionaire, baby. I do these things.” He laughed. “And of course, my daughter is excellent at organizing a fantastic party.”

Brianna, who had rushed over to hug me in congratulations, turned to her father. “You got it, Daddy. Waiting list a mile long for my magic touch.”

She whispered in my ear. “I’m so pleased you guys worked things out. You were meant for each other.”

“Thank you.” I said. “Now do you have time in that busy schedule to arrange our wedding?”

“Honey, I’m already on it.” She laughed. “My assistant will be in touch with your assistant when we get back.”

“In other words you’ll ring me at work?”

“You betcha.” She winked and moved aside for other people to congratulate us.

18 December – two years after the first wedding

Eli

The first time we’d tried this I didn’t have a single nerve. This time around it was fair to say that I was scared half to death. What if she changed her mind and didn’t show? Then the music started playing and she appeared. She walked up towards me on her father’s arm and he gave her to me with a nod and a wink. A reassurance that everything was going to be okay.

Alex’s dress floated around her body in shimmering waves. Her short blonde hair was topped with a veil and a tiara. She looked a vision.

She stood at the side of me and we said our vows and I knew deep inside that this was the woman I’d spend the rest of my life with.

Alex

Second time around our wedding was everything I’d ever dreamed of and I knew for sure Eli was the love of my life. Some people can enjoy whirlwind romances but for us that just hadn’t worked. We’d spent a long time in a working relationship and we needed the patience to learn what we were like as people, not as colleagues.

I’d become firm friends with Aidan’s girlfriend Lori, who was our official wedding photographer. I made her put her camera down and then I threw my bouquet, making sure it landed in her arms. Aidan winked at her and she smiled, placing the flowers near him and picking her camera back up to get to work. Little did she know that tomorrow Aidan was going to propose.

I walked out onto the terrace of the hotel to catch a little fresh air and soon heard my husband’s voice from behind me. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fantastic. I’m just a little tired.” I told him.

“It’s been a long day.” He replied. “Now, Mrs. King, “Would you like to know where I’m taking you on honeymoon?”

I opened the envelope to discover we were going to the Caribbean. “Just you, me and relaxation, baby.”

“Yeah.” I took his arm. “About that sentence. You need to change it to ‘just you, me, baby, and relaxation.”

He stared at me.

“You mean?” I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. “It’s very early. I’m a week late but I’ve done a few tests. We’re pregnant.”

He lifted me off my feet and then I slowly slipped back down in his embrace, sliding right next to his body.

“I won’t fuck this up, I promise.” He told me.

“I know.”