Page 59 of Fighting for the Forbidden

Epilogue

Lauren

One Month Later…

Go to our room x

Pluckingthe post-it note from the mirror, I smile as memories assault me. Excitement has butterflies taking flight in my stomach as I run up the stairs to see what’s waiting for me.

When I get to the top of the stairs, I turn the opposite way I’m used to. It’s going to take a while for it to feel natural. A week after I moved back in, Jenny announced that she was moving out and in with Chris. They’ve still not made their relationship official; they’re happy to just take things as they come and enjoy each other. I can understand that, after everything they’ve both been through. I’m happy for them. They deserve a happily ever after.

Pushing open the door to the master bedroom, I take in our freshly painted walls and new furniture. It’s the only room of the house we’ve changed so far, but we’ve got big plans once things are stable with the business.

There’s a box with a giant bow sitting in the middle of the bed with another post-it note on the top.

Wear me x

Slowly,I pull the silk ribbon, wanting to remember every second of this anticipation. A laugh falls from my lips when I pull the lid off and push the tissue paper aside. Lifting the new Johnson & Son’s hoodie from the box, I place it down on the bed. Beneath is a stunning new maxi dress. It’s not all that different from the one he bought me the last time he did this. That dress is still one of my favourites, and thankfully it still fits.

I have a quick shower before dressing and reapplying my make-up. Before heading out to find Ben, I rummage through my jewellery box and find the necklace he bought me, putting it back where it belongs.

I don’t bother looking in any of the rooms; I already know he won’t be inside. The glow from the fairy lights is obvious the second I step into the kitchen, making me even more anxious to find him than before. With the scent of the barbeque surrounding me, I walk out through the sliding doors, but I’m not prepared for what I find.

The decking area is even more beautiful than I imagined. Every single tree glows with lights and candles flicker on every surface. But the most breath-taking of all is Ben standing in the middle, dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of dark trousers, minus shoes. He looks incredible, and I’m once again reminded of how lucky I am that we were able to find our second chance. I still have moments where I worry about the future, but as each day passes, that fear gets less and less. Ben’s not once given me a reason to worry. I’ve no doubt he’s in this for the long haul now.

“Hey, baby,” he whispers when I get closer. Stepping right up to him, I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him tight. It feels so good to be able to do this properly, knowing I’m not hurting him like I was before. His lips drop to my hair as his hands run down my back.

“Everything okay in the office?”

I laugh because he makes it sound like I’ve been far away at work when, in reality, I was just in what used to be the garages, making sure everything’s ready for our first day in there tomorrow. “Yeah, we’re all ready to go.”

Tomorrow is our new start. Ben and Jenny sadly had to let a few more employees go, and we’ve had to do some serious negotiations with some of our merchants and sub-contractors, but things seem to be going in the right direction, and of course, saving on the extortionate rent as of now will be a huge help.

“Still glad you came back?” he asks for the millionth time. Even after moving back in, I wasn’t sure I wanted my old job back, but Ben has a way of wording things, and a few days later, I found myself sitting at my old desk beside Erica once again. That’s all changing with the new office, because Ben insisted that my desk be beside his. He’s told me time and time again that this company isn’t just his, but ours, and he wants me involved all the way. I’m terrified of missing something so huge again like I did with Dad, but I have total trust in Ben and his capabilities in running the company.

“You know I am. I want it to work as much as you do.”

“Did IT get everything set up for Trey?” Although they joked about Trey starting immediately, things took a little longer in reality, so in the end they agreed on his start date being tomorrow.

“Yep, all good. Stop worrying.”

“I’m not. I’m just excited to see how he fits in and how it all goes.”

“Oh, I think he’s going to fit in just fine.”

“What’s that look for?”

“Nothing. I just think he’s already got a vested interest in what goes on in our office.”

Ben’s silent for a minute before the penny drops. “What the fuck has Erica done now?”

“Nothing you want to know about, I can assure you.”

“Jesus, she’s a pain in my arse.”

“Aw, you love her really. Now, can we please stop talking about work?”

“Sure. Are you hungry?”

“Starved. But seeing as we’re re-living the past tonight, I thought I needed to do something else before we eat.”

We’re laying out on the swing chair covered in a fluffy blanket and staring up at the star-filled sky after eating our way through the pile of food ben barbequed. Ben’s eyes darken as memories hit him. “I can’t argue with that. Six weeks ago, I really never thought this would be my future,” Ben whispers beneath me.

“Me neither. I never wanted anything else though.”

“Me neither, baby. This is it for us now. The beginning of forever. I want it all with you.”

Turning in his arms, I reach up and press my lips to his. “Forever, baby.”