Working with him was not easy, because he was meticulous, demanding, and expected perfection in everything that we did together.
However, he was always fair, and he never allowed personal feelings to interfere with professional responsibilities, which made me respect him even more.
I also maintained the same level of professionalism, and for the first few months, our relationship remained completely focused on work.
We attended meetings, developed strategies, handled important projects, and traveled for business without allowing anything personal to surface.
However, small moments occasionally broke through the strict boundaries we had set, reminding us of the connection we shared.
He would bring me coffee exactly the way I liked it without asking, and after difficult meetings, he would quietly remind me to breathe and trust myself.
One evening, after a successful presentation to major investors, the team decided to celebrate at a restaurant filled with laughter and soft music.
At one point, we found ourselves alone on the terrace, overlooking the city lights that stretched endlessly below us.
“I am proud of you,” he said suddenly, looking at me with genuine admiration.
“Is it because of the project?” I asked, trying to keep things professional.
“It is because of everything,” he replied, making the moment feel more personal than before.
The silence between us felt closer and more meaningful, as if we were both thinking about the same things.
“I keep wondering what would have happened if I had stayed back then,” he admitted, taking a small step closer.
“I could never stop thinking about you either,” I confessed, feeling my heart race again.
He told me that when he saw me during the interview, he did not see just a candidate, but the little girl who believed in him without hesitation.
“I am not that little girl anymore,” I said softly, meeting his gaze.
“No, you are not,” he replied, his voice gentle. “You have become an extraordinary woman.”
The atmosphere became heavier with emotion, and he asked me if that seven year old girl would still want to marry him if she were here now.
I smiled and told him that she had always been very determined, and that her answer would not have changed.
“Yes, she still would,” I said, looking directly into his eyes.
Without hesitation, he leaned closer and kissed me, and that kiss felt like it had been waiting for fifteen years to finally happen.
Building Together
Our relationship was not hidden, but it was never displayed openly for attention, because we both valued our professionalism and reputation.
At first, we were cautious about how others might perceive us, but over time, the team understood that our connection was genuine and not temporary.
We continued to work hard together, expanding the company, opening new branches, and achieving success through shared effort.
I eventually became the project director, and every achievement felt more meaningful because we experienced it together.
One Sunday, he asked me to take a drive with him, but he did not tell me where we were going, which made me curious.
When the car finally stopped, I immediately recognized the street, and my heart skipped a beat.
It was the neighborhood where I had grown up, and everything looked both familiar and slightly different at the same time.
The house I had lived in was still there, and the house next door had been renovated beautifully.
“I bought it two years ago,” he said, watching my reaction carefully.
“Why?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.
He smiled gently and explained that some words are impossible to forget, no matter how much time passes.
He then took out a small box from his pocket, and my heart began to race uncontrollably.
“Avery Blake, it has been fifteen years since you made the first proposal, and now it is finally my turn,” he said as he slowly knelt down.
“Will you marry me?” he asked, looking at me with sincerity and hope.
Tears streamed down my face as I remembered the little girl in the courtyard, the scraped knees, and the closed door that had once brought me so much pain.
In that moment, I realized that every part of my journey had led me to this exact place, and it was all worth it.
“Yes, I will marry you,” I said through laughter and tears, feeling happier than I ever had before.
