A Clandestine Corporate Affair (17 page)

“I'm saying that I've isolated the problem, and though I'm not one hundred percent there, I'm definitely a work in progress. But there is a problem.”

Well that was good, because she needed a problem or two to firm up her resolve. “What problem?”

“I'm in love with you, and I miss my son, and without the two of you in my life permanently, I don't think I can be happy.”

Don't even think about it. You are not giving him another chance.
She was inches from the doorknob…

“I went before the board today.”

“What for?”

“To tell them about you and Max. I assured them that being married to a Birch was not going to diminish my loyalty to Western Oil. I don't know if they believed me, but they didn't take me out of the running. I guess time will tell.”

“Nathan, why did you do that?”

“Because it was wrong of me to try to hide you. Max is my son. Keeping his existence a secret is tantamount to saying that I'm ashamed of him. And I'm not. I love him and I'm proud of him and I want everyone to know that. And I want them to know that I love his mother, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving her.” He reached up and touched her cheek. “And
she
is the most important thing to me. Not the job.”

She had waited an awfully long time for someone to feel that way about her. To put her first. “You know, you're making it really hard for me to stay mad at you.”

He grinned. “That's sort of the point, since I could really use one more chance.”

Like she had any hope of resisting him now. She threw her arms around him and hugged him hard. “One more. But if you screw up this time, I swear I'm siccing Beth on you.”

“This time you're definitely stuck with me.” He wrapped his arms around her, held her close. “I missed you. And Max. This has been the most miserable week of my life.”

“Mine too.” But she was good now. Really, really good.

“I love you, Ana.”

“I love you, too. Why don't I go get Max? He's going to be so happy to see you.”

“Wait. Before you do, there's one more thing we have to talk about.”

His face was so serious, her heart plunged. “What?”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled something out. It took her a second to realize that it was a small velvet box. A
ring
box. Then he actually dropped down on one knee.

Oh my God.
Her heart was beating so hard she thought for sure it would break right through her chest.

He opened the box, and inside was a diamond solitaire ring. It was so beautiful it took her breath away. “Ana, would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

She had fantasized about this day since she was a little girl but could never have imagined how truly special it would be. She was getting everything she ever wanted. That and so much more.

“Yes I will, Nathan,” she said, through a sheen of tears—happy ones this time—and with a grin, he slipped the ring on her finger.