Chapter 51

I sit back in Ron's chair, the warmth of the coffee in my hands grounding me as my thoughts continue to swirl. The note I found lingers in my mind, a reminder of the depth of his feelings—something he expresses in ways I hadn’t fully noticed before. It’s almost overwhelming to think about how much he cares, how much he’s invested in us. And yet, it’s comforting, too. I sip the coffee slowly, trying to savor the moment.

The office is quiet, the only sound coming from the hum of the city outside the window. I know Ron’s meeting is important, that the board doesn’t take things lightly, but part of me can’t help but wish he was here with me instead. I look at the pile of files on the desk, remembering my promise to help him. I pick one up and start reading, determined to be useful, but my mind keeps drifting back to the note.

Time passes in a haze as I work through the documents. I don’t know how much I’m actually absorbing, but at least it keeps me occupied. The clock on the wall ticks away the minutes, and eventually, the hour has stretched into two. I glance at the door, wondering how much longer Ron will be in the meeting.

Just as I’m about to stand up and stretch, the door to Ron’s office swings open. He steps inside, his expression a mix of exhaustion and relief, and my heart skips a beat at the sight of him. He looks tired—more tired than I’ve seen him in a while—but his eyes light up when he sees me.

“Amanda,” he says, his voice warm but weary. He shuts the door behind him and crosses the room in a few quick strides, pulling me into his arms. “God, I’m so glad you’re still here.”

I melt into his embrace, feeling the tension in his body as he holds me close. “How did it go?” I ask softly, my voice muffled against his chest.

He sighs deeply, his breath stirring the hair near my ear. “It went well, I think. The board signed off on the merger, so now it’s just a matter of finalizing everything.” He pulls back slightly to look at me, his gaze searching mine. “But it was draining. I’m so tired of all this corporate nonsense.”

His confession is raw, vulnerable. I can see the strain in his eyes, the weight of responsibility that he carries every day. And yet, here he is, putting on a brave face for me.

I reach up and cup his face in my hands, my thumb brushing lightly over his cheek. “You’re amazing, you know that? I’m so proud of you.”

He closes his eyes and leans into my touch, a small smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Amanda. You’re the only thing that keeps me sane in all of this.”

For a moment, we just stand there, wrapped up in each other. The world outside fades away, and all that matters is the warmth of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my fingertips.

Then, slowly, Ron pulls away and gestures to the files on his desk. “Did you manage to get through any of these?”

I nod, glancing at the documents I’d been working on. “I did, but I’m not sure how helpful I was. It’s a lot of legal jargon.”

He chuckles softly, his tired eyes crinkling at the corners. “Just the fact that you tried means the world to me.” He picks up one of the files, flipping through it absently. “Honestly, I think I’m done for the day. I don’t think I can look at another contract without losing my mind.”

I reach out and take the file from his hands, closing it and setting it back on the desk. “Then don’t. Let’s get out of here.”

He looks at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You want to leave?”

“Yeah,” I say, a smile tugging at my lips. “Let’s go somewhere, just the two of us. We can forget about work for a while and just… be together.”

His expression softens, and I can see the temptation in his eyes. “I like the sound of that,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of affection.

We gather our things quickly, Ron shrugging back into his suit jacket while I grab my bag. He looks at his watch one last time, then shakes his head as if to clear it. “No more meetings today,” he declares, and I can’t help but laugh at the determination in his voice.

We walk out of his office hand in hand, Maria giving us a knowing smile as we pass her desk. The elevator ride down is quiet, but it’s a comfortable silence, filled with the anticipation of what’s to come. When the doors slide open, we step out into the bustling lobby, the energy of the city washing over us.

“Where should we go?” Ron asks as we exit the building, his arm wrapping around my waist.

I think for a moment, then smile up at him. “Anywhere, as long as I’m with you.”

He grins, that boyish smile that I love so much. “I know just the place.”

We walk down the street together, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. The air is warm, and I can feel the tension of the day melting away with each step we take. Ron leads me to a small, hidden park a few blocks from the office, a peaceful oasis amidst the chaos of the city. It’s quiet here, the noise of traffic fading into the background as we find a secluded bench under a large oak tree.

We sit down, and Ron pulls me close, his arm draped over my shoulders. For a while, we just sit there in comfortable silence, watching the leaves rustle in the breeze.

“This is perfect,” I whisper, leaning my head against his shoulder.

“It is,” he agrees, his voice soft. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, and I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

As we sit there, I can’t help but think about the future—about all the memories we’ll create together, the challenges we’ll face, and the love that will continue to grow between us. Being with Ron, I realize, is where I’m meant to be. No matter what the future holds, I know we’ll face it together, hand in hand.

And in this quiet, hidden corner of the city, with the sun setting behind the buildings and Ron by my side, I feel a deep sense of contentment wash over me. This is what I’ve always wanted—this connection, this love that makes everything else seem insignificant.

“Ron,” I murmur, turning to look at him, my heart swelling with affection.

“Yeah?” he responds, his gaze meeting mine.

“I love you,” I say simply, the words filled with all the emotion I’ve been holding onto.

His eyes soften, and he pulls me closer, his lips brushing against mine in a gentle, tender kiss. “I love you too, Amanda. More than you’ll ever know.”

And as we sit there, wrapped up in each other, I know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together. Because this—this love, this connection—is what will carry us through anything. And in this moment, under the sheltering branches of the oak tree, I know that we’ve found something truly special, something worth holding onto forever.