Page 29 of Boss Daddy's Girl

"You really think I'm going to come up here just because you told me to?" she seethes, her annoyance with me so achingly familiar and beloved that it takes my breath away. There's my girl. "Ionly came because I didn't want you harassing my neighbors if I didn't."

I don't buy it for a second. "And that's why you're wearing that pretty little dress?"

She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's not for you."

"Then for who?" I challenge, stalking forward until I'm looming over her. There's a high color on her cheeks, making affection rush through me.

"It's just a dress," she insists, but I know our close proximity is breaking her down. Ellie looks up into my eyes, and then away. "Stacy said you have my bonus."

"I do. But first, I want you to tell me. Why did you leave Salt Lake City without talking to me?"

She huffs, taking a step back and wrapping her arms around herself. "I didn't want to interrupt your date."

I knew it. This is all a huge misunderstanding, and all I have to do is set the record straight.

I smile triumphantly. "I knew you were jealous."

Her head jerks up, her eyes wild. "I was not."

"Then why did you leave?"

She throws her hands up in frustration. "You're so infuriating! You have these women throwing themselves at you, so why are you here with me? You don’t even care. I'm just your assistant!"

"I do care!" I shout, taking a step toward her. "Ellie, I care about you more than anyone else in my entire life. Kenneth Hopper had the flu. That woman was his intern filling in for him! I wasnever seeing someone else. And if you'll have me, I never will again."

Ellie has to brace herself against the brick wall of the stairway entrance to steady herself as shock rolls through her. "His … his intern? Are you serious?"

I nod, suddenly exhausted. "I know I'm a lot, Ellie. And I can be demanding, stubborn, and rude. But the truth is, I need you. Not just for the company, but for me. I've been falling for you ever since you came into my office with that ridiculously detailed resume, and I'm tired of pretending otherwise."

I can see her processing this information, her face going slack as she tries to take everything in. It's nerve-wracking, being so open with her, but I know it's worth it. "But Claude showed me this video, and I could hear you talking in it. You said, 'Ellie was just my assistant'.

I feel like I've been slapped across the face. Oh, my poor girl. All this time, she only had a fraction of the picture, and that fraction had been purposely pulled out to devastate her as much as possible. Next time I see Claude Vanderhoven, I will knock that ridiculous smile off his face and his teeth out of his mouth.

"Would you like to hear the entire sentence?"

Already swaying towards me, she nods, trust starting to bleed back into her wide blue eyes.

"Meredith, the intern, asked me about the rumors that I was dating my assistant. A lot of people took pictures the night of the mixer when you were my date. I told her, 'One minute Ellie was just my assistant, and the next I was realizing that I loved her. It happened that fast. So yes, I am seeing the woman who wasformally my assistant but is now so much more.' Is that what you needed to hear?"

"Y-you love me?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Drake." She chokes back a sob, and then she's in my arms, her hands tangling in my hair as she presses her lips to mine. This time, when she kisses me, I can't hold back. I don't want to. I pour everything I have into the kiss, tasting her, reveling in the feel of her soft body pressed against me.

All around us, the candles flicker in the wind, red rose petals stirring. The lights of the city surround us, and I can't think of a better moment to do this. I pull back from our kiss, looking down at her shining, tear-streaked face. "Ellie, I love you. I want you in my life forever. Will you marry me?"

"W-what?" I didn't think it was possible to shock her more than I already had tonight, but apparently, I was wrong.

Digging the black velvet box out of my pocket, I open it so she can see the ring. It's a platinum band inlaid with three delicate diamonds.

I can't believe she loves me. After all the crap I've put her through, she's still here, staring up at me with adoration in her eyes. My chest tightens with emotion, and I realize I'm terrified she'll say no. But she wouldn't have kissed me like that if she didn't care for me as much as I do for her. "I'm asking you to marry me."

Her eyes fly to mine, lips parted in surprise. "Are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious. I've never been more sure of anything in my life." I reach out and cup her face, the ring still held out to her. "Ellie White, will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

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