Page 87 of My Boss's Sons

Ava and Milo cheered loudest as I was presented with the award for Changemaker of the Year. The Dallas Chamber of Commerce Director stepped forward with the plague and I listened with a red face as she said a few words about the annual award and why they’d chosen me. I couldn’t make out anything she was saying through the blood rushing through my ears, but I smiled and nodded like I thought I was supposed to.

When the microphone was handed to me and Mary looked up at me with wide-eyed excitement, I could see her mouthing the word ‘speech’ at me and accidentally sighed directly into the mic, sending the sound out across the large room.

I heard Noah laugh from behind me and groaned, just for that to be broadcast as well. “I’m so sorry. I am not a public speaker, not for a crowd this size, anyway.”

“You’re doing great, sweetie.” Mary winked and stepped away, leaving me on my own.

“No one mentioned I’d need to make a speech…” I cleared my throat. “I guess I’ll just talk and someone will pull me off the stage with a giant hook when they think I’m done? Okay… Changemaker of the Year… When Mary told me that I’d been nominated for this award, it went about like my speech so far. I work hard and I’m good at my job, but changemaker? I still don’t know about that. What did I personally change? Nothing, really. I don’t think I’m supposed to say that after they already gave me this award, but it’s the truth.

“Anderson Inc. did go through a lot of changes this year. I’ve never been prouder to be a part of this company. I had very little to do with it, however.” I let out a quiet laugh and shookmy head. “Mary Anderson. Rita Barnes. They’re the women who stepped up and made a difference. There are countless other women who have stepped up in the last six months. Women who now fill seats on the board and offices on the top floors. Mary puts on her pantsuits and becomes such a fierce leader. Rita devours misogyny for breakfast. Candance Gore, the new Managing Director of Marketing, runs that ship like a goddess. Megan Young, Mary’s newest executive assistant, can tell you an exact itinerary for a trip three months from now while changing a light bulb before maintenance can show up to do it. There are so many other women who deserve this award.”

Alex shifted into my view in the front of the crowd and his eyes were intense as he focused on me. He nodded at me and the motion was so reassuring as I trailed off in my impromptu speech.

“So, yeah, I guess what I’m saying is that while this plague has my name on it, it’s not just for me. It’s for all of us. Maybe I was the catalyst, but we’ve all worked hard and stepped up.” I looked at the plague finally and snorted. “It doesn’t actually say my name. And on that note, I think that’s my time.”

I looked down to spot Alex again and he was gone. I couldn’t see Ethan, either. One particularly large shape moving forward in the crowd caught my eye and I smiled when I realized it was Jack. He wasn’t supposed to be able to make it to the event, but there he was. I glanced over at Mary, expecting her to take the microphone back but she was standing there, just watching me.

I widened my eyes at her and whispered. “Take this thing before I say something stupid!”

There was a collective gasp that went through the crowd and an immediate rise in noise as everyone seemed to start talking excitedly all at once. I looked down at myself, terrified the thin straps of my gown had snapped and exposed my boobs but things were still okay there. A throat clearing behind me caughtmy attention and I glanced back, expecting someone waiting for the mic, but what I saw instead made me shout directly into the microphone.

“Holy shit!”

Noah’s smile turned into a laugh. “Not exactly a calming reaction for a nervous man, Soph.”

“Holy shit… I mean,... holy shit.” Tears immediately burned my eyes as I took in the three men I loved kneeling on the stage in front of me. A loudthudechoed through the room as I dropped the mic.

Lily stepped out from behind them with a ring box in her hand. “Language, Mom!”

I covered my mouth as I laughed. I hadn’t expected a proposal of any kind, but seeing them involve Lily made my answer easier than it already was.

“I helped pick out the ring, Mom! And look!” She thrust her hand out at me. “They got me a ring, too.”

Ethan wrapped his arm around her and smiled at her with so much warmth and kindness in his eyes. It was the same way he always looked at her and I melted the same way I did every time I saw it. “We asked Lily if she would wear a ring, too. Hers is a promise from us. A promise that we will always be here for her and love her, no matter what. It’s a promise to let her know that if you let us be a part of your family we will do everything we can to make you both happy for the rest of our lives.”

“I said yes!” Lily hugged Ethan tight and then pointed at Noah. “Now your turn, Noah.”

Noah grinned at Lily and then looked up at me with a mixture of fear and hope in his eyes. “You didn’t just change the company, Soph. You changed us. You taught us how to love. You, your family, each other… You make us so happy and we don’t want to waste time when we already know we want to spend forever with you. We fucking love you, Soph.”

“That’s your one curse, Noah.” Lily wagged her finger at him and then pointed to Alex. “Your turn, Alex.”

“If you haven’t noticed, we would do anything for you and Lily. Let us spend forever making you and her happy, Sophia. Marry us.” Alex nodded at Lily. “Lily insisted she be the one to give you the ring. Said it’s practice for when she proposes to her boyfriend later.”

I dropped to my knees as Lily walked closer to me. I wiped tears away and laughed when she went down to one knee, just like the guys.

“Mom, will you marry the guys? I love them and if you don’t marry them, Ginger and Jasper will probably cry.” She looked over her shoulder at Ethan and gave him a thumbs up.

I pulled her in for a tight hug and met the guys’ gazes, one at a time as I answered. “Yes! Forever yes.”

Lily pried herself out of my arms and jumped up and down. “Yay! I told Mr. Jimmy you would say yes! He said the guys should’ve gotten a bigger ring to make sure you said yes. And then Mrs. Johnson said-”

“Oh! That’s okay! We don’t have to talk about what Mrs. Johnson said.” Noah shook his head at Lily and winced. “She still doesn’t exactly like us.”

I realized I couldn’t get back up without ripping my gown and exposing some part of myself. I was desperate to hug my men, though. Before I could make a life alert joke Alex was scooping me up and kissing me. We pulled apart at the sound of Lily gagging and then Ethan and Noah were there, pulling me in for their own kisses.

“Would you like the ring, Soph?” Noah nodded at Lily. “You may need to drop the plaque first.”

I dropped it like it was on fire and held my hand out. “Yes, yes, yes!”

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