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I pursed my lips, eyeing her for a moment before taking a shuttered breath. "I don't know how you could possibly promise that, but I'm going to believe you."
She smiled. "Good. The ladies' room is right behind us. Go in, fix yourself, get your heart in check, and walk in there like you own the place." She leaned in and whispered. "Because you do."
I laughed and headed into the bathroom and up to the mirror. Thankfully I had paid a lot of money for waterproof eyeliner and mascara, so the damage was not too severe. The only thing I couldn't dab away was the redness, but I knew that would subside. I shook my head at my reflection, promising myself right then and there that no matter what, when the night was over, and the sun rose the next day because it would, I would call Ryder and talk to him. I wouldn't let my fear win. I didn't know if I would keep that promise, but for the moment, that had to be my truth.
I headed out of the bathroom, Sicily waiting for me with a big grin. Charlie walked in front of the door and stepped to the side. "I'll be right inside at the entrance. There isn't any press, and the security is very tight. If you need me, I'll be watching out."
I nodded and forced a smile, taking Sicily's hand. As soon as we entered, people turned and smiled, all their attention shifting to me. My father stepped down onto the dance floor and put his arms out. I grinned, feeling the warmth of his love, and hurried through on my boot, hugging him tightly. It wasn't until that moment that his retirement really hit me. I had gotten used to working with my father, and though he could be frustrating more times than not, I couldn't imagine the company without him at the helm.
"You look absolutely stunning," he said, kissing my cheek.
We went through the evening, talking and laughing, listening to stories of my father from people who had been at his side since the beginning. I hadn't seen my father laugh that hard in a very long time. The entire ballroom was packed, with people dressed to the hilt, dancing, drinking, and celebrating my father.
Still, between the moments of the jolly rekindling of memories, my attention would wane, drifting off to wherever Ryder was that night. I wondered if he could feel my thoughts floating toward him. Before I could think too long on it, though, my attention would be forced back to the present, being introduced to a new face or name.
I tried to pay attention to everyone I met, but there were far too many new faces to remember. As my father spoke to a couple of the investors and their wives, with me standing by, smiling and nodding, I glanced over the ballroom. For just a moment, a split second, I could have sworn I saw Ryder walk through the crowd. My heart began beating so quickly that I could barely hear the conversation over the drumming in my ears. For a moment, I thought I might pass out.
With a few deep breaths, I gathered myself. "Excuse for a moment."
I nodded at the couple and walked over to the bar. "Can I have a glass of water, please?"
The bartender quickly poured me a glass. "Are you alright? You look very pale."
I took several gulps of the water and closed my eyes, letting out the breath caught in my chest. I nodded. "Thank you, yes. I was just warm, I think."
From the front of the room, my father tapped the microphone. "May I have everyone's attention. Firstly, I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight to help me say goodbye and wish me a happy retirement. My time with the company has stretched back to my childhood. But be assured, I am not going far. I will always be in the wings, watching, available as a helping hand."
He glanced around until he found me, waving me over. "But I don't believe I'll be needed that often. I'm not big on speeches, so I'll cut right to it. We are proud, both as a company and as a father, to introduce to you my successor. My daughter, Amber, will be officially rising to the challenge of running our company into the future. I couldn't think of a better person to take the reigns. Amber, would you come to say a few words."
I smiled, my cheeks heated through as I approached the microphone. "Thank you all so much for your warm welcome." I nodded until they had all stopped clapping. "While anyone in my shoes would be exuberant for the chance to lead such an amazing team into the future, I am even more grateful because I get to continue the line of a family dedicated to our company and our future. Like my father, I am not big on public speaking, so I will simply say this. With the winds at our backs, we will sail forward into an ever-evolving world. We will triumph in victory and learn from our losses. And I pledge that I will be there every step in those directions."
Everyone clapped, including my father. He stepped up to the mic, his hand around my waist. "If everyone would join me in the celebratory first dance for my daughter, the new CEO."
I stepped onto the floor and looked back for my father to join me, but he didn't budge. Instead, he smiled at me as his eyes raised to the dance floor. Slowly, I turned around as the spotlight clicked on, revealing Ryder standing on the floor in a tuxedo, his hand out to mine. My heart lept into my throat, and it took a gentle push from my father to get me to move my feet.
I looked into Ryder's eyes, my hands shaking as he bowed to me and took one hand, putting his other around me. We started to dance, but my boot was a bit cumbersome. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me, lifting me from my feet. As we danced, I shook my head in disbelief.
"What are you doing here?"
He pulled me in close and whispered as the crowd oohed and clicked pictures. "I have not stopped thinking about you for even a moment since the day in the hospital. Amber, I fought it so hard because I was afraid, but the truth is, I love you. Maybe we shouldn't run down the aisle, maybe we should get to know each other better first, but that will come. I can't begin to imagine my future without you by my side. I don't care about pressures or how we look or how many times we bicker sarcastically for no reason. I love every bit of it. I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours. And let the future unfold for us."
I brought my arms up and wrapped them around his neck, hugging him tightly. Tears streamed down my face. "You're going to have to teach me how to ride a motorcycle."
He laughed. "Why? I enjoy you wrapped around me as we speed off into the sunset."
"I love you, too," I finally said out loud.
I glanced up at Sicily as we danced by, watching her grin. Everything she said before suddenly made sense. It wasn't even the end of the night, and everything in my life had fallen into place. I belonged in Ryder's arms, and there was nowhere in the world I would have instead been. So maybe there was a happily ever after for me after all.
Epilogue
Amber
6 Months Later
Coming home from work felt so much different than it had six months before. Not only had I been CEO of the company for all those months, but I had already made leaps and bounds by pushing the company into the future. Several board members had finished their terms and retired, leaving room for new, younger, more progressive members to be admitted. My father always hated change, but he could see how that kind of change was what the company needed. He had faced the same thing in his early days, and life and the world was constantly evolving. So we had to evolve too.
On top of that, I no longer went to my home but to our home. Ryder sold the condo, knowing I didn't want to spend time there after what had happened, and he didn't see the need for more than one residence. So we made my home ours, redecorating, renovating, and creating a larger workspace for his motorcycles. With us being on the beach, plus having a space to work on his bikes, unless we were going on a ride, we were homebodies. Then again, we could barely stand to be away from each other.
