MARRIED TO MY RUTHLESS BOSS

TEN; Grandfather’s Approval

Daniel visited his grandfather on Saturday afternoon. The old man had moved into assisted living six months ago, though he hated every second of it. He called it 'a waiting room for dying.' Daniel called it 'the place where the only person who loved him actually lived.'

Grandfather was in his garden room, the place he spent most of his time now. The afternoon sun filtered through the windows, and he looked smaller than Daniel remembered. More fragile. Like the days were slowly erasing him.

'Danny, my boy. You came.' Grandfather's smile was genuine, the kind that made Daniel feel less like a CEO and more like a grandson.

'I always come.' Daniel sat down carefully, aware of his grandfather's bones, fragile as bird bones now.

'You look happy,' Grandfather observed. 'Something's different.'

Daniel wasn't going to tell him. But Grandfather had a way of seeing through deception, and Daniel had never learned how to lie to him effectively.

'There's someone,' Daniel said finally. 'At work. She's... different.'

Grandfather's entire face lit up. 'Tell me about her.'

Daniel told him. About Sephora's competence, her bravery, the way she'd called him out when he deserved it. About how she'd been invisible to him for two years until suddenly she was all he could see. About how she'd saved the merger and made him realize that some things mattered more than business.

'She sounds remarkable,' Grandfather said when Daniel finished.

'She is.'

'And you love her.'

'Grandfather—'

'Don't deny it to me, Danny. I can see it on your face. You love her.' Grandfather reached out and took his hand. His grip was weak, but his eyes were fierce. 'That's what I've been waiting for. That's what I needed to see.'

'It's complicated.'

'Love always is. But the right kind of complicated is worth it. Promise me you won't let her go. Promise me you'll be brave enough to tell her how you feel.'

Daniel looked at his grandfather—the man who'd raised him, who'd been the only constant in his life, who was slowly fading away. And he understood that Grandfather was asking him for something specific. Not just a promise, but permission to let go knowing that Daniel wouldn't be alone.

'I promise,' Daniel said, and he meant it with everything he had.

Grandfather smiled and closed his eyes, and for the first time in months, he looked at peace.

Monday morning at work, Daniel found Sephora organizing his calendar for the week ahead. The charity gala was Saturday night, and they'd been keeping the 'date' part quiet—no one knew they were planning to arrive together.

'Your mother called,' Sephora said without looking up. 'Three times. I told her you were in meetings and you'd call back.'

'What did she want?'

'Something about the gala. I think she's panicking because you don't have a date confirmed.'

Daniel smiled. He did have a date confirmed. She was standing right in front of him, pretending to be professional.

'I'll call her back.' He paused. 'Are you ready for Saturday?'

'I don't have anything to wear.'

'Then we'll fix that.' He pulled out his phone and texted Marcus, his best friend. 'My date needs a dress. Get her to the best place. I don't care what it costs.'

'Daniel, no. I can't—'

'You can. You will. Consider it a thank you for everything you've done.'

'For doing my job?'

'For being you.'