"How about we open the resort in the same day of Clark"s birthday celebration?" John suggested after he did some careful consideration."Dad… that would be great! I love that… what do you think, Cliff?" Ingrid is overjoyed at her father"s brilliant suggestion. Clifford saw the exhilaration on his wife"s expression and he could not bear to kill it by rejecting her.
He thought that Clark"s grandparents on both sides will be present and for the first time he will also be there to celebrate his birthday. It"s as if a little reunion for them.
"Yeah, I think that would be wonderful idea. I think we should spend at least a week there so that you"ll get acquainted with your family again. I would love to know where you grew up, love…" Clifford smiled at her.
Ingrid blushed and had goose b.u.mps all over her body as Clifford"s hands stroke her back down to her lower back and stayed there rubbing tenderly.
"Okay, it"s settled then. We"ll open the resort on Clark"s birthday!" John declared and Clint, too, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the matter as he is looking forward for this event.
All of a sudden, Rose spoke.
"Ingrid, Clifford… I am so sorry for what I"ve said earlier, it"s never my intention to separate the two of you, it"s just that as a mother I was worried for my daughter"s safety of which I lost the consideration that she"s already married and to such a protective man as you, son… I hope both of you would look past my mistake…"
Ingrid then stood up and sits beside her mother. She leaned on her shoulders and a.s.sured her.
"Of course mommy… we perfectly understand what you"re trying to say, I"m a mother, too… I would feel the same…"
"Thank you, dear…." Rose then caressed her daughter"s face.
…♥…♥…♥…
Days later, Ingrid and Clifford went back to work together.
For the first time, they will walk together holding hands, with no room for reservations knowing that all of the employees knows about their relationship.
When they arrived, the couple are taken aback for the warm welcome they received from the employees from the executives down to the lowest ranks. They were all neatly and formally lined up to welcome them starting from the entrance till the vast reception area.
"WE WELCOME YOU BACK, YOUNG MASTER AND YOUNG MADAM…" at the same time they bow down.
Ingrid is so touch of their efforts and before she could speak, someone takes a step forward and hand her a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes glistened with thankfulness.
"My… thank you so much… how could I repay you all for your thoughtfulness…?" she smiled to all of them.
"Hmm.. how about we treat them their lunch?" Clifford proposed.
"Good idea, love… Hear this, lunch will be on us…" all the employees roared in happiness.
The endearment uttered by Ingrid to Clifford did not escape the ladies" hearing which caused some squealed with delight. They never thought that the workaholic, career driven, no-time-for-love woman is now happily married to the most elusive bachelor.
"There"s still hope for us, girls…" a lady suddenly blurted out her thoughts but was only laughed at by her peers.
"What do you mean, to catch a man like the young master? Don"t be ridiculous…" a man mockingly commented and laughs at her.
"Hmmpp!! You"re just jealous because no lady has dated you and as far as I know you"re always busted… pity!" After that the woman stomped away leaving the man dumbfounded and their peers make fun of him.
After the announcement of the free lunch, the couple went straight to the elevator and then to their separate offices. But before Clifford let go of his wife"s hand he pulled her to his embrace.
"Should I transfer your office next to mine, so that we could be near to each other always?" Ingrid chuckled.
"Why are you so clingy, husband? Can we separate for a while? I"ll be too distracted if you"re around, you know?" she said as she try to wriggle out of his embrace.
"Hmmm… really?..." Clifford is convinced somehow with her answer.
"Uh huh… besides, let"s spare the singles with our PDAs…" Ingrid laughs when she remembered the looks of the ladies when they arrived earlier.
"Okay… so, shall I escort you to your office, then?" Ingrid nodded in agreement.
Daisy is so busy looking at her computer that she did not notice that the couple is coming.
"Daisy, were you among the employees who greeted us earlier?"
The poor secretary almost jumped off from her seat startled when she heard the voice of her boss. Her eyegla.s.ses almost fell and her eyes becomes slightly blurry.
"Oh! Miss Ingrid, I mean, young madam! Welcome back! Yes, I was one of them, but I went back immediately because I needed to finish the contracts for the models for your review…" Daisy gasps in surprise when she noticed the man behind her.
"OH GOSH! I never noticed you, young master… I apologize, welcome back sir…" Daisy"s face reddens in embarra.s.sment.