Extended Epilogue

Taylor-Five years later...

The gentle hum of the city drifts in through the open windows of our penthouse, mixing with the soft sounds of Milo playing with his toys on the living room floor. He’s chattering to himself, his little voice rising and falling as he builds what looks like a lopsided tower out of blocks. 

I’m sitting on the couch, sipping tea, my hand resting on my belly, which isn’t too big yet but is definitely starting to make its presence known. Four months pregnant, and this little girl is already making me crave all kinds of things—popcorn, chocolate, and strangely, lima beans.

I watch Milo, noticing his dark curls falling over his forehead, so much like Austin’s. He’s the spitting image of his father, with the same mischievous smile that lights up his whole face when he’s up to something. I can’t help but grin as he tries to stack another block on his leaning tower, determined to make it work.

“Careful, buddy,” I call out, trying not to laugh. “That looks like it’s about to come down.”

He looks up at me with those big brown eyes, completely innocent. “No, Mommy! It’s perfect!”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “If you say so.”

Just then, I hear the familiar sound of the elevator doors sliding open, followed by Austin’s usual, “I’m home!” His eyes immediately land on me. And then, almost instinctively, on my belly. I can see that familiar look of concern flash across his face before he catches himself and tries to play it cool.

“Hey, baby,” he says, walking over to kiss me on the cheek. His hand, of course, goes right to my belly as if he can’t help himself.

“Hey.” I smile up at him. “Your son is building a skyscraper over there."

Austin glances over at Milo, who’s completely focused on his blocks, and then grins. “Looks a little more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa to me,” he says under his breath before turning back to me. “How are you feeling? Everything good?”

I roll my eyes and pat his hand. “Austin, I’m fine. You know that. The doctor said I’m doing great. You don’t have to keep hovering.”

He gives me a look, the one that says he’s not convinced. “You’re carrying our daughter this time,” he says as if that explains everything.

“I know,” I reply, trying not to laugh. “But I’m still me. And the doctor said it’s fine for me to keep being active. Spin class, yoga, running…as long as I listen to my body, it’s all good.”

“Yeah, but maybe slow down a little?” he suggests, his voice heavy with that protective tone that’s become way more frequent this pregnancy. “You don’t have to be Superwoman.”

I raise an eyebrow. "Superwoman? Really? I think you’re forgetting that I ran a marathon when I was five months pregnant with Milo.”

“Exactly,” he says, standing up straight. “And that was stressful enough. Now you’re doing even more.”

I laugh, reaching up to pull him back down beside me. “Austin Blake, I love you, but you’re being ridiculous. I’m not some fragile flower just because I’m carrying a girl. You know this. In fact, I’m kind of twice as much a badass because I have twice the feminine energy right now.”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair again. “I know, I know. I just worry. You’re…you’re everything to me and Milo. Having him has made me realize just how much more there is to lose.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my heart swell. He’s always been protective, but this time around, with our little girl on the way, it’s like he’s taken it to a whole new level. I can’t help but smile as I lean into him and rest my head on his shoulder. 

“You’re sweet,” I murmur. “Overbearing but sweet.”

Austin laughs softly, wrapping his arm around me in defeat. He knows he only gets a short amount of time to be cute with me before I spiral into frustration—an unfortunate increase in this pregnancy by about ten-fold compared to Milo. “I’ll take that.”

Milo’s tower finally collapses with a loud clatter, and he lets out an alarmed “Uh-oh!” before bursting into giggles.

Austin and I both turn to look at him, and Austin shakes his head. “Our son, the future architect,” he jokes, scooping him up in his arms. 

“More like demolition expert.” I tease, both of us leaning in at the same time to plant big, wet kisses on his cheeks, making him fall into a fit of laughter. 

After dinner and Milo’s endless request for “just one more bedtime story,” I find myself standing by the kitchen sink, staring out at the twinkling city lights. The quiet hum of the dishwasher fills the space, a peaceful backdrop to the day we’ve had. Austin is behind me. I can feel his presence before he even touches me. It’s like there’s this invisible connection between us that keeps us tethered, no matter where we are in the room.

His arms snake around my waist, pulling me gently against him as his chin moves to rest on my shoulder. “You survived another day,” he teases, his voice soft in my ear.

I smile, leaning back into his warmth. “Barely. I don’t know how we’ll survive two kids.”

He chuckles, his breath tickling my neck. “We’ll manage. Somehow.”

I close my eyes, letting the moment sink in. It’s these small moments with him—these quiet, intimate seconds that remind me just how much I love him. We’ve built this life together, brick by brick, and tomorrow, we’ll be showcasing it to the world. But right now, it’s just us, wrapped in the comfort of our home, with Milo fast asleep down the hall and our baby girl growing inside me. 

“You’re not still nervous about tomorrow, are you?” he asks, his lips brushing the side of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

“I don’t know,” I admit, turning slightly in his arms so I can look at him. His face is close, his blue eyes searching mine with that same intensity he always has when he’s trying to understand what’s going on in my head. “It’s just…it’s a lot. The cover, the interview. It feels like we’re showing the world everything.”

We’ve done several interviews over the years and have been in countless financial publications, but this one—this one is huge. This one is introducing us to the world as the largest, most powerful financial firm in North America.

Austin’s hand comes up to cup my face, his thumb brushing lightly across my cheek. “We are showing the world everything. Everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve built. And there’s no one I’d rather do it with than you.”

I feel the familiar flutter in my chest—the same feeling I’ve had since the day we met. He always has this way of making me feel like I’m the strongest person in the room, even when I doubt myself.

“I know, it’s just…this feels different.” I reach up, tracing the line of his jaw, feeling the slight stubble under my fingers. “It’s not just the business. It’s us. Our family. It’s real now.”

He nods, his eyes never leaving mine. “That’s exactly why we’re going to crush it tomorrow. Because we’re real. We didn’t get here by faking anything. We worked our asses off to build this life, but most importantly, we did it together.”

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “I don’t know if ‘showing off’ is what we’re going for.”

His grin is wicked, his hand slipping down to rest on my belly. “Maybe not. But we’re definitely going to make everyone jealous of our love.”

I lean into him, pressing my forehead against his. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m yours,” he murmurs, his lips brushing mine, the kiss soft, warm, and full of promise.

And in that moment, I know—no matter what tomorrow brings, what any tomorrow brings, we’ll face it together.

“Take me to bed?” I whisper, toying with a lock of his hair.

“You read my mind.”

No matter what I’m feeling, even if I’m angry or frustrated with Austin himself, nothing eases my tension like being in his arms and feeling his fingertips trail over my naked skin as his eyes study me. 

By the time we reach our bed, we are both stripped of our pajamas, and our limbs are in a tangled mess as our kiss grows heated. 

“The things your tongue does,” he groans into my mouth, his body over mine as his hand begins to slide up between my thighs. “So naughty.”

“More,” I pant, my thighs falling open to welcome him. 

“More what?” he teases, tugging my bottom lip gently with his teeth. His fingers dance along the precipice, just out of reach from where I need his touch.

“Everything, please.” I writhe as his hands quickly grab my wrist and pin them to the bed when I reach for him. 

Even with all his comments about delayed gratification, I’m convinced this is his way of torturing me. 

“I promise I’ll make it worth it, baby. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll make it all better.” This time, he bites my nipple, eliciting a low moan from deep within my chest. 

“Austin,” I pant, my aggravation growing by the second, “I’m going to hurt you if you deny my pregnancy hormones one more second!”

“Mmm, I like it when you threaten,” he murmurs before he licks my other nipple, his thumb beginning slow, languid circles around my clit. “But before I devour you like a buffet,” he presses his thumb down harder, making the pleasure grow, “before I fuck your sweet little pussy within an inch of its life,” his mouth is over mine, nipping, sucking, and teasing me, “I have something for you.”

He’s off the bed in a flash, walking toward the closet and disappearing. I partially sit up in confusion when he emerges a few seconds later with a box in his hand. He drops it on the floor before I can recognize it in the dim light of the lamp next to our bed. 

“What?” I ask when I see a devious grin on his face as he reaches down to the floor, which is out of my line of sight. A second later, he’s grabbing my foot and sliding on a delicate, stunning Louboutin heel. I gasp, reaching down to touch the thin black strap that perfectly winds its way partly up my calf. “What’s the occasion?” 

“These,” he says after sliding on the second shoe and climbing his way back over me, “are to commemorate the magazine cover tomorrow.”

“They’re beautiful, thank you.” 

“You’re welcome.” Now his hands are back to holding mine above my head, the tip of his hard length nudging at my entrance. I sigh, my legs falling open again to welcome him. 

“And tomorrow, when we’re sitting at that interview table, look down at them and remember you are the most amazing, badass, sexy woman in the world, and there’s nothing you can’t do,” he adds.

The moment goes from passionate and hot to emotional and deep within seconds, something that’s not uncommon with us. 

“But when I see them,” his smile grows darker, his cock starting to inch its way inside me,

“I’m going to think of this. And years from now, whenever you wear them, I’m going to remember every little moan you make in them tonight. I’m going to remember that the first time you wore them, just like every other pair I’ve bought or will buy for you, I had them over my shoulder first while I was buried inside you.”

***

We’re standing in the hallway of the magazine office, just outside the suite where we’re supposed to meet with Business Insider Quarterly for our biggest interview yet. My heart is pounding, and my palms are slightly damp, but I’m doing my best to play it cool. Austin’s beside me, calm as ever, his hand casually resting on my lower back and sending a steady warmth through me.

“Are you ready for this?” he asks, leaning in just enough for his breath to tickle my ear.

I nod, even though I’m not entirely sure. “I think so. I mean, it’s just Business Insider Quarterly. No big deal, right?” I try to joke, but my voice comes out an octave too high.

Austin chuckles, his fingers gently pressing into my back in a way that sends a comforting shiver up my spine. “You’ve got this,” he says, his confidence in me so steady, so unshakeable that, for a moment, I forget why I was nervous in the first place.

“Easy for you to say,” I tease, turning to face him. “You didn’t almost trip over the receptionist’s desk when we walked in.”

He grins, his eyes sparkling in that way that always makes me feel like we’re the only two people in the room. “To be fair, you made it look graceful and sexy.” Then, he chuckles before looking down at my shoes. “Mmm, those shoes, fuck.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up. “Yeah, sure. I’m practically a ballerina.”

Austin steps closer, his hand sliding from my back to my waist, pulling me in gently. “You are,” he murmurs, his voice dropping to that low, serious tone that always makes my heart skip a beat. “You’re the most graceful, brilliant woman in the room, and you’re about to knock this interview out of the park.”

I blink up at him, my breath catching in my throat. The way he’s looking at me right now—like I’m his whole world—makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter for an entirely different reason.

“Austin, it’s just an interview,” I whisper, even though I can feel the magnetic pull between us. I try to focus, but it’s impossible when his lips are so close, his gaze so intense.

“It’s not just an interview,” he replies, his hand tightening on my waist. “It’s a moment for us to show the world what we’ve built. Together.”

His words hit me like a wave, and suddenly, I’m not thinking about the interview, the pressure, or anything else. I’m thinking about him. About us. About everything we’ve been through to get to this point. And in this moment, I realize just how much I need him—not just as my business partner, but as the person who grounds me and lifts me up when I doubt myself.

“You’re right,” I say softly as my hand rests on his chest, and I feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingers. “We’ve got this. Together.”

At that, he smiles that crooked, irresistible smile that always makes my knees a little weak. “That’s my girl.”

And just like that, all the tension, the nerves, the doubt—it all melts away. Because with Austin by my side, I know we can face anything.

We’re sitting in a sleek conference room at Insider Business Quarterly, the top business publication in the country, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride as I glance around. It’s been ten years since Austin and I started our firm together, and now we’re sitting here, about to be interviewed for a feature as the top financial firm in North America. It feels surreal.

“Are you ready for this?” Austin asks, leaning over and whispering in my ear.

I smile at him, nodding. “I think so. You?”

“More than ready,” he answers with a grin, linking his fingers with mine. “I’m proud to let everyone know how far we’ve come and what we’ve built together.”

The interviewer, a sharp-looking woman with a tablet and recorder, steps into the room and smiles warmly at us. “Thank you both for coming in today,” she says. “We’re really excited to feature you and the firm in our next issue. Congratulations on all your success, and thanks again for all the pre-interview correspondence and for agreeing to sit down and do this with us here at IBC.”

“Thank you,” I reply, settling into my chair. Austin’s hand rests on my knee, a reassuring gesture, and I find myself grateful, as always, for his steady presence. It’s something I’ve grown to lean on more and more over the years.

When I was younger, I truly thought I could do it all alone. I was fine relying on just me, but becoming a mother has made me vulnerable in a way I never knew I could feel. And having a man like Austin by our side to protect and love us is something I will never take for granted.

“Let’s start at the beginning,” the interviewer says, glancing at her notes. “Your firm is now the leading financial firm, not only in Chicago but in all of North America. What do you think has been the key to your success?”

Austin and I exchange a look, and I nod for him to start. He has always been better at talking about the big picture.

“I think the key has been our partnership,” he says smoothly. “Taylor and I complement each other in every way. We have different strengths, but we always work together. And, honestly, we’ve built a culture of trust and respect at the firm. Everyone who works with us feels like they’re part of a family, which I know is such a cliché thing to say, but it truly feels that way with us.”

I nod in agreement. “It has never just been about the numbers for us. It’s about building something sustainable, something that benefits everyone involved. We wanted to create a place where people felt valued, and I think that’s been a big part of why we’ve been successful.”

The interviewer smiles. “And what was it like when you two announced your engagement? I imagine the firm was buzzing with excitement.”

I laugh, remembering the day. “Oh, they were definitely excited. I think half the office already suspected something was going on between us, so when we finally made it official, there were a lot of cheers.”

Austin grins, giving my hand a squeeze. “I was proud to tell everyone. It wasn’t about the attention or wanting others to celebrate us. I’m just so fucking—shit, sorry…” he stumbles, and the journalist laughs.

“It’s okay. I won’t print it. You are free to express yourself however colorfully you like.”

“My apologies anyway. Let me start again. I wanted the world to know because I am just so proud to be attached to this woman. And the fact that she has allowed me to not only be her business partner but her life partner and now the father of her children is just something I’ll never shut up about.”

I roll my eyes playfully, though tears sit just on the edge. “He loves a good dramatic moment,” I say with a chuckle, and he squeezes my hand, mouthing a quick “I love you.” 

The interviewer leans forward, intrigued. “And now, with your family growing, how do you see the future of the firm?”

Austin’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, we’re both silent.

“We’re excited for the future,” Austin says, his voice soft but full of conviction. “Our family is growing, and so is the firm. We’ve built something solid, something that will last, and we’re only just getting started. There’s so much more we want to do, both professionally and personally."

I nod, smiling at him. “And we’ve learned that balance is key. We’re passionate about what we do, but our family is everything. We want to grow the firm in a way that allows us to enjoy these moments with our kids, too.”

The interviewer beams at us. “Well, it sounds like the two of you have an incredible partnership, both in business and in life. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us today.”

***

We step out of the magazine headquarters, the cool breeze of late afternoon brushing against my skin. I instinctively reach for Austin’s hand, and he squeezes mine in return, his thumb brushing against my knuckles.

Jeff, our driver, pulls the car up to the curb, ready to take us home. But before I can move toward the car, Austin stops me with a grin.

“Actually, Jeff,” Austin says, glancing at me with a mischievous smile, “we’re going to take the train today.”

I blink, surprised. “The train?”

He nods, his smile widening. “Yeah. Thought it might be nice to take the same route we met on, just for old times’ sake.”

I laugh, my chest warming. “You’re feeling nostalgic, huh?”

“Always,” he says, pulling me toward the metro entrance. “Come on, let’s walk.”

We stroll hand in hand down the street, weaving our way through pedestrians and the ever-present hum of city life. It’s not often we’re alone these days, and in just a few short months, it will happen even less often. So, taking a few moments to revisit an old memory that has brought us so much change and so much love over the years is something I’ll never pass up. 

Austin and I had once thought about moving and starting another branch of the firm on the East Coast, but neither of us could make the decision to leave Chicago. We couldn’t do it. There was something magical about being here, in the city where we built everything—our careers, our lives, our family.

When we reach the train station, the familiar sounds of the platform greet us. The clatter of trains pulling in, the low murmur of commuters…it’s just another day to everyone else right now, but to me, it all feels like a memory coming back to life. I look up at Austin, and he catches my eye, his expression softening.

“You know,” I say as we step onto the platform, “I still can’t believe we met on a train.”

He laughs, his arm slipping around my waist. “Neither can I. But I’m damn glad we did.”

The train pulls up, and we board, finding a seat near the back where we can sit side by side, our hands still entwined. The city rushes past us, a blur of buildings and lights, but inside the train, it feels quiet and familiar.

I lean my head against Austin’s shoulder, closing my eyes for a moment. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

“Yeah, we have,” he murmurs, kissing the top of my head. “And we’ve got so much more ahead of us.”

I smile, resting my hand on my belly and feeling the flutter of movement from our little girl.

The future stretches out before us, full of possibility, and I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

As the train continues its journey, I glance out the window at the city we love, the city that brought us together. And I can’t help but feel grateful for every twist and turn that led us here, to this moment, on this train, hand in hand.

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