Humble Beginnings


    A few yearster, I finally established my ownpany. It had been a long and tiresome journey for me


    to get there but the experience was more than worth it. With the help of many mentors that I worked


    with along the way and Edward, I was able to set up my own littlepany.


    “Maybe mypany will end up making more than just a rounding error in your bank ount…


    finally…” I said jokingly to Edward.


    “If you’re doing this for the money, I suggest you quit and just stay at home with the kids…” Edward


    replied beforeughing.


    “Come on, I’m only joking. You know that I’m not doing this just for the money…” I said as I put an arm


    around his waist and leaned my head on his shoulder.


    “Of course, I know that. So don’t worry too much about making money or paying the bills. Just do what


    you want to do, ok?” Edward said leisurely.


    “Yeah, well, I’m not letting mypany go under. I’ll handle the financials of mypany well, just you


    wait and see…” I said with determination.


    “Good. As I told you before, I’m not helping you if thispany goes under,” Edward said as he


    grinned at me.


    I would never ask him for that much help for this. Edward was the biggest help already. He handles


    everything rted to our family so I didn’t need to worry about supporting our family at all.


    “No need to worry because it won’t go under. Why do I get the feeling that you don’t believe in me at


    all?” I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously at him.


    “I’m just teasing you. I’m sure it’ll be fine…” Edward replied before patting my head.


    Today was the open ceremony for mypany. Although, it’s more like a small get together of our


    close friends who came to congratte us and the staff. The new office that I had rented still smelled


    new. I liked the balloons that we put in ce though. Thepany started off small with around twenty


    employees.


    I could recall the day that Edward basically stole me from Lucien’s mansion to take me to a surprise


    interview. That interview truly started my professional career. I’vee a long way since then, but I


    never forgot my humble beginnings. It was the right decision to go to that interview.


    “What are you thinking about? You’re zoning out…” Edward whispered into my ear as he stood close to


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    me.


    The staffs were having fun chatting and drinking. Overall, the atmosphere was joyful and rxing at the


    same time. The party was so simple and cozy, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.


    “Just about, you know, how my career started. How you took me to my first interview…” I replied before


    smiling a little at Edward.


    “Oh…I remember that day. That day was adventurous…” Edward said as he seemed to recall some of


    his own memories of that day.


    “Adventurous is a good way to describe it, I guess,” I replied with augh.


    “Natalia! Why don’t you give a speech?” one of the staff asked as she came running up to me.


    “Oh no…that’s…” I said a little shyly, trying to turn her down. Giving a speech is just too much…


    “Come on, Natalia!” the staff cried out encouragingly.


    “Umm…” I mumbled. I still didn’t think that it was a good idea and I also didn’t have a speech prepared.


    “It’s the opening party of yourpany, isn’t obvious that you’ve got to say something? Go on now…”


    Edward said encouragingly as his hands pushed me forward.


    “Umm…ok…” I muttered.


    I nced around at the group of people that had gathered around me as they waited for me to start my


    speech. Since I didn’t n to give a speech at this event, I had nothing prepared. Giving a good


    speech wasn’t one of the skills that I had either. I took a deep breath and decided to say what I


    honestly felt.


    “Thank you everyone for making it to this event. To be honest, when I started working, I never dreamt


    that this day woulde. Having apany of my own has been my dream for a long time now and I


    am more than thrilled to be starting apany alongside so many people that I hold dear. I’m sure that


    we’ve all came a long way from the humble beginnings of our career, and I just hope that we will enjoy


    ourselves as we continued to learn new things together. Here’s to a rewarding journey ahead of us!” I


    said, sounding more confident than I actually felt inside.


    “Cheers!” everyone shouted in joy.


    “Cheers…” I whispered happily before sipping a little on my champagne.


    …


    It waste after the party ended and Edward and I arrived back home. Although, I was sure that the


    nannies have put the children to bed, I still wanted to check to make sure anyways.


    “You can go ahead; I’ll just pop in to check on the kids…” I said.


    “I’ll go with you,” Edward said as he took my hand in his.


    “Ok…” I whispered back.


    We headed to the children’s bedrooms. Ryder slept alone now but the twins still slept together in the


    same room. Silently, we opened the door a crack so that we could spy on our children sleeping.


    Everything seemed fine and I knew that I could get a worry-free sleep tonight.


    “Let’s go…” Edward whispered as he carefully closed the door to the twin’s bedroom.


    I nodded slightly as Edward took my hand in his and started leading me away from the children’s


    bedroom. As I watched Edward’s broad back in front of me, I realized once again how dependable he


    is and how much he’d help support me throughout my life. I was so lucky to find him, and I love him so


    deeply. I would do anything to spend the rest of my life with him.


    “Edward…” I said his name softly without realizing it.


    “Hmm?” Edward said questioningly as he stopped walking and turned around to look at me.


    Oh…I didn’t mean to call out to him and so I didn’t have anything to say.


    “Umm…it’s nothing…” I replied a little shyly.


    “You sure?” Edward asked, sounding a little concern.


    “…I was just thinking…of how lucky I am that I have you…” I whispered softly as I put my arms around


    him and looked up into Edward’s emerald-green eyes.


    “What’s this all of a sudden? You don’t need to sweet talk me, Natalia. If there’s something that you


    want, just let me know,” Edward said as he looked at me a little suspiciously.


    What he said was true. I didn’t need to sweet talk Edward into anything. Anything that I wanted, he


    would give to me without reserve. He spoils me in his own way…


    “I’m not sweet talking you. I already have all that I want…right here…” I said, proudly and confidently.


    --To be continued…