Wednesday, March 14th, 2018

Tati's POV

Today is my first day back to work. Yes! I love going to work, knowing that I am able to help people with their health needs. I had to force Niko to let me drive today.

I did get all of my clothes from the condo. I have another two weeks to get my things to my house. Matti, Niko, and Aiesha are going to help me.

And, we are planning to have an engagement party. Niko wants me to meet some of his friends from a group they formed.

I still can't believe that I am an engaged woman to the most wonderful, sweet, loving and kind man. Not to also mention a very, powerful man. Niko is everything that I hoped and dreamed of. And, he is mine.

I did call Tanya and Brielle, whom I have become close to. They are sweet. We call or text each other to see how each one is doing. I can't wait to see them.

Niko said he is having a company-wide meeting with everyone in the building about our engagement. Of course, some will try to start with me, but I'm ready for it.

Entering the building, I saw Tanya and Brielle waiting for me.

"Tati!! We miss you!!" I walked over to them and hugged them both.

"I missed you both too. I'm back, ladies."

"Niko told us the news already. Congratulations, girly. We are happy that Niko found you."

"We have never seen the boss man so giddy and in love. Niko gushes over you. When Niko is happy, we all are happy. Congratulations, Tati. Niko is like a brother to us. We celebrated when he got rid of Ana."

"Thank you, Tanya and Brielle. Niko makes me happy more than ever. We are having an engagement party this Saturday. I want you to bring your family with you. And, I'll give you my new address. Let's get to the meeting room." We walked over to the elevator, then pressed the button for the meeting room.

Niko was already there, along with most of the building. I smiled and winked as I went to my seat upfront. Tanya and Brielle sat next to me. I saw Aubrey making her way to her seat. She saw me and walked my way.

"Tati, I'm so glad you are back. I missed you. Make sure you come up to the executive floor for your 'Welcome back' lunch. And, congratulations."

"Thank you, Aubrey. I missed you too."

Niko's POV

"Now that everyone is here, we can begin. I need everyone in this room to listen to me loud and clear. Dr. Reid, please join me on the platform." I had to be professional. Tatianna walked on the platform, looking sexy as ever.

Red is divine on her. I can't wait to finally hug her hips like I want to. "Self-control, Niko."

"This will be quick. Before I hear any rumors being spread in this building, I am telling everyone the truth even though I don't have to. My personal life is no one's business. Over the past few weeks while on vacation, Dr. Reid and I became engaged. You all know that I have eyes everywhere over the grounds of this complex. If I ever hear of ANYONE harassing my fiancée, you already know what is going to happen. And, trust me you will not like it. Am I making myself clear?"

Everyone shook their heads in agreement.

"Good. Everyone in this building needs to treat each other with respect. Thank you all for your time. Let's get back to work."

I grabbed Tatianna's hand so she would stay.

"I know it's been a while since you have been in the building. Do you need a refresher tour?"

"I could use one. Just let me change into my flat shoes."

Tatianna switched her hips while walking off the stage. "That's pretty dangerous, and especially in that red dress."

"You mean this?" After changing into her shoes, she did it again. "That's the way I walk, Mr. Kostopoulos. I can't help that I have wide hips. My Nana always says I have the perfect, child-bearing hips."

"Hmm, I would absolutely agree. Let's get on the tour before I am tempted to...."

"Not in your building we won't. This is a place of business. Let's keep it that way. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am." She is the only woman to make me weak in the knees like this. We walked out of the meeting room and took a tour of the building.

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Tatianna's POV

After the tour, most of my morning consisted of meeting with Niko and the other doctors in the building. Niko hired two more women and two men. It is now a total of 6 of us. He made sure none of us would be overworked.

I love watching how in command and focused he is about his business. He is dedicated to me, his family, and his business. He definitely is not a workaholic. We already had that chat. Niko vowed that he would leave work on time and spend his evening hours with me.

After the meeting with the doctors, we took the elevator to the executive floor for what Aubrey says is my welcome back lunch.

"Surprise!!"

I scanned around the room and saw, "Mom?! Dad?! Matti?! Aiesha?!"

I didn't cry, but I did bury my face in Niko's chest. He started rubbing my back.

"No way we were going to miss this day for you, Tati."

"Thank you, mom and dad." I went to give my parents a hug. I have the best parents ever.

"Did we miss the party?" I turned around to see Lukas and Nana Dory enter the executive conference room. They are two of my biggest supporters, well besides my parents.

"Thank you so much for coming, Lukas and Nana Dory."

"You're welcome, Tatianna. Besides, I am far away from Evangeline. And, I get to eat lunch in Niko's building."

I really love Nana Dory. Everyone took a seat.

Niko had Jamaican food for us for lunch. "No way! You got food for lunch from Papa G's?!"

"I sure did. And, I'm not going to tell you how."

I turned around to face Niko with arched eyebrows, "Meh, I don't care. It's Papa G's. Did you forget your milk, Niko?"

"Uh, Tatianna why would Niko need milk?" My father asked.

"Yeah, Niko explain why you need milk."

"I know why. Niko can't take the heat."

"Aiesha is correct. We went to Papa G's while in Jamaica. Niko took one bite of the chicken and drank at least three glasses of milk. I fell out of my chair from laughing so hard."

Everyone chuckled at Niko, especially Nana Dory.

"Ha! Ha! Woman, I am eating this milk-free today. I'm Niko Kostopoulos. Watch."

I sure did watch as he took three bites. I saw the beads of sweat coming down his face after one bite.

"This food is delicious. I wish I could find a place like this in San Diego." Nana Dory devoured her chicken. Niko had his mouth open, shocked.

"Nana, there will be once Tatianna opens her cafe. Speaking of, have you thought of a name?" Matti asked me.

"I actually thought about it yesterday. I chose Tati's Jamaican Experience. I even filed for a patent. Because I filed yesterday, it probably won't be approved yet. I'm excited about it."

Here comes Niko's request for milk. He is fanning his mouth. "Never mind. Someone get me some milk ASAP!"

Aubrey went to get him some. This is the one time the executives get to laugh at the boss man. I laughed until my stomach hurt.

Lukas chuckled out, "Niko, your Nana put you to shame."

Aubrey came back with at least three, small cartons of milk. He drank them all. Everyone was still laughing.

"Stop laughing at Tati's baby because he can't handle the heat." I made poochy lips and kissed his cheek. All he did was grin. And, I know the meaning behind it.

"I may not be able to handle the heat in food, but I know what I am good at that will make you steamy, Mrs. Kostopoulos."

While we were eating and having a great conversation about Aiesha and Matti's wedding, Niko put his left hand on my thigh, then moved it inward towards my goodies, driving me crazy. I shoved some food in my mouth to keep myself from moaning. Two can play this game. I can't believe I am going to do this. My right hand went under the table without anyone knowing and grabbed his jewels. Oh, boy, am I in trouble come our wedding night.

"Niko, thank you for lunch. Jarvis and I are going to leave now. This is an amazing building," my mom says.

He suppressed a moan, and said, "Thank you, Pandora." Then, my parents left.

"Niko, your Nana and I are going to leave too. Congratulations, Tatianna."

"Thank you, Lukas and Nana, for coming." Niko was not letting me stand up, but he sure was grinning like crazy. He let me go when was about to unbuckle his belt. I stood up to give Lukas and Nana Dory a hug.

"The engagement party is this Saturday."

"We will be there." Lukas and Nana Dory then left.

"We better get back to work. And, we will be there too. Glad to have you back, Tati," Aubrey says as she gives me a hug. Tanya and Brielle left also.

The rest of the executives had already left. So, it was me, Aiesha, Niko, and Matti left.

Niko started clearing his throat. Whatever for I don't know.

"Well, Niko and Tati, Aiesha and I are going to leave as well. We'll see you at the engagement party." Them jokers are going to leave me alone with Niko. I tried to ease out with them but felt a gentle grab of my hand. Then, the door closed.

"And, Doctor Tatianna Kostopoulos, just where do you think you are going?" Niko backed me into the corner of the walls in the room.

"Um, uh, to my office so I can get some work done."

"Niko could use some work too - on his lips."

"Remember, Niko, not in the office."

"Those are room, darkening shades, so no one will see. Just this one time and I promise to behave."

"Just this one time, and that's it. Well, at least I won't get in trouble."

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Narrator's POV

The rest of the workweek went smoothly for Tatianna – incident-free. But Tatianna knew someone would try.

Tatianna and the ladies went shopping on Friday. Niko, meanwhile, picked up his friends from the airport that were coming to the party. They stayed up all hours of the night talking about business and relationships.

They were all excited to celebrate Niko's engagement.

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(Janiyah, Griffin, Shane, and Cris' appearances are before their relationships happened.)

Saturday, March 18th, 2018

Niko's POV

Everything is set up perfectly. I have my family and friends together on one of the many special days ahead for me and Tatianna. The only one not here is my mother. And, you know what? I don't give a hoot.

I saw Cass coming down the stairs. "Niko, your queen is ready. She really looks like a queen."

"Family and friends, presenting my queen and future wife to be, Doctor Tatianna Kiyana Kostopoulos."

Everyone focused on the staircase as Tatianna ascended down. She really does look like a queen in that dress.

She fills that dress out perfectly. Tatianna could wear a sheet and I would not care. Once she was down the staircase, Tatianna sauntered her way to where I was standing. Wait until later. A waiter came around and gave everyone a wine glass.

"Thank you all so much for coming tonight. It means a lot to both of us. Especially to me. There were times I thought I would never get married. All it took was patience and perseverance. And, it helps to find the right one. I did. I look forward to talking to each and every one of you tonight. We hope you have a great time."

"Tatianna is right. It means so much to us to be surrounded by family and friends. Please enjoy yourselves. Dinner is now served." Tatianna and I walked over to my besties. Yeah, I said it. Who is going to tell me what to say? That's what I thought - no one.

"Tatianna, these are my 'super' friends as I call them. From left to right - Janiyah, Griffin, Shane, and Cris. Janiyah and gents, this is my girl, Tatianna."

"It's nice to meet you all."

"Thank goodness one of these guys is dating. Tatianna, it's so nice to meet you. And, congratulations. We are proud of Niko. And, now I am not the only girl in the group. They fuss over some of the stupidest things, especially Niko and Shane."

"Janiyah Frazier, hush. No, we don't."

"Yes, you do. Tatianna, the last time we got together, Shane and Niko had a disagreement over who had the biggest food court in their building."

"Janiyah's right, Niko and Shane," Griffin says, agreeing with Janiyah.

"How about who has the best burgers between Five Guys and Burger King," Cris added.

"I'm a Five Guys kinda gal myself," Tatianna says which made Shane happy.

"Thank you, Tatianna. Take that, Kostopoulos," Shane retorted.

"Okay, okay, sometimes we do disagree over little things. But, we wouldn't have it any other way."

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it, Niko," Matti says as he goes to answer the door. We heard him say, "You have some nerve showing up tonight!!!"

Who is about to take a one-way flight?!

"Niko, how dare you not invite me to this, this party?! I am your mother!!"

My mother lost her darn mind!! Why the heck did she come?! And, with Ana of all people?!!

Tatianna's POV

I know Evangeline Kostopoulos did not show up to my engagement party with a thieving, cheating tramp!! Niko was so furious I saw blood veins about to burst.

"Niko, calm down because Tatianna Kostopoulos is going to take this one."

They are not going to ruin this for me and Niko. I am going to make them wish they never came here!

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