After a meeting, Emily and Joe were talking to Ms. Montgomery and asking a few questions when a blonde woman walked into the room. Her long hair reaching the middle of her back, with light brown eyes, black dress pants and a shirt that showed her pregnancy. By the looks of it, she looked like she was ready to pop. She had a fancy watch on her right wrist and a Coach bag in her left.

"Good afternoon, sorry for interrupting." The woman says. Looking over at Emily who gave her a small smile, and how Joe stood next to her and looked so relaxed and easy going, instead of the serious expression he usually carries on his face.

After the two women were introduced, Emily could now put a name to the face. Vanessa Smith. Her father was a lawyer and her mom was a doctor. She was born and raised in upstate New York, and lived a lavish life that was provided to her and her siblings growing up. She went to an Ivy League school for business and graduated at the top of her class for her bachelors and MBA. She was a beautiful woman, and her and Joe had known each other because of knowing the some of the same people, but they barely ever spoke to each other. Now with Emily in his life, Vanessa knew that the chances of that happening, were now slimmer than before.

"I noticed you have an accent. Where are you from?" Asked Vanessa.

"Brazil." Emily answered.

"That's a beautiful country. Do you visit often?" Vanessa asks.

"I have visited in the past, but unfortunately it's been a while since the last time I've gone." She replied.

The way Vanessa catches Joe look at the woman beside her, with his eyes softening and the gentleness he carries for her, when Vanessa has usually heard of him to be the opposite, lets her know that he's more serious about her than Vanessa thought when she first heard about him seeing someone new. Emily was a beautiful woman. Long, dark hair, tan skin, bright blue eyes, full lips. Tall, curvy, natural. From what she's heard, Emily is incredibly smart and educated. It's no wonder Joe was attracted to her.

"If you'll excuse us, we will be heading out to lunch." Joe says, grabbing his and Emily's coats. "Ms. Montgomery, can we help you take anything down?"

"Yes, please. Thank you." The woman says, letting them know what she could use help with.

"Ms. Smith, is there anything you need before we head out?" Joe asks as he puts on his coat.

Thanksgiving is coming up in a few days and Emily was going to meet some of Joe's family, like his parents and his sisters. With Emily's family coming to New York from Florida as well, Joe would have the chance to meet her mom, and her sister, as well as her stepdad and her siblings from her stepdad. He was more nervous about meeting them than he admits. Joe wanted to leave a good impression on them, especially with her mom and sister, because of how close Emily is to both of them. Having returned last night from a business trip, Joe and Emily also wanted to spend some time together, before the holiday.

"No, it's fine. Thank you." Vanessa says with a smile.

A few minutes later, they were all walking out of the room and Vanessa watched as they walked to the elevator and talked amongst themselves. Joe kissed Emily's forehead and they shared a smile and a look between them that only they knew and shared between just the two of them before getting in the elevator behind the woman that they were with. Vanessa felt a bit of jealousy. She had an interest in Joe at one point but nothing ever happened between them. It was always formal between them and he had never paid much mind to her and at times, she was the same with him. There were times when it was said that he would always be a bachelor with how long he would be single in between relationships playing a role in that. Eventually Vanessa moved on, knowing that nothing would ever happen between them, and she's now expecting her first child in three weeks.

That night, Joe was in Emily's apartment and they had just finished taking a shower before watching television in the living room. Joe had his head on her lap as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. He was tired but he enjoyed spending time with Emily and wanted to be with her, especially after being apart for a week. He gently grabbed her free hand and placed it on his chest, with his hand on hers while he softly stroked the back of her hand. Emily liked moments like this, just the two of them as they watched television, in comfortable silence and enjoying each others company.

"You want to start going to bed so you can sleep?" Emily softly asks.

Joe shakes his head as he struggles to keep his eyes open. She gently runs the tips of her fingers along his forehead, and then his cheeks, and finally his jaw and saw a soft smile on his lips. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that smile on his face.

"Let's go to bed, baby." She soothingly says, running her fingers through his hair again. "I'll go with you."

He grunts as he slowly gets up. Emily turns off the television while Joe drinks some water. After taking a sip herself, he happily grabs her hand and follows her to her room, closing the door behind them and turning off the lights. Getting in bed, Joe reached for the remote while Emily got in bed herself and curled up against Joe's body, placing her head on his chest. His arm wrapped around her and held her close, kissing the top of her head as he did.

"I like this." He said with his voice growing more tired.

"Like what?" She asks.

"Sleeping like this and holding you." Joe says before his breathing evens out a few moments later, letting Emily know that he had fallen asleep.

She smiles when she looks up at him and kisses his cheek before laying her head down on his chest again. Turning on the television in her room, she keeps the volume down as she watches the news before falling asleep herself. The way she felt about Joe, it was something she hadn't felt with anyone else. It was like he was able to speak to her in a way that no other guy had been able to do. Understand her in a way that no other guy was able to and was able to be the things that she needed a guy to be for her. Strong, consistent, gentle, caring, understanding, honest and then some. He always makes sure that he's there for her, even when he's away on business and isn't afraid to act like her boyfriend, even in public. Isn't afraid to hold her hand, and kiss her and call her sweetheart even in front of their friends. She was falling for him and hoped like hell that he felt the same for her.

A few days later…

Emily was with Joe in his office, finishing up a late lunch. She had gotten off work early to be able to welcome her family when they arrived today. Joe would be doing the same for his, though he wouldn't be able to get off work until a little closer to the time he usually does. She had everything done around the house and had even made sure she went grocery shopping the day before to make sure her fridge was stocked and had things ready for cooking. Emily was nervous for them meeting Joe, because it would be the first time that they'll be meeting and she wanted them to like him. Joe meant a lot to her and wanted them to get along. But she was also nervous about meeting his family. Emily wanted them to like her and see how much she cared about him. She wanted them to know and see that she isn't with him for his money or the spotlight.

"I'm going to start heading out." Emily says, when she looks at the time on her phone. "My family should be coming in soon."

"Okay, do you want me to take you?" Joe asks, as he gets up with her and throws away their garbage.

"You don't have to, baby. I don't want you to fall behind on work or anything. I also want to be able to see you and if you fall behind on work, then I'm going to make you catch up first." She says, wrapping her arms around his neck when he walks up to her.

He smiles and chuckles as his arms make their way around her waist. "You're going to make me catch up first?"

"Yes, so that I can have you all to myself afterwards." She says, like she has it all figured out.

Joe laughs before kissing her. "Careful, I might take that as an invitation to keep you at my place or to keep myself at yours for more than just a few days."

Emily smiles sweetly at him as her heart flutters. "Well, maybe one day we can accept that invitation."

He kisses her again, sweetly and she melts in his arms. Joe had her heart, there was no doubt about that. But she had his, too and if she only knew that she had all of it, and how gone he was for her, how much further would that take their relationship?