In June 1999 after leaving university, I started a full time job as an Estate Agent. My manager, Simon, made an impression on me from the start. Tall, handsome, professional and compassionate. For six months I didn’t allow anything to happen, as we were both with other people. Then he and his ex split, my marriage had been dodgy for over a year and at the Christmas party we let ourselves go and ended up kissing. It took another three months for me to be able to put my violent relationship behind me and move on with Simon. He never pressured me, just always let me know he was there. It was a difficult time, as I knew that my marriage would end sooner rather than later, but I could never condone an affair. With his and my parents help, I left. It was the best thing I have ever done.
Feeling brave, a few weeks later I confided in my parents about the fact that I was in a new relationship so soon after leaving my husband, but they were wonderful. They could see that I had been unhappy, and they had always liked Simon when they had seen him in the office. We had discussed marriage and long-term relationships frequently, and I could see that the fact I had been married before did not bother him. Unbeknown to me, just before Christmas 2000, he asked my parents for my hand in marriage. They were surprised, but very happy for him to do so. We had booked a holiday in a Disney Hotel in Paris for the New Year, and for New Year’s Eve we had tickets to a posh gala evening. How he did it without me knowing, I shall never know, but after being wined, dined and danced, on the stroke of midnight he got down on one knee and proposed. I said yes through a haze of tears. It was so perfect. The ring is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned, a platinum and diamond solitaire.
We are getting married in a stately home in June 2002, and I cannot wait. My life is so blissfully happy now, and I have Simon to thank for it. Without him employing me in the first place and not pressurising me into any decisions, I would never had had the bravery to walk out on my old life and find myself in the amazing situation that I am now. I am so glad that I replied to that job advertisement!.
