HOW WE MET

I guess our story is quite boring and normal I suppose. I hired Sonia to make software demonstrations for our key customers. We design analytical software for retailers. So, I guess you could say, she was my employee. I know how it sounds, but it’s not like that. Actually, when I met her I was engaged to someone else. She had a long term boyfriend. I'm a bit traditional in some ways, but also modern in others. Also, I worked a lot with Universities at first--incidentally, I also have my masters in design. What I mean to say is, I come from the school of thought that you don’t date your employees. You don’t comment on a woman’s appearance in the work place. You don’t touch, flirt, or anything, especially if they work for you. I know many people feel differently about that, nevertheless, this is how I feel. Therefore, when I hired her, dating her, let alone marrying her, was the furthest thing from my mind. If I thought there was a chance of anything like that, honestly, I probably wouldn’t have hired her at all. Why invite trouble, right? Yes, she is attractive, but this is Florida, you close your eyes and toss a rock you will hit a beautiful girl. Besides, I don’t think I am the worst catch either. Meeting someone is easy. Meeting someone you get on with, more difficult.

Guess Sonia was with me for about three years when the financial crisis of 2008 hit. By with me, I mean, working with me. My fiancee and I had long broke up a couple years earlier. I had let go all but my key employees that summer. Those who stayed, including Sonia, had more responsibility. It was a difficult time. I didn’t have much of a social life. I worked a lot, went to the gym. During that time, we started to eat lunch together regularly and slowly became friends. I really didn’t hardly know her at all until then. Sometimes she teased me about the women I dated. It was in good fun, light. I guess though. it was about six months after she and her boyfriend broke up--for the last time--that we started dating. One night, we were both leaving the office at the same time, I asked her if she wanted to grab a bite. "Why not?" she said, "Shall we hit the ocean-side?" "Why not?" I say. It really is quite close and convenient for us. I don't think at the moment either of us had any romantic intention.

There we were on the boardwalk, the night was calm and warm, music playing in the background and a bottle of wine. It was just this really pleasant atmosphere and I had this genuinely peaceful feeling that I really liked being around her. She is a good friend. Because of the way we got to know each other all that effort of trying make an impression and impress each other was not there. I suppose when I hired her she tried to make a good impression, as we all do, but after the crisis, not at all. I needed her way more than she need me. That night though, I saw her differently. She is beautiful. We get on. Why not? I decide to go for it and I told her something like, “I know you have worked here for a while now. I hope you feel I have treated you respectfully and decently. I wouldn’t want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. I do, however, really enjoy your company and would like invite you out.” I know it is a bit clinical, but in my position you really have to be careful. “Aren’t we out now?” She asked. At first, I felt like I made a huge mistake and I am stumbling over my words, “I mean a date, like an official date. Not this.” “What’s the matter with this?” she asks looking at me dead serious. She was terrible, really making me squirm. Then she smiles and rests her hand on mine and she says something like, “Relax Boss, I would very much like to go on a date with you. Besides, I don’t think I would really like to cry sexual harassment until you actually do something. I want to go for the big bucks.” She winks at me.

It was all very natural. We already knew each other well. It all just kind of fell into place.

HOW I PROPOSED

How I proposed? I think I did it right. We decided to take Salsa classes together a couple of years ago. She is a natural. Me, not so much. Just another white guy trying learn how to dance. She grew up with it, so it is kind of in her bones. It’s been fun though — dance, party, sweat, exercise, a real good time. The teacher, students, and some of the people at the club, we have become friends. I got the idea from a friend to do a Salsa flash mob. Everybody was down with it.

I told her we are meeting our friends at Hollywood beach on Thursday for dinner. Hollywood beach is just outside of here in Miami. As we walk down the boardwalk, we meet up with this couple, Toni and Tommy. I noticed other people we knew sitting around or leaning over the rail. I was worried that she would too. She wasn’t expecting it so I guess that helped. We all talked for a moment about where to eat. We had it all set up with a PA and everything. As we are talking, music starts playing. It's one of her favorite dancing songs called Media Mitad, about soul mates. Toni and Tommy starts dancing, just moving to the beat at first while we talk. From all around others slowly start to join. She is completely taken off guard and begins to notice the people from the class and such, our teacher as well. In just seconds there are at least 25 people dancing. Even strangers join ed in. She started dancing without a thought. It was a bit crazy. I don't know what she was thinking, but she definitely had no idea until the song finished and I dropped to my knees. You gotta know, she loved it. She grabbed me and kissed me probably a hundred times all over my face. I had my answer. I am really not a very romantic guy. Not at ll. That’s why I enlisted the help of others. I wanted to do something special that was tailored to her personality. I am confident we did just that. Yeah, she still talks about it. She was happy. She said yes. I think choosing to hire her, choosing to date her, and marrying her, were the three best decisions I have made in my life. Now, she is going to be the mother of our child.

THE RING

She absolutely loved the ring. I get her. I really do. I chose it, but she adores it. I chose a rose gold and white gold ring, with a little bit of design, but simple. I went big on the diamond, 2 carats. Big for me anyway. It all worked out. The people at Rauschmayer were great. They guided me, taught me, even gave me a little booklet of ideas.