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“What?” Dad says, from the video call screen.
“Dad, you know what I studied in college,” I tell him, turning back excitedly. “I always looked up to you and what you do. It’s always seemed so exciting. Getting to travel everywhere in the world, and meeting new people all the time. Making deals happen. Those battles for power. It’s thrilling. And now I’ve seen how Sean does it – the VIP suites, the restaurants… it’s amazing, Dad. It’s so much more than I ever imagined. And I want a piece of that, too.”
“You mean, you’d come and work with me?” Sean says.
“Yes,” I exclaim, holding both of his hands in mine. “Or for you, if that’s what you need. I can even be your secretary. I know I don’t have any experience yet, because I only just graduated, but I could come with you and learn. Give me a few years, and I promise I’ll be good enough to really help out.”
“If you’d really like that,” Sean says, gripping my hands back just as hard. “I’d do it. I would. Anything to have you next to me all the time.”
“These are all just empty promises,” Dad says. His words have an air of desperation now like he can’t hold onto the argument anymore. He knows he’s lost. He knows that we’ve won, that we’ll always win. Because we have each other.
And if Sean was willing to give up his life for me anyway, then his threats no longer mean anything. He must be able to see it. That we’ll be together, no matter what it takes.
“They aren’t empty,” Sean says. “And I can prove it.”
I stare at him as he lets go of my hands and begins to get up from the couch, wondering what it could possibly be that he still has up his sleeve.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sean
I find that my hands are shaking as I stand up.
I’m surprised at myself because I’m always so confident in situations that would make others sweat with fear. It’s one of the reasons that I’m so good at my job. I always stay cool and in control, no matter what might be happening.
But then again, I’m also not surprised. Because after all, this is the most important moment of my life so far. This is the moment when I get everything I’ve ever wanted – or I don’t.
But I have faith. Faith in my angel. That’s why when I go down on one knee and hear Candace’s sharp intake of breath, see the look on her face, I know that I can do this. My heart is still racing in my chest, my hands are still shaking, but everything inside me goes still and calm. This is the best and most exciting moment of my life so far. And I just know I’m not going to see things go the wrong way.
“Candace,” I say, surprised even so to hear just how steady my voice is. How full of love and certainty. “I know it’s only been a week, but I’m sure. I’m so sure. More sure of this than anything I’ve ever been in my life. You’re the only one I want to spend the rest of my life with. The only person I have ever wanted to spend my life with. Please, make me the happiest man that has ever existed. Marry me?”
She gasps for breath for a few moments, looking down as I snap open the ring box in my hands to display the antique ring I managed to pick up while she was sleeping. It took me a while to find it, but it was worth the sleeplessness. And it was worth every penny I paid – and there were quite a few of them.
I think it suits her perfectly. Of course, this is the moment of truth. We’ll probably have to have it resized, and maybe she’ll want something new. But…
“Oh, my god,” she breathes, her voice strained by the tears appearing in her eyes. Happy tears, I’m pleased to see, from the way she also smiles. “It’s so beautiful. It’s perfect.”
“Don’t leave me hanging,” I say, with a half-laugh. But I’m also serious. This is a tense moment for me. I need to hear her answer.
“Oh, Sean,” she says, the tears spilling down her face now. “Yes. Of course, yes, a million times, yes. Yes!”
I find myself laughing happily, tears springing to my own eyes as I get up to embrace her. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me, then buries her face in my shoulder, holding on to me so tightly. All the while, I embrace her with the ring box still outstretched in my other hand, trying not to drop it or knock the ring out. I squeeze her as hard as I can, then stand and whirl her around in the air, finally letting her down as we both laugh and giggle together, only pure happiness in our eyes when they meet.
