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Two years after its launch, NewNetwork has become one of the top earning apps of the year. Its financial success and high profile are notable achievements, but of far greater import is the litmus test of the app’s real world achievement. The lofty goals of entrepreneur Carrie Beauchamp saw what could have been just an ambitious idea turned into one of the hottest launches in IT.
It collected an impressive market-share in its first month, helped in part by the backing of financial powerhouse Gael Vivas.
With news that several blue chip tech companies are vying to get their hands on the program, the app seems to have achieved a coup in the competitive world of tech start-ups.
Carrie folded the paper and pushed it aside.
“You’re a financial powerhouse,” she said with a teasing smile, lifting her coffee cup and sipping it gratefully.
“Am I, indeed?”
His dark eyes were loaded with feeling as he took in Carrie’s appearance. She was more beautiful now than she’d ever been; happy and care-free, and proud of her professional achievements. And rightly so.
“Uh huh.”
“Does that make you want to marry me yet?”
Carrie laughed quietly, as she had every morning since the night in her London townhouse, when he’d made her see just how damned much he loved her. It was a running joke between them, his flippant marriage proposals. He’d told her, a long time ago, that he was always testing the water, living in hope that one day she might surprise him and say ‘Yes, I’m ready!”.
“Not yet,” she responded. But her heart was flipping over in her chest. Something felt different that morning. Changed.
She shifted in her seat, sipping her coffee to conceal a frown.
Gael leaned forward, attuned to even the finest shift in her mood. Particularly when it came to this subject.
“Even if I told you I have the perfect ring?”
Her bright blue eyes flared wide. She wouldn’t have been healthy if she hadn’t been even a little curious. “Mmm,” she said with a small smile.
Gael stood and reached into a shoe beside the door, pulling out a black velvet box.
“What?” Carrie laughed loudly now. “How did I not find that?”
He grinned. “It’s been there for nine months, so your guess is as good as mine. “
“Nine months? Well,” she said, clearing her throat. “I guess you’d better let me look inside.”
He nodded, amazed that he could feel nervous. After all, they’d lived together as man and wife for three years. He knew that she loved him, and wanted a future with him. Still, anxiety was his overriding emotion as he crouched before her.
“Until I met you, I had no idea that I was made for love. I’d seen what it could do to people, and I’d sworn I would never fall into that trap. But it’s not a trap, and I see that now. Loving someone like you is an opportunity and a blessing. Carrie Beauchamp, you are, quite simply, an angel on earth. From the moment we met, I have felt this connection and need to love and protect you, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.
“With all my heart, I beg you to finally agree to marry me.” He cleared his throat and smiled in the lopsided way that drove her crazy. “Please.”
She laughed, but she was nodding, her smile broad as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Well, seeing as you said the magic word,” her joke was weakened by the tremor in her voice.
He kissed her back, then pulled away, so that he could flip open the velvet box. The ring inside was exactly what she would have chosen, if she could have chosen any ring in the world. A stunning solitaire diamond was surrounded by a circlet of diamonds, framed in platinum gold. Carrie watched as Gael slipped it on her finger.
“I love it,” she said honestly.
“I’m glad,” he pulled her to him, and stood. “Did you really think things would ever get dull and boring for us?”
She grinned and shook her head from side to side. A slight breeze rustled off the orchard, blowing with it the fragrance of summer and orange blossoms. “I guess we should get ready to go to your mother’s; she and Antonio have been excited about showing us their new house for weeks.”
He made a guttural sound of agreement. “Right now, my mother and her toyboy are the last thing on my mind.”
Carrie burst out laughing. “He’s only four years younger than Gabriella. And he adores her.”
“Yes, yes,” he said with a shrug. “But they’ll keep.”
