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So why does it feel like a real one?
“If I want a specific design, a one-of-a-kind, how long will it take?” I asked, pulling up a picture of a design I drew up. “Can you do this by Valentine’s Day?”
“I can definitely have this for you by then, Mr. Hawthorne,” the jeweler said. “Will you be taking this other ring today as well?”
“Yes, I’ll take it with me now and have it sized later if need be. Thank you for meeting me here.” I gestured for Pierre to finalize with the jeweler and stepped back into the elevator.
I took a picture of the ring and sent it to Asher with a text telling him to send it to Mom, so she would get off both our backs. My cell vibrated with a text within seconds.
“Dude, you couldn’t get a bigger diamond than that? Mom will never believe I bought one that small.”
“Ash, I don’t think Imogen is the kind of girl who wants to wear a ring any bigger.”
“Doesn’t matter what she wants. It matters what people will believe,”
“So now you’re all about doing the right thing?”
I knew he was right, so by the time the elevator hit the lobby, I hit the Penthouse Two button to go back up. The jeweler would still be there.
“Just get at least a ten carat and make it oval, not square.”
“Anything else? By the way, how’s it going with your rekindling with the model?”
“Nothing else, and if things keep going this perfect with her, I’ll be wanting to put a ring on it.”
“Ash, I didn’t do this switch so you could get engaged to the model. You have to switch back in a week from tomorrow and be with Imogen. Remember?”
“Man, a week from tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. You want me to break up and leave her for Valentine’s Day?”
“Don’t make me the bad guy. We had a deal.”
“Have a heart, August. I love this girl.”
“I gotta speak with the jeweler. I’ll send you a new pic soon of a bigger ring.”
The jeweler was standing at the elevator doors when it opened into Penthouse Two. I explained that I changed my mind and wanted a ten carat instead. The jeweler smiled and said he knew I would, which is why he brought some that big with him. The ring exchange went pretty quick and he left. Pierre and I were about to leave the building for my meetings. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to peek in on Imogen.
“Hey, I forgot some papers, but I’ll be out of your way in a few minutes.” I fumbled for words with all of them staring at me. “Carry on, I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
I stayed in my office for at least fifteen minutes. I picked up a file I didn’t actually need then headed past the group.
“Hi, what do you think of this one?” Imogen asked, spinning around in a skin-tight black dress.
Holy crap. That’s a dress. I can’t take her out in a dress like that.
Chapter 43
IMOGEN
I’d tried on six or seven dresses until I got to this slinky black dress that I wouldn’t have tried on if I’d seen it in a store on a hanger. The designer’s assistant had urged me to just try it. I took it from her outreached hand and went to put it on, not sure whether I was trying it on for myself or for her. On my way out to show it off to the girls, I ran into my fiancé.
“Hi, I didn’t know you were going to be here,” I said tentatively. Then I spun in a circle to keep myself from pacing.
“It’s very nice, but won’t you be cold?” he asked a little abruptly.
Well that wasn’t the answer I was expecting.
“Do you see one that’s better for our dinner date?” I asked, fidgeting with pulling up the v-neck.” “I don’t care what I wear. You pick.”
