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“Yes, yes, it’s just right as always,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “Did you have a chance to look at the other design I asked about?”
“Mr. Hawthorne, I was so excited by your design I started on it as soon as I returned to my shop,” he said, pulling a red velvet box from his other pocket. “I finished it already. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
He slowly opened the box to reveal the ring I had designed specifically for Imogen. It was the ring I would present to her if I was proposing to her as myself.
Maybe I’ll give it to her for Valentine’s Day.
I grabbed the jeweler and hugged him. I realized immediately he was not prepared for my extreme admiration of the ring he made for me overnight. I stepped back and explained that I was just in a great mood today. I straightened his coat, then asked him to not replicate it as I wanted it to be a one-of-a-kind, and I would pay handsomely for the one-of-a-kind. He was gracious enough to agree. Then, I ushered him out of the office just as my cellphone rang out.
“Hello Mother, I was just finishing up with the jeweler.”
“Why were you with a jeweler?” she asked, sounding confused.
What the heck did I just do?
“Yeah, in true Asher fashion, he’s running around town playing so I told him I’d meet him with the ring.”
“Always taking care of your brother, aren’t you? I really appreciate you handling this for the whole family.”
“You can always count on me, Mom,” I said, feeling completely guilty for lying.
“Do let me know how it all goes. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“If it goes as planned then you’ll know before me how it went.”
“I’ll be watching. Have a good evening, August.”
The tux arrived, so I told my secretary to hold my calls and jumped in the shower. A quick shave while talking with Asher and I’d be ready to go. I dialed his number then laid my cell on the sink top.
“Yo, August. Are you ready to get us engaged tonight?”
“You suck, you know that, right? I just had to lie to mom.”
“Yeah, I know you hate doing that. She’s been calling me all afternoon, but I dodged her calls ‘til I could talk to you.”
“That’s good. I booked a reservation at the place you told me to be at for paparazzi. I’m going to hate every minute of this.”
“You’ll be fine. I thought you said you like this girl. That should make it easier.”
“Her name is Imogen. You need to use her name so you remember it for when we switch back.”
“August, you agreed to switch after Valentine’s Day. Okay? So you know you have to do something as big as I would do.”
“I figured, and I will. Listen, I have to go to China. You should be going too, but since you’re not, I thought I’d take Imogen as a celebration.”
“Look at you with the fancy ideas, big brother. I like it, but it’s common knowledge I hate China, so it may seem weird for you to go there as me.”
“Aw come on, I don’t keep up with your garbage. I’ll have to figure out what to do because I have to go.”
“Sawyer just suggested you have Poppy join you in Paris to keep her company while you go to China.”
“Let me guess, you have me on speaker?” I scoffed.
“Of course, You know how much I hate phone calls. Besides, he had the good idea.”
“I do need Kellan to join me in China. I suppose that would work if I’m not gone too long.”
“You like this gir…Imogen, don’t you?”
