Page 107 of The Agreement


Font Size:  

He must read something in my features that satisfies him, for he nods. He steps back, and I take in the woman standing inside the entrance. "Isla! I had no idea you were helping with organizing the press conference."

"Cade called and asked if I’d help out, and I told him I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

I laugh. "It’s good to have you here."

"I was surprised, of course, that you weren’t involved in the preparations, but Cade explained you’ve been busy with a lot of his PR lately."

"Hmm." I shoot Cade a sideways glance, and he raises a shoulder. It’s not far from the truth, I suppose. Besides, I really am pleased to see Isla.

She walks over to us and surveys me with a critical eye. “You look a little worse for the wear—"

“You mean, like I stumbled here from the pub.”

She chuckles. “You look natural, which is the look that works with social media. And the fact that you’re wearing his jacket—" Her grin widens. “That’s a stroke of genius.”

“Guess whose idea that was?” Cade smirks.

Isla and I exchange a look, then she stabs her thumb over her shoulder at the door. “Come on, they’re expecting you.” She turns and heads toward the stage. Cade twines his fingers with mine and leads me in her wake.

When we step onto the stage, the flashbulbs blind us. It seems to continue for a good few minutes before Isla is finally able to calm them down. Eventually, they quiet down. All of the journalists’ faces turn toward us. Sweat slicks my palms, and my pulse booms in my ears. I glance about the audience, and my heart sinks into my stomach.

Oh god, why did I agreed to do this so publicly? Why didn’t I ask for the engagement to be private, and then, we could have made it official on social media?That would have been the easy way out. And as a PR professional, I should have recommended that. But I hadn’t been thinking clearly—for it didn’t even cross my mind. My arms and legs feel so heavy, a numbing sensation crawls up my spine. That familiar dizziness assails me, when he takes my other hand in his and turns me so I’m facing him. “Eyes on me.”

His hard voice slices through the turmoil in my head. The chatter recedes. I look up into his mismatched irises, and a calm descends upon me.This is it. This is what I want. This is where I’m meant to be.

“You good?”

I nod.

Without taking his gaze off of me, he releases his hold on one hand, then slides it into his pocket and holds up a ring. A gasp runs through the audience, but no one speaks. Then, he raises my left hand and slides the ring onto my finger. Flashlights go off, but I don’t take my gaze from his. He brings my hand up to his mouth then kisses the ring.

“You were always the one, Abby. From the minute I saw you, I knew I wanted you in my life, by my side. From the second I touched you, I knew there was no one else for me. I’ve spent most of my life thinking about you and can’t wait another second without making you mine. I have faced so many challenges without you, and I know if you’re with me, I can meet whatever else life throws at me.”

I swallow. My throat hurts. A stinging sensation builds behind my eyes.

“I promise to do everything in my power to protect you and keep you safe. I promise, I’ll ensure you always wake up with a smile on your face.” He rubs his thumb across my knuckles. I shiver. His lips quirk. “I can’t imagine a scenario where I won’t want to kiss your face off as soon as I see you.”

“Kiss her!” Someone yells.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss.” The rest of the audience chants.

“Wait.” I hold up my free hand and wait for silence. “I don’t recall you asking a question.”

“Oh?” His eyebrows shoot up. Surprise transforms his features. “A question, huh?”

“Thequestion.” I allow myself a small smile. “If you want me to marry you, surely, you need to go down on one knee and—" I gasp, for in one smooth move, he’s dropped down to the floor on one knee.

More gasps, more flashbulbs, and once more, the crowd settles. The silence is broken by whispers and titters as the crowd waits for his next words.

He tips up his chin. “I claim you, Abby. I’ll walk through fire to get to you. I’ll capture the stars and bring them to you if that’s what you want. I’ll never allow you to feel afraid or lonely again. I promise, I’ll do more than my best to make you happy, that when I look back, you’ll always be in all my memories—" he pauses. “There’s just one problem.”

I blink. “A…problem?”

He nods. “I have only one life to be with you, and that will never be enough.”

Someone in the audience sighs. There’s a stifled sob from someone else. My heart flutters like it’s a butterfly caught in a bell jar. My throat goes dry.

“Knowing how imperfect I am and that I don’t deserve you, all I can do is promise that I’ll always aim to make everything perfect for you, so Abby, will you be imperfectly perfect with me, or perfectly imperfect, or really, it would just be perfect if you—"

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like