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“Indeed.” He says, eyeing me in a way that tells me he knows I have been researching him. Oh well. I’m having trouble caring about any of it at this moment. We hear the band stop and Mark excuses us. I’m pulled by the wrist to the stage. Once there, Mark barely puts his hand around my waist.
He’s so rigid I don’t think his mother is going to buy what we’re selling. Again, I can’t really care right now. I brace myself. I need to look overjoyed in about thirty seconds, which is going to be a struggle. With planned marriages, proposals are often the one surprising, romantic element that’s not dictated by the boss. Instead, I’m thrust up on a stage and basically told todance, monkey.
I am knocked out of my pity party when I hear Mark talking about me.
“Many of you knowofmy beautiful date, Miss Delgado. Her family is almost what one would call Texas royalty,” he smirks and the audience laughs at his reference to what the press calls the White family. He turns up his manufactured sincerity. “But those of you who got the privilege of talking to her tonight will agree, beautiful is an understatement, both inside and out. I haven’t known her very long, but it doesn’t take long when you meet the one.” Every woman in the crown swoons. He turns to me, his eyes narrowing enough to remind me to put on a show with him,“Sweetheart,”at the cutting word, my eyes fill with real tears. The cameras will love it, at least.
“Que hiciste fueron hechos para mí.” What you made weremade for me.I try not to react at his bad Spanish when I hear a few in the room chuckle. “Make me the luckiest, happiest man alive. Let me have the honor of being your husband, Eleanna.”
He grabs the ring from his pocket and I force myself to smile. I know it’s unconvincing, but it’s the best I can do. He pauses and barely cocks an eyebrow at me as his smirk changes. I’m totally confused for a split second until I see him sink slowly.
He maintains eye contact with me. It’s…something private. Something real. He’s down on one knee. Exactly like I’d wanted, and like he’d said he wouldn’t do. My surprise is genuine now, so I barely hear him say, “Will you marry me?” He opens up the box and stretches it out, raising both his eyebrows this time.
“Yes!” I remember to say. The tent erupts with cheers. He puts the ring on my trembling finger and stands.
We didn’t discuss this part. Is he going to kiss me? That seems like the most natural reaction.
Except he turns to the crowd and raises our arms in triumph instead. As if it’s Election Night and he just won re-election. The first firework booms behind us, which I am sure he planned. The crowd is still whooping and hollering and I catch more than one “Kiss!” or “Kiss her!” Instead, he lets go of my hand and swoops me up into a bridal hold like I weigh nothing. The crowd loves it.
I throw my arms around his neck to hold on. He’s hot as a furnace. At that thought, I realize I’m touching his neck so I move my hands to his shirt. I don’t know if he minded, because he’s busy saying thank you to everyone congratulating us. He’s also walking out of here faster than a bull leaving a chute. He walks straight to a side door and maneuvers us into what looks like a galley area off of the house kitchen. He shuts the door with his foot and then sets me down like I’m suddenly very heavy. And maybe also on fire.
“Nice job.” He pants, his charm evaporated. He has that look of blatant disgust again. I can’t believe how skilled he is at hiding it.
“Yeah, you too.” I say, also breathless.
“I need to meet with an associate. Enjoy the fireworks, talk more with my mother, she’ll love that. She might also need some convincing about us. Just text Ric when you’re done.”
“Meet with an associate. During the fireworks.”
“Yes. Goodnight. I’ll be in touch.” He turns and walks briskly into what looks like the kitchen and then I lose sight of him.
An associate.
That’s what he said after another one of our dates. Is it Lydia? Or her friend? Or any other warm body not engaged to him? Someone more elegant? Less elegant? Longer legs, redder hair?
Ugh.
The tears are back. I slouch against the wall and let a few out. There are sobs in my throat, but I keep those in. I rub at the base of my neck and give myself a couple minutes to wallow. Just a quick moment to grieve, then I will go sell this charade to his mother. I take my first good look at the ring.
It’s stunning. It’s exactly what I would’ve chosen. And I hate that. I hate that he got down on one knee and tugged at my heartstrings. I hate that he can communicate paragraphs to me with just one look. But I can’t penetrate him at all. I hate that he can read me so well when I can’t seem to figure out a single thing about him. Not one thing.
Except for the fact that he really dislikes me.
And honestly, I’m starting to really dislike him, too.
I suddenly feel the need for air, for a break, for more time.
Too bad we’re about to have one of the world’s shortest engagements ever.
CHAPTER 12
Eleanna
“I can’t believe the wedding is already here. So much for a couple months being engaged.” Mia says.
“Well, he needed his influx of cash.” Lu says in my phone.
Mia stops packing a bag of my shoes. “Huh?”
