Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Her phone rings and then she sends it to voicemail. “Who is it?” I ask, wondering if it’s the job again.
“The dean. He can leave a message.” A minute passes, and he does leave a message. She places the phone on the table and says, “So you guys see there’s nothing to freak out about.”
Ms. Cole, Andrea. I just wanted to apologize about bringing up your parents. The faux pas was completely accidental. I remembered you had cut them out for trying to make you marry that billionaire. Please forgive me.
It ends, and I turn red as fuck because of course that hadn’t been in the file and we haven’t spoken about why she doesn’t deal with her parents anymore, but it’s the look on her face that shocks me. I turn and see that Bee’s equally stunned.
“Okay. Your hunch was totally right, Cyber,” Bee says.
“I never said why I haven’t spoken to my parents to anyone but Bee because she was there. They gave me an ultimatum. I marry a man three times my age for his money, or I lose everything I worked for and I would never get to use my piano again.”
“I took option B. We used all the money we’d saved and did a tour while having to play on a cheap keyboard for practice. Having graduated from the program, the school started to allow me to use their piano about six months ago. Now I know why.”
“It’s okay. We christened it for them,” I say, making her blush.
“Eww.” Bee’s face scrunches up, but then she breaks out into a giggle. “You two are dirty birds.”
“Well, you and I have to be somewhere right now, and I’m sure visiting hours have just started at the hospital, haven’t they?” I say to the ladies.
“They have.” She smiles and then gets up. “The check is on you, lover boy.” She winks and walks away after giving Andrea a kiss on her cheek.
“Where do we have to be?”
“Come on and I’ll show you.” I drop a hundred down on the table as the waitress approaches.
“Your change?” the waitress says, holding the hundred in her hand.
“Keep it.” She thanks us as we head out. I rush her into my truck and down the road to the finest jeweler and park. She sees where we are and gasps. “What are we doing here?”
“What I said we were doing. Getting your engagement ring.”
“But I was only telling him that to leave us alone.” That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to use it to my advantage.
“You could have told him I was your boyfriend, a friend, but you told him I was your fiancé, sweetheart. I’m making it official. Besides, if you plan on moving far away from me, I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
We enter the shop and despite her slight protest outside, she didn’t put up any more fight, which I’m grateful for. The jeweler greets us with a genuine smile. “I want my fiancée here to have whatever ring she likes best.”
“You look familiar, Miss.”
“You might have seen her play with the symphony last week.”
“Oh yes. That was it. I took my wife and daughter. They both loved it. My daughter is learning the cello and loves music so much. It’s a pleasure to have an artist such as yourself in my store.”
“Thank you, but he’s the one who brought me.” She points at me with a twist of her lips unable to hide the happiness.
“That’s because as you can see, sir, I have excellent taste.”
“That you do.” He smiles, and we spend an hour picking out the perfect ring for her to wear as well as sizing it just right before I pay for it. Of course, she tried to find a smaller ring, unaware that I’m wealthy in my own right.
I have millions, maybe even a billion by now from building my own software and security systems that the Riders use and that I’ve sold around the country. I don’t pay too much attention to all my money. All I know is that it’s steadily growing and that it’s in multiple accounts and well-diversified to protect all my assets.
Once we leave, I take her hand and kiss her lips. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, Elijah.”
“You will be my wife,” I insist.
“I’m pretty sure that’s what this engagement ring means.”
“Yes, but before you move away.”
“What?” The way her eyes widen is almost comical, but I’m dead serious. I can’t let her leave without having her tied to me in every way. She means the world to me as does her happiness.
“We’re getting married very soon.”
“Why rush it?”
“My love for you doesn’t change because you want to chase your dreams. Maybe we should have been careful about using protection, but we’ll be careful from now on.” She could be carrying my child right now.