Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I was nervous as hell. Worth wanted me to give a speech, but he was ready to talk instead if my nerves failed me. Either way, I would need to be up on stage with him.
I’d never done anything like this, never even imagined it. I had grown more comfortable with the world Worth came from, but I didn’t think I’d ever feel as comfortable as Worth did around people with millions or billions of dollars, people who could snap their fingers and have whatever they wanted. Even if I now technically had that ability too. I insisted on doing as much of the work with our designs and the set-up of the charity as I could. Anytime Worth suggested we delegate a task, I insisted on doing it myself. I wanted to know I had put in enough energy to truly call this project mine.
Worth was at a final meeting with the catering company and the facilities management team, making sure everything was set up so the evening would go perfectly. He would be home soon, and we would need to finish getting ready so we could head over to the venue together.
I’d stayed home, knowing that being in the space would make me even more nervous, but somehow, being here alone was nearly as bad. I headed up to the roof. The garden had become a place for me to go whenever I needed to think something through or when I was having a rough day. It was so peaceful, such a perfect retreat.
Even though it was much colder now than when I’d first come to New York, I didn’t mind. I grabbed one of the blankets we kept in a storage ottoman and wrapped it around myself as I settled on the couch. Tonight was going to be amazing. We were going to see people purchasing things we’d designed together. According to Worth, they were going to pay tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands a piece for the items, and all that money was going to be funneled into helping men and women who were stuck the way I had been; people who needed a way out, a way to be able to support themselves and get on their feet so they could go after their own dreams.
We were going to be giving people their freedom, their lives. I couldn’t be happier about that.
I heard the door open and turned to see Worth step out onto the roof.
“I thought you’d be up here, but you worried me for a minute. I thought you might’ve panicked and taken off.”
I shook my head. “No. This is too important. No matter how nervous I am, I’m going to get up on stage for the sake of all the people we can help. I was so incredibly lucky. I got away and fell into this amazing life with an amazing man and ready-made friends. I want other people to have a chance at happiness.”
“I know, and I love you for that. I love you for everything. I know the last six months have been a whirlwind as we threw ourselves into this project, but once we’ve launched it, I want to take you back to Aruba. Or if you’d prefer, we could sail on our yacht since we never got the chance.”
“I’d love to go back to Aruba and to be on our yacht. I’ll be happy either way as long as I’m with you.”
“Good, but we won’t leave until we have a chance to celebrate some more good news with our friends.”
“What is it?”
“The cartel’s power has been fully destroyed. The few people with any connection who are still alive have fled Columbia, and they won’t be rebuilding.”
“That’s fantastic. We’re really free of it?”
“Yes, and I have one other thing to say.” Worth moved closer. I thought he would sit beside me. Instead, he pushed my legs open and knelt in front of me. “It’s been six months since I came up here, afraid I wouldn’t be able to convince you to stay. I am thankful every day that you did.”
I didn’t think I’d ever been happier. “Me too.”
He shifted to one knee and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.
“Worth, what’s happening?”
“Laurence Murphy will you marry me? We can finally put to rest all the chatter from people who think this is a phase, and that I’m going to get over it.”
“Are there people who still think that?”
“I’m sure there are.” He held up the ring, and it hit me that I hadn’t answered him.
“Yes. Absolutely yes. I’ll marry you. Oh my God, this day is too much. It’s too good.”
He slid the ring onto my finger, then took my hands and pulled me to my feet. He kissed me, softly at first, with such tender care, then harder as our hands began to explore each other’s bodies. When I started to undo his pants, he shook his head and pulled away. “We don’t have time. As it is, we might be late.”