Chapter 36
"Do not announce anything. Why? Are you unhappy with this marriage proposal or you have a boyfriend and no intention to take this relationship till the wedlock?" Carlwouldn't even commit a business deal with a person without getting his background checked. This was way beyond serious involving his commitment and future.
He knew Claire doesn't have a boyfriend but like he said earlier he is not accustomed to take 'no' for an answer. He is a self-conceited arrogant billionaire. "Carl, you misunderstood me. I'm not thinking negatively about this relationship but want to take things slowly."
Carl knotted his brows in response, his temper was already out of range at her objection for his decision. He is not tuned to adjustments. So far whatever he says has been law and no person could dare to counter his choice.
"Take things slowly? How long do you want to take things slowly? I agree to shoulder your responsibilities because I believe you are my family now. Your problems are mine and my happiness is yours. You have been staying in my house for the last eight months. I took care of you. Your dad was sick and admitted in the hospital. You were having financial problems. I cleared it even without your asking because I believe things done without saying are the ones with actual love. You were chased by philanderers. I rescued you. Your brother is a drug and sex addict who was trying to rape his own blood. I saved you by giving shelter. What more should I do to prove to you that I love you?"
Sapphire was distraught, to what situation had she landed herself to? The characters she created in her thread to capture him were today working against her. Little did he know she was a well placed woman, self dependent and intelligent and those people who played their roles perfectly were only a ploy to reach him.
"I have already admitted to you that I love you." His words brought her out of the reverie.
"We may not be in a marital bond as yet but I have already understood you as my wife long ago. And with the same right I tell you today to behave and be the perfect host to my parents, sister and her soon to be husband."
He took out his phone from his pants pockets and walking to his study he spoke to the speaker. "Yeah I need a 24 Clairet diamond ring within the next one hour."
Somebody was speaking on the other line and after which he spoke again. "Yeah, send me the models through the mail within ten minutes and I will select from them."
Carl then probably spoke next to his personal assistant. "Okay, you can send me the photos of party wear dresses."
Sapphire was unable to fathom how fast he could move things if he wanted to.
Within half an hour there was a delivery at the door with two boxes neatly packed in gift wraps. The top one was the smaller one among the two. Looking at their sizes, Sapphire could easily understand what was inside.
The smaller box was the ring and the bigger one was the dress. Carl kept the smaller box with him and extended the bigger box to her. "Put this dress on, the color is my favorite and I like its design too."
He noted the time on his Rolex and looked back at her. "I expect you are mature enough to not create a scene, wear this dress and come down in an hour. Soon is going to be our engagement." He declared with no place for argument and walked out of Sapphire's bedroom.
Sapphire was star studded hearing his statement. How was she going to escape this man? It appeared like she was stuck in an oasis in the lieu of accepting an assignment from NIA. Sapphire now doubts if she could ever escape this house, leaving the city and country are far away options.
She closed the door and placed the package on the bed before she opened it.
Though she had several complaints about Carl for his arrogance and egoistic attitude, Sapphire loved his taste.
She dried her hair with a dryer before she curled it, applied masClaire, eyeliner and a little bit of lipstick. Sapphire was not much into make-up. She spent her teen years in vigorous workout and heavy exercise rather than standing before the dressing mirror and applying cosmetics.
Looking at her reflection she admired her dress. It was a beautiful chiffon quarter sleeve sky blue color gown which reached just before her knee. The neckline was a little deep giving a sexy appeal by showing a slight bit of her cleavage. There was a silver belt that went around it with a bracelet in the center which was studded with diamonds. The dress hugged her body perfectly like a second skin.
As she stepped down the staircase, Carl was waiting for her. His eyes appreciatively raked around her curvaceous figure covered under the dress. "You're beautiful." He complimented with the same seriousness but eyes cheerful unlike before.
Holding her hand, he accompanied her to the car. Sapphire wondered where he was taking her. Like a gentleman he opened the passenger door for her and closed it after she was settled.
"Is the driver not going to drop us?" She asked, peeking her head out of the window like a little girl to enjoy the fresh breeze.
"I do not want a third person between us on our first date." His statements are always clear and precise with no scope for deviation.
Sapphire did not know how long they drove because she slept after a while.
"We are here," Carl announced after a while waking her from sleep. "Come." He took her hand and for a moment she couldn't keep her eyes off him.
Carl was glowing in white sneakers, white jeans and a white V-neck sweater. The cherry-red hickey she had given him during a round of mind-numbing sex last night stood prominently on his neck.
He looked so happy, young and carefree. Every bit the easygoing, good-natured guy she had mistakenly fallen in love with seven months ago. She loved him but unfortunately cannot admit to the world. Her father would make a flip understanding her affair with the mafia don. Her brother would probably never speak to her calling her stupid and her colleagues including Elena would be puzzled because it would be most unlikely of her in their experience to fall in love with the criminal who is a pivotal part of her investigation.
Keeping aside her thoughts because the circumstances were no longer in her control like she anticipated, they would be, they waded through the winds and got to the balloon. It was fully inflated and righted, fighting against the strains of the men. "Ready and all yours, Carl," shouted one of the men.
Carl climbed into the huge woven basket then turned and lifted her over as the pilot pulled on the gas lever. It was so loud she could hardly hear his warnings for her to be careful.
Once they were on and steady, the men released their hold and the balloon drifted up. There was no fear, much to the surprise of Carl because she was a NIA officer and had done bigger stunts against his imagination.
Nevertheless she couldn't help the silly grin plastered on her face. "Is this a good surprise?" he asked.
She was grinning like a kid. "I frickin’ love you!" She couldn't stop herself from admitting it. They were soon high in ascent, and the sun's slow descent produced a peaceful tangerine sky.
Her heart wasn’t even beating as hard as it normally does whenever she is up high. Maybe because her lover’s arms were wrapped tight around her? She could feel his eyes hot on her face while she oohed and ahhed over the picturesque view of Napa Valley below.
Apparently, he enjoyed watching her enjoy. His hands drifted up to her shoulders and turned her to face him, eyes intense and brimming with love. Taking her left hand, he raised it to his lips, kissed her knuckles, and then suddenly dropped to one knee, the untamed wind tossing his hair about his face.
Fucking lord of love, he was indeed doing like he admitted previously. "From the moment I first saw you I knew you were mine. I was bewitched, and the spell hasn't reversed since then. And I don't want it to. I know you've been through so much because of your family that you are frightened of any commitment. But believe me Claire I will give you the fairy tale life every girl desires. You only have to say 'yes'. I want to be your Prince Charming. Your Knight in Shining Armor. Your Romeo. I want to be your Everything. Anything you desire, as long as it is in my power, it’s yours. We're adrift in the sky, closer to God's angels, and you are my angel. I want you to be mine eternally. Please, be my wife, my spice, my life. Share my laughs with me, my wealth, my body, my soul and my heart. Marry me."
Midway through his proposal her face was soaked with tears, and her facial muscles hurt from her persistent grin. "Like you didn’t already know the answer," she sobbed forgetting all her vows to her father and duty towards the nation.
"Of course, yes." A monstrosity of a ring winked up at her. Platinum, with a rectangular cut diamond surrounded by emerald-green studs. She'll be damned...
Carl removed the ring from the slit in the black velvet case and slid it onto her finger. "It was good she accepted his proposal because he would have made her his by any means. Don't you ever take this off," he warned.
"I want you to wear my love. Embrace my love. Boast my love. I want you to love me." He rose to his feet and crushed me in his arms.
"I love you. So hard." Her tears ran amok, and the elation, joy and contentment she felt at that moment were incapable of a perfect description. She will forever remember this day. Forever. Like a lifesaver, she clung to him. "I love you too, Carl. I’m yours. Only yours. Always." The loud gas of the air balloon, the pilot who stood a ways off, the unfriendly wind and its biting chill faded into stillness as Carl and her locked themselves into an undying embrace and allowed God's gentle breathing to float them away.
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