“She was threatening the man I love. Threatening me. She deserved it.” Juliet shrugged, a smile creeping across her lips.
She did deserve it. She also deserved the prison sentence she was served. Though it was never proved that she leaked the photo, I had enough evidence from the phone recording of her conversation to put her behind bars for conspiracy and extortion. She had tried counter-suing, but with my high-power attorneys, it wasn’t going anywhere.
“Are you happy?” I whispered, leaning my forehead against Juliet’s.
“Of course, I’m happy,” she whispered back. “I’m with you.”
“But is it enough?” I asked.
“Chester. I’vealwayswanted to be a mom. Being an accountant wasn’t my dream. It was a bridge to get me by. I was good at it. Even better as a personal assistant…” She winked. “But it wasn’t mypassion.”
“I see how muchyoulove your job, and I would have been devastated if you lost it. You’re living your dream. It’s one of the things I love about you. Your determination and work ethic. It’s sexy.” She smiled up at me.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how I got the accounting job. If I hadn’t, I probably would still be working at the small non-profit or waiting tables. I also wouldn’t have met you…” she continued.
“Well, did you ever want to be a wife?” I asked, my nerves making my voice shake slightly.
Her eyes grew wide as she pulled her head away from mine, studying my face. “Of course,” she whispered, her eyes glossing over.
I smiled and rolled to the other side of the bed, opening the drawer of the nightstand. I pulled out the small, velvet black box I had hidden away when we first arrived. I sat up on the bed, and pulled Juliet to sit beside me. I opened the box to reveal a solitaire oval diamond ring, glimmering in the morning light.
Juliet sucked in a breath as she flew her hands to her mouth, looking from the ring to me, back to the ring, to me.
“Chester,” she said in a whisper of shock.
“Juliet, since the day I met you, I knew there was something about you that was special. I didn’t know how to stay away. I didn’twantto. I don’t ever want to be without you. I love you forthe woman you are and for the family we are about to have. Will you marry me?”
She searched my eyes, two single tears streaming down her cheeks, before she flung herself at me.
“Yes!” she exclaimed as we fell into a heap into the sheets.
Epilogue
Juliet
My hands trembled slightly as I adjusted the long sheer veil behind me, the length spilling behind me and getting lost in the length of my dress to where you couldn’t see where one started and the other ended. The delicate lace flowers spilled over the ornately patterned carpet of The Plaza Hotel, creating a white meadow that trailed behind my white satin shoes.
“It looks perfect,” said Gabriella reassuringly as she stepped up beside me, clutching a bouquet of white roses tied with a simple white ribbon.
“Youlook perfect,” said Sadie, stepping up on the other side of me, wearing an identical dress to Gabriella’s. Pale pink, and silky, the fabric catching the light from the chandelier that hung above us.
“Thank you for being here,” I said, smiling at them both.
“Are you kidding?” asked Sadie, raising a brow as she tossed her auburn hair over her shoulders, the loose waves cascading down her back.
“You’re gettingmarried,” said Gabriella, nudging me. She grinned at me, her dark brown eyes sparkling with tears threatening to form.
“Don’t do that,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t cry and ruin this beautiful makeup.”
She laughed softly. “You know you’re going to cry when you see Chester…”
“Have you seen him?” I asked eagerly.
She nodded, a smile spreading across her lips.
“And?” I asked, feeling my impatience growing. I wanted to see him. He was so close, but so far. Just on the other side of the heavy wooden doors in front of me.
“He told me to give you this,” said Gabriella, pulling a note from the neckline of her dress. She held it out for me between two fingers and I eagerly plucked it from her hand. I unfolded it quickly and saw three simple words.
