18. Grayson
18
Istep into the hushed, opulent interior of the high-end jewelry store, my heart hammering in my chest. Today's the day I finally choose the ring that will symbolize my eternal commitment to Amara - and I'll be damned if it's anything less than perfect.
"Ah, Mr. Winthrop! Welcome, welcome!" The impeccably dressed jeweler greets me with a deferential bow, his eyes gleaming with recognition. "It's an honor to have you in our humble establishment. How may I assist you today?"
I clear my throat, suddenly feeling a bit out of my depth amidst the glittering display cases and plush velvet trays. "I'm looking for an engagement ring. Something truly exceptional, for a truly exceptional woman."
The jeweler's face lights up with understanding, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "But of course, sir. I take it this lucky lady is someone very special indeed?"
"Special doesn't even begin to cover it," I murmur, my mind flooding with images of Amara's radiant smile, her tender touch, her unwavering strength. "She's...everything. My partner, my soulmate, my guiding light. I want a ring that reflects the depth and beauty of our love."
"I understand completely," the jeweler nods, gesturing for me to follow him towards a more secluded corner of the store. "In that case, might I suggest our signature collection? Each piece is one-of-a-kind, crafted with only the finest materials and designed to take the breath away."
He reaches beneath the counter, pulling out a velvet-lined tray that gleams with an array of stunning rings. But one in particular catches my eye - a flawless, cushion-cut diamond set in a delicate band of platinum and rose gold, the intricate metal work reminiscent of lace.
"That one," I breathe, pointing to the ring in question. "May I see it up close?"
The jeweler beams, carefully extracting the ring and placing it on a small pedestal for my inspection. "Exquisite choice, Mr. Winthrop. The 'Eternelle' is one of our most sought-after designs. See how the diamond seems to float within the latticework of the band? It's meant to symbolize two souls intertwined, forever joined as one."
I swallow hard, emotion welling up in my throat as I picture the ring adorning Amara's delicate finger.
It's perfect.
She's perfect.
And I can't wait another moment to make her mine.
"I'll take it," I declare, my voice ringing with certainty. "It's...it's everything I've been searching for. Just like her."
The jeweler claps his hands together, his expression one of pure delight. "Wonderful, sir. Simply wonderful. I'll just need to take a few measurements to ensure the perfect fit, and then we can discuss the finer details of the setting and engraving if you so choose."
As I work with the jeweler to finalize the particulars of Amara's ring, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. "Excuse me for just a moment," I murmur to the jeweler, stepping away to answer the call. "Grayson Winthrop speaking," I answer, a bit puzzled as to why Amara's best friend would be calling me out of the blue.
"Grayson! Hi, it's Sarah. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time?"
"Not at all, Sarah. As you now know, I’m asking her to marry me." I say, stepping further away from the jeweler to give myself a bit more privacy.
"Smart man. I’m so excited for you two.”
“Got any advice?” I ask her, eagerly. “Anything I should know before I take the plunge?”
“Well, I think I know just the thing. We’d been planning this since we were kids, you know. "
My heart skips a beat, my mind immediately racing to the ring I was just moments away from purchasing. "Is that so? What...what exactly can you tell me?"
Sarah laughs, a knowing lilt to her voice. "Oh, Grayson. She’s been dreaming of the Maldives. Of those incredible overwater bungalows she's been obsessing over since we were little girls. She used to drag me to the library every weekend, just so she could drool over the pictures in those fancy travel magazines. We’d pick out our boats and our grooms. So you better step it up, Mr."
I find myself grinning, picturing a young Amara with her nose buried in glossy pages, her eyes wide with wonder and longing. "That sounds like my Amara, alright. Always dreaming big."
"Exactly!" Sarah agrees, her enthusiasm palpable through the phone. "And you know what she used to say to me, every single time? She used to say, 'Sar, one day...when I find my soulmate, my perfect match...that's where we'll go. That's where we'll start our forever, in a little slice of paradise made just for us.'"
Emotion clogs my throat, my vision blurring slightly as I imagine the sheer joy, the utter contentment on Amara's face as she whispered those long-ago dreams to her best friend. And the realization that I, Grayson Winthrop, am the man she's chosen to make those dreams a reality...it's almost more than I can bear.
"Sarah..." I manage, my voice thick with feeling. "Thank you. Thank you for the inside info. You have no idea how much it means to hear those words, to know that I can give Amara the honeymoon she's always dreamed of."
"Of course, Grayson." Sarah's tone softens, warmth and understanding radiating through the connection. "I just...I wanted you to know. Because I've never seen Amara as happy, as utterly at peace as she is with you. You're her soulmate, Grayson. Her perfect match. And I know that when the time comes...you'll make all her dreams come true."
I swallow hard, my grip tightening on the phone as a fierce rush of love and determination surges through me. "I will, Sarah. I swear it. I'll spend the rest of my life making sure Amara has everything she's ever wanted, everything she deserves."
We exchange a few more pleasantries before saying our goodbyes, Sarah extracting a promise from me to keep her little revelation under wraps. "Let it be a surprise," she urges, a smile in her voice. "For when you finally pop the question."
As I slide my phone back into my pocket and return to the waiting jeweler, I feel a new sense of purpose, of absolute certainty settling over me. This ring, this proposal...it's not just about declaring my love for Amara. It's about promising her a lifetime of dreams come true, of paradise found in each other's arms.
And I'll be damned if I let anything, or anyone, stand in the way of that promise.
With renewed determination, I point to the gleaming 'Eternelle' ring, my voice ringing with conviction. "I'll take it. And I'd like to discuss the possibility of booking a very special honeymoon package as well. To the Maldives, if you please."
The jeweler beams, his eyes crinkling with delight. "But of course, Mr. Winthrop. It would be my absolute pleasure to assist you in crafting the proposal, and the honeymoon, of a lifetime."
As I lose myself in the intricacies of planning the perfect surprise for the love of my life, I can't help but marvel at the twists and turns that have led me to this moment. To Amara, my guiding light, my forever home.
And I know, with a bone-deep certainty, that no matter what challenges may come our way...our love will always lead us back to paradise.
The next day I stride into the office, my mind still reeling with the excitement of my proposal plans. The ring feels like a lead weight in my pocket, a constant reminder of the monumental question I'm about to ask the love of my life.
But as I make my way towards my corner suite, I can't help but notice the hushed whispers and furtive glances from my employees. They fall silent as I pass, their eyes darting away guiltily as if caught in the midst of some forbidden conversation.
Frowning, I pause outside the break room, straining to catch the thread of gossip that seems to have infected my usually focused and professional staff.
"...heard she was sleeping with him long before the promotion. I mean, how else do you think she climbed the ladder so quickly?"
"I always thought there was something fishy about their relationship. I mean, the way he looks at her? That's not just a boss appreciating his assistant's work, if you know what I mean."
"Do you think that's why his ex dumped him? Because she found out about the affair?”
“Of course, you know Cathy said she stopped by and told her everything."
I feel my blood run cold, a mixture of shock and rage coursing through my veins. How dare they speak about Amara that way, as if she was some kind of opportunistic seductress? And for Sophia to mettle, to insinuate that our relationship was anything less than professional before we fell in love...it's unthinkable.
I'm about to burst into the break room and give my gossiping employees a piece of my mind when I catch sight of Amara through the glass walls of her office. She's hunched over her desk, her shoulders tense and her face pinched with stress.
My heart clenches at the sight, all thoughts of confrontation flying out of my head. In that moment, all that matters is comforting the woman I love, reassuring her that no amount of vicious rumors or petty speculation can touch the unshakable bond we share.
I change course, striding purposefully towards Amara's office and rapping gently on the door. She looks up, startled, and I feel a pang at the shadows lurking in her usually bright eyes.
"Hey, you," I murmur, slipping inside and closing the door firmly behind me. "Is everything okay? You look...tense."
Amara tries to force a smile, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine, Grayson. Just...a lot on my mind, I guess."
I perch on the edge of her desk, reaching out to take her hand in mine. "Amara, love...I know things have been stressful lately, with the merger and the long hours. But I need you to know that I'm here for you, always. That you can tell me anything, no matter how big or small."
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine as if looking for some kind of reassurance. "It's just...people are talking, Grayson. About us, about our relationship. They're saying...horrible things, things that couldn't be further from the truth."
I feel a flash of anger, my jaw clenching at the thought of anyone causing my Amara pain. "Let them talk," I growl, cupping her face tenderly in my hands. "Their small-minded gossip means nothing, Amara. They don't know us, they don't know the depth of our love or the strength of our bond."
A single tear slips down her cheek, and I brush it away with the pad of my thumb. "I know, Grayson. I know. It's just...it's hard, sometimes. Hearing those whispers, feeling those judging eyes on me wherever I go. As if I'm some kind of...of homewrecker, or gold digger. I’m not sure if I can take it. Will it always be like this?"
My heart breaks at the pain in her voice, the undeserved shame coloring her words. "Amara Jeffries, you listen to me," I say fiercely, tilting her chin up until her eyes meet mine. "You are the most brilliant, talented, kind-hearted woman I have ever known. You earned your place at this company through hard work and dedication, not because of some imagined affair with me."
I lean in, resting my forehead against hers. "And as for our relationship...it's the most real, most beautiful thing I've ever experienced. Falling in love with you, building a life with you...it's the greatest joy of my existence. And no amount of petty gossip or baseless rumors will ever change that."
As hard as it is to resist the urge to drop on my knee, then and there, I know that now isn’t quite the time. The ring presses against me, a sturdy reminder that rumors will fall to the wayside when I make her my wife.
Amara sniffles, a watery smile breaking through the clouds of her distress. "I love you, Grayson Winthrop. More than I ever thought possible."
"And I love you, Amara Jeffries. With every fiber of my being." I seal my declaration with a soft, sweet kiss, pouring every ounce of my devotion into the gentle press of my lips against hers.
As we lose ourselves in the tender moment, the rest of the world fades away. The whispers, the rumors, the ghosts of my past...none of it can touch us here, in the sanctuary of each other's embrace.