Chapter 19
Nineteen
REGINA
The more time I spend with Nico, the more I like him. Despite his rather arrogant and surly personality, there is a heart of pure gold beating inside him.
We finish up at the shelter, and as we slip into the car for our next stop, this time I take his hand.
“Thank you for taking me there.”
I smile, and something flares in his eyes, and he returns my smile. “Anytime, baby girl. Now maybe you won’t judge me quite so harshly for my spending habits.”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t know the facts.”
“And that was your first mistake.”
I lean back beside him, and as my head falls onto his shoulder, I smile to myself. I was so lucky to be rescued by him last night. It was as if the stars aligned and delivered an angel to earth.
The next stop is a place I never imagined for a second I would ever step foot inside.
Harry Winstons.
It doesn’t escape me that it was easier to walk here from Bergdorf Goodman, and it seems a little ridiculous that we drove here.
However, I wouldn’t have missed the shelter for all the diamonds and designer gowns in the world, and as we walk through the impressive doors, we are greeted by a man who calls himself the manager.
“Mr. Ravera. Miss Stone.”
I’m impressed that he knows my name and, for once, I’m glad I dressed the part.
Nico was right, I did need this outfit because I am starting to realize the power of fashion.
At the shelter, we stuck out like idiots.
Here would be the other way around. Perhaps Nico is right to equip me with every eventuality because after today, nothing would surprise me.
We are taken to a private room, despite the fact the store is pure luxury, and as we take our seats at a glass desk, we are served glasses of champagne along with canapés.
I am aching so badly to film every minute of this fairytale, and I curse my luck in leaving my phone behind.
Nobody would ever believe me without evidence, which is just my luck to live the dream with no concrete proof of it.
The manager returns with a tray of diamond rings, and I almost drop my glass as I gaze at the biggest diamonds I have ever seen.
Nico is staring at them with intense concentration, and I’m weaker by the second as I imagine the price tags.
“This one.” Nico points to the most breathtaking diamond, which causes me to catch my breath at the sheer size of it.
“Nico, I–” I falter as the manager lifts the gorgeous creation from the tray and smiles. “Perhaps your fiancé would like to do the honors.”
I’m a little flustered as Nico takes the ring from the manager’s hand and with a sexy smile, lifts my left hand in his and with his right hand he slides the ring on the third finger of my left hand.
I can’t even look and gaze into his eyes the entire time, mesmerized by the passion in his eyes, and my breath hitches, and my mouth dries as the weight of the ring presses down on my finger.
I’m shocked when he leans forward and kisses me with a slow, lingering promise of more delight that I can stand, and he whispers against my lips, “Will you marry me, Regina Stone?”
I’m shocked. He speaks as if he means it, and I gasp as my world spins around me. What is the correct answer? I really don’t know what to say, but then I remind myself I am playing a part and nod shyly. “I do.”
He smirks, and I say quickly, “I mean, yes! Of course I’ll marry you, Nico.”
The manager’s grin almost falls off his mouth, and he wipes a tear from his eye and says gaily, “More champagne, this is a momentous occasion.”
Nico runs his thumb over the diamond, and as I glance down at my finger, it almost dazzles me with its brilliance.
“It’s, so, um, well, big?” I say as I stare at the most exquisite ring I’ve ever seen.
“One of a kind, Miss Stone.”
The manager says proudly as he hands me a glass of champagne and then one to Nico.
“To the happy couple.”
I’m shocked when a bright light dazzles me and one of the assistants takes several photographs. Nico is holding my hand, looking every inch the proud fiancé, and I must appear a little shell-shocked as I hold his hand and attempt to sip the champagne in the other.
After the photographs and the champagne, the manager takes back the ring and assures Nico that it will be re-sized and delivered to his apartment by the close of business.
Nico doesn’t even pay for it and merely tells him to add it to his account, and I wonder what else he buys here to warrant an actual account with the king of diamonds.
I’m a little disconcerted by that. Does he do this all the time? Is this merely an elaborate facade to get a date for the holidays? It’s certainly been a whirlwind, and I wouldn’t put it past him, and yet nothing can dampen the excitement of the occasion.
I float out of the prestigious jewelers and into the car and don’t even say a word until we walk into Bergdorf Goodman. Once again we are met, by what appears to be the manager and I am whisked away by a personal shopper with the instructions to buy as many gifts as necessary.
I’m at a loss as I follow the group of women accompanying me and at last one of them takes pity on me.
“Please call me Annie, Miss Stone, and if you point anything out, we will gift wrap it and mark what’s inside in a discreet note nestled against the ribbon for you to personally address it to the recipient.”
“Great, um, to be honest, I don’t know where to begin.”
I feel a little foolish because I am the gift basket queen. This should be firmly in my comfort zone, but everything is so expensive.
“Perhaps the perfumery would be a good place to start.” Annie says kindly, and I smile, grateful for the heads up.
As we walk, she makes suggestions, and I’m ashamed to admit that I just nod and smile.
Great, super, fantastic, if you think that would do, are the only words that spill from my lips.
I’m conscious of the armfuls of products the assistants are carrying, and by the time we head to the jewelry department, I’m almost groaning on my designer heels.
“Do you think we have enough?”
I’m ashamed that I don’t even know who I’m buying for. Nico told me to take care of gifts for his mom and the female members of staff, along with their guests.
“What if I don’t get enough, or too many?” I ask Annie, and she smiles sympathetically.
“The store has a returns policy. It wouldn’t be a problem to bring back the excess.”
I’m relieved to hear that and resume the search feeling a lot better.
Once we’ve selected enough chocolate to open our own store, I call it quits and three hours later meet Nico in the personal shopper department.
He stands as soon as I enter the room.
“Are you done?” He asks, glancing at his wristwatch, and I nod.
“I think so but–”
I want to apologize for incinerating his bank account, and he holds up his hand. “I am booked into afternoon meetings I must be present for. Trent will take you back to the apartment where I’ve arranged a late lunch.”
Once again, I almost run to keep up with him, and as we spill onto the street, he points to the first car.
“Go with Trent and organize your possessions. They have been delivered, and when your purchases from Bergdorf arrive, there is a dressing room in the master suite that should accommodate everything.”
I stare at him open-mouthed as he disappears into the middle car, and as Trent holds the door open of the car in front, I wonder what the hell just happened.