Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
J ack
I walked into the bedroom and stopped when I saw Sierra standing there in a beautiful spaghetti strap, A-line waist red dress. Her hair was swept in a way I’d never seen before, catching my attention in more ways than one. My lips curled into a smile as she turned and looked at me.
“What do you think?”
“You look stunning.” I walked over, gripped her hips, and pressed my lips against her bare neck, taking in the light floral scent of the perfume she wore.
“Thank you.” A bright smile crossed her lips.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small box.
“I have something for you.”
With a smile, she took the box from my hand and opened the lid, revealing the three-carat diamond earrings inside.
“Jack, they’re beautiful. Oh my gosh, I’ve never had diamond earrings. Thank you.” She reached up and softly kissed me.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” I smiled.
The Christmas party was a success. My staff gathered in my townhome, where we ate, drank, talked, and laughed.
“I have to say, son. I’m impressed with all the decorations. Good job.” He patted my back.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I stood at the bar getting another drink when Daniel walked over.
“I’m still in shock, you know.”
I laughed.
“I never in a million years would have expected this from you.”
“The magic of the holidays, Daniel. Do you have any plans tomorrow?”
“I don’t think so, why?”
“I have someplace I have to go, and I want you to go with me.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see. I’ll pick you up at noon.”
“Sure, okay.”
“Daddy.” Ellie tugged on my suit coat.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Can you play the piano?”
“Sure.” I smiled. “Can I have everyone’s attention?” I shouted.
The room silenced.
“I think it’s time for some Christmas carols.” I walked over to the piano and sat on the bench. Ellie climbed up and sat next to me. Stretching my fingers, I positioned them on the keys and played Deck The Halls, singing the lyrics while everyone at the party sang with me. It was a night I’d never forget.
“I have an announcement to make. I’ve decided that I’m starting a new tradition at Atlas Enterprises. Starting this year, Atlas Enterprises will be closed from Christmas Eve until the day after New Year’s Day with pay.”
“ S o, where are we going?” Daniel asked, sliding into the back seat of the Escalade.
“First, we’re stopping at the Chanel store.”
“Why?” His brows furrowed.
“To buy Sierra a handbag for Christmas.”
“Didn’t she just spend over six grand for a Louis Vuitton?”
“She did. This is for Christmas.” I smiled.
When we reached the store, we were greeted by a nice young lady who was eager for the sale.
“I think Sierra will like this one.” I held the purse up. “What do you think?” I asked, glancing at Daniel.
“Sure. It’s nice.”
“And here’s the matching wallet.” The sales associate smiled.
“I’ll take both. Do you giftwrap?”
“Yes. We do.”
“Excellent.” I pulled out my credit card and glanced at my watch. I still had some time before my appointment.
After we left the store, Eric drove us to Harry Winston.
“Why are we at Harry Winston?” Daniel asked.
“I have an appointment to look at engagement rings, and I want your opinion.” I smiled.
“Engagement rings? Jack, are you sure? Don’t you think it’s a little too soon?”
“Here’s the thing, Daniel. I could have met Sierra yesterday and already know she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I love her, and I want to marry her.”
“I get that, Jack. But damn. You are really making my head spin with all this change. You are a whole new man.”
“I am, thanks to her.”
We walked into the store, and Nathan, the man I had the appointment with, took us to a private room in the back. He brought us a glass of champagne and different rings that sat on a dark blue velvet pillow.
“These are some of our finest diamonds, Mr. Atlas.”
One of the rings caught my attention. Picking it up, I examined it.
“That is one of our exclusives. It’s the Belle Round Micro Pave ring. The center stone is flawless three and a half carats, totaling four and a half carats with diamonds around the band. See for yourself the clarity of the diamond.” He handed me a loupe.
Bringing the loupe to my eye, I carefully examined the ring. It was perfect.
“What do you think?” I glanced at Daniel.
“It’s stunning, Jack.”
“I’ll take this one.” I smiled.
“Excellent choice, Mr. Atlas. I’ll just need your credit card, and I’ll get the ring ready for you.”
“Did I hear him right on the price of that ring?” Daniel asked.
“You did.” I smiled. “I will put the ring in the Chanel purse and ask her on Christmas morning.”
“You, Jack Atlas, have never had a romantic bone in your body.”
“Because I never met the right woman to bring it out in me.” I winked.
“Looks like both of us are getting engaged this Christmas.” He patted my back.
After dropping Daniel off, I went home. When I walked into the house, the smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies filled the air—gingerbread, sugar, and cinnamon, to name a few.
“It smells delicious in here.” I smiled, walking into the kitchen. “Hello, Jeanine.” I kissed her cheek.
“Hi, Jack.”
“Are you having fun, sweetheart?” I walked over and kissed Ellie’s head.
“So much fun, Daddy.”
Sierra looked up at me, and her smile was priceless. I walked over and kissed her lips, grabbing a gingerbread cookie from the cookie tray.
“We made a lot of cookies for Santa, Daddy.”
“I can see that.” I took a bite of the gingerbread cookie. “Wow. This is delicious.”
Jeanine was at our house the entire day. We ordered a pizza for dinner, and after she left, Sierra and I put Ellie to bed.
“Let’s put our swimsuits on and go for a swim,” I said.
A sly grin crossed Sierra’s face. “Who said we need swimsuits? I’ll race you.” She ran down the stairs to the pool. She was completely undressed and in the pool when I got there.
“I like the way you think.” I stripped out of my clothes and jumped in, gripping her hips. “It seemed like today went well.”
“It did.” She smiled. “We talked about things while we made cookies. I invited her over for Christmas.”
“Good. She should be with her family.”
“What are we going to do for Christmas dinner? You know I can’t cook,” she said.
“I’ve got it covered.” I kissed her.
“I think I want to take some cooking classes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She smiled.
“We’ll make that happen.” I kissed her again. “Enough talking. We have some business to get down to.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.