Chapter 37
Calvin and I make our way back to the main room, only to find everyone sitting on the couch. Abigail’s knowing smirk greets us like a neon sign flashing busted. My cheeks immediately flush as I take a seat on an unoccupied couch. Calvin sits beside me, close enough to make his intentions clear.
“Where were you?” Abigail asks, her tone dripping with amusement.
“Oh, I was just showing Calvin around,” I reply too quickly, my voice pitching up an octave.
The excuse sounds ridiculous the moment it leaves my mouth, especially considering he owns the damn house.
“You know… since I got here first… and it’s an Airbnb…
” I trail off, the words dissolving into the quiet that follows.
For a few long seconds, no one says anything. My grandparents just keep looking between Calvin and me, as if daring us to explain why he’s sitting so close. The weight of their eyes makes me squirm in my seat.
Then Calvin clears his throat, his hand finding mine. His thumb traces a slow, grounding circle against my skin. “There’s something we’d like to say.”
Grandpa raises an eyebrow, gaze flicking between us. “We?” he repeats.
I swallow hard, glancing up at Calvin. He’s already looking at me, calm and full of that quiet affection that steals the air right from my chest. “Yes,” I manage. “We.”
Calvin straightens slightly. “We wanted to… broach the subject carefully, considering the history involved.”
It’s like everyone’s bracing for whatever’s coming.
“Calvin and I are together,” I say, the words tumbling out faster than I mean them to. “We’ve been together for months. We love each other, and we wanted to tell you, but there was never a right time. And considering the fact that…”
“He was engaged to your mother?” Grandpa cuts in, his voice sharp enough to make me flinch.
“Yeah, Dad, about that,” Abby says quickly, and I release a shaky breath. I did not want to be the one to say it.
“Calvin and I were faking the engagement,” she continues. “It wasn’t real. We were never real.”
“Excuse me?!” both grandparents echo.
“If I may,” Calvin says deliberately. “This is on me.”
He pauses, meeting everyone’s eyes before continuing. “I approached Abigail with a business proposal. I needed a marriage on paper to work with a client who values family and commitment. Abigail graciously agreed, and we both understood it was purely professional. There were no feelings involved.”
He glances at me, his gaze softening. “That changed when I met Blair. She completely upended everything I thought I knew. I fell for her, hard. When Abigail found out, we mutually agreed to end the arrangement. I continued to pursue Blair because, by then, I was already deeply in love with her.”
He exhales. “I take full responsibility for the mistakes I made along the way. But I’m here now to ask for your blessing to continue dating Blair, because I love her and I want to build a future with her.”
The room is silent for a beat, and I can feel my heart pounding. My grandma looks contemplative, and my grandpa’s frown has softened, barely.
I squeeze Calvin’s hand, feeling a mix of gratitude and admiration for the way he handled it all. Whether or not this family meeting ends with their approval, I know we’re in this together.
The room is still silent, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. I can’t take it anymore. “Can someone say something?”
Grandpa lets out a slow exhale, finally breaking the silence. “Well, we kind of figured something was going on between you two,” he says.
Grandma nods, a small smile tugging at her lips. “We were actually planning to bring it up after your graduation. What we didn’t know, however, was the fake engagement part.”
“Though we probably should’ve figured that out too,” Grandpa adds dryly.
“Wait, you knew?” I ask, wide-eyed. “How?”
Grandpa chuckles. “Well, for starters, honey, we love you, but you’re terrible at hiding your emotions.
You blush every time Calvin’s name comes up.
And Calvin…” His gaze shifts to him, amused.
“You’ve been more involved with the family lately than you ever were when you were supposedly with Abigail. ”
“Excuse me?” Abigail cuts in, pretending to be offended.
Grandpa waves her off with a chuckle. “Oh, no offense, sweetheart, but you two were about as compatible as cats and cucumbers. The whole thing was odd from the start; it didn’t even seem like you were friends.”
Abigail doesn’t argue, because she knows he’s right.
“And then you two ‘broke up,’” Grandpa continues, gesturing toward Calvin, “and suddenly this guy’s calling me out of the blue, asking if your grandma and I need anything. I should’ve known something else was going on.”
My heart warms at his words, a revelation I hadn’t known. Calvin had been quietly looking out for my grandparents. He doesn’t realize how much that means to me.
Grandpa’s expression softens, though his voice carries a touch of his usual gruffness. “It’ll take some getting used to, I won’t lie. But as long as everyone involved is happy and keeps their promises, you have my blessing.”
“We just want the two of you to be happy and faithful to each other,” my grandmother adds with a gentle smile.
“Thank you,” Calvin and I say in unison.
“Now that that is settled,” Abigail declares, standing up, “I’m starving.”
“There’s a restaurant in Paris I know. I’ll give them a quick call,” Calvin says, leaning down to kiss my temple before stepping away to make the arrangements.
Grandma clasps Grandpa’s arm as they rise. “Alright, dear, we should go get ready,” she says, guiding him toward one of the ground-floor rooms.
Abigail pulls me into a tight hug, her voice soft against my ear. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispers before heading upstairs to find her room.
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. For the first time in weeks, everything feels a little lighter.
After a delightful dinner at the restaurant, where my grandparents pepper Calvin and me with more questions about our relationship, we return to the Airbnb, or, as I now know, Calvin’s house. Exhausted from jet lag, my grandparents and Abigail head straight to bed.
As I watch them disappear upstairs, Calvin leans closer. “I want to show you something. Come with me,” he says, holding out his hand.
I smile and let him lead me down the hall. We stop in front of a room I haven’t explored yet, a door that was closed earlier when I looked around.
Calvin pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks it with a soft click. “This will be my office,” he says, stepping aside so I can enter first.
The room is sleek and minimalistic, just like his office in the Boston penthouse.
A mahogany desk sits at the center, flanked by a high-end computer setup and a neatly stocked bar in the corner.
Of course, it’s filled with his favorite Hennessy.
A plush sofa adds a touch of warmth to the otherwise professional space.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, taking in every detail. My eyes land on a framed photo sitting on his desk, the selfie I nervously took during our first date at the club. I smile, my heart swelling at the memory.
Calvin moves to another door, his lips curling into a playful smile. “And because I can’t have you too far away…” He opens it with a flourish. “This is your office.”
A gasp escapes me, loud enough to echo down the hall. I rush inside, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the space.
The room is breathtaking, every detail carefully thought out. High ceilings with intricate moldings make the space feel grand, while a stunning chandelier casts a soft, golden glow.
The walls are painted a soft blush pink, perfectly complementing the white marble floors veined with gold.
In one corner, a velvet sofa in deep fuchsia beckons, piled with silk and satin pillows in shades of pink and gold.
A nearby glass coffee table holds an assortment of glossy fashion magazines and a delicate porcelain tea set.
My breath catches when I see the desk. It’s sleek and modern, with a glossy white surface accented in gold.
On top sits luxurious stationery and a vase of fresh peonies, their soft petals radiating elegance.
Behind the desk, a towering bookshelf holds fashion books, fabric swatches, and even miniature dress forms.
In another corner, a sewing machine stands ready for use, and when I open the closet, I’m greeted by shelves stacked with the most beautiful fabrics I’ve ever seen. Tears spill over as I take it all in, my heart full to bursting.
“Calvin…” I choke out, turning to face him. He leans casually against the doorframe, watching me with a tender smile that makes my knees weak.
“Love, honor, happiness, wealth, romance, and beauty,” he says, nodding toward the peonies on the desk. His tone shifts, turning serious. “I have something to tell you, and something to ask you.”
“What is it?” I ask, trying to steady my voice.
He takes a deep breath. “I’ve been offered the chance to design the tallest building in New York.”
My face lights up, and I don’t let him finish before I throw myself into his arms. “Calvin, that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!”
He laughs, holding me close. “Thank you, love, but you didn’t let me finish. I haven’t accepted.”
I pull back, frowning, “Why not?”
“Because I wasn’t sure where you’d want to go after graduation,” he admits.
I hesitate, excitement and nerves swirling together. “I… got a job offer at Vogue. It’s entry-level, but it’s a start.”
His smile softens, and he brushes a strand of hair from my face. “What about your dream of starting your clothing line?”
My heart skips a beat at how he remembers every little thing. “That’s still my priority,” I say. “But I want to get some experience in the field first. While I’m working, I’ll build my line on the side.”