Page 16 of Hot For Her Bully

He holds his hands up. "It's okay. I know how to hold a grudge too well. Whitney explained things and the professor actually showed me the report. I see a lot of conclusions were jumped to, and you have my apologies for not giving you the room to speak to me, man to man."

"Thank you for that," I tell him.

Whitney's smile as she rubs his hand and laces her fingers through mine prompts me to the next topic.

"Now, this may sound sudden, but I like to think of myself as a man who goes after what he wants," I begin. I can feel the ring box digging against my thigh in my pocket. I'm waiting for the right moment and now feels like the perfect time.

Harland nods. "Yes, and you're a man of outstanding caliber and integrity from what I hear. You've come to Whitney's defense several times when it wasn't necessary, and you did it without betraying her personal relationship with me. You both also have my apology for the Richard Ballinger incident. His behavior was unexpected and not the most respectful."

"He ditched me in this restaurant to cover the entire bill. His steak and everything," Whitney mumbles.

I rub her hand with my thumb. "I took care of that, sir."

"I know you did," Harland smiles. "And as a thank you for that, I took care of the security footage from that back hallway leading to the restrooms."

His eyes move from Whitney to me. The crimson coating her cheeks spills her shyness, but I don't care who knows about us. We're adults.

"You have my word to be more discreet and thorough in our escapades."

"Good," Harland says as the food arrives. "Now, we can discuss your plans for after graduation. You've been hounding me for an interview and haven't stopped by my office or anything, Whitlock. What's going on?"

I let Whitney's hand go for this because I have to be honest. "Sir, for a long time, I thought that Redline International was the company I wanted to work with because it aligns with the kind of work and prestige my parents expect of me. However, the interview? I put Whitney in an impossible position to get it and that's not right. I'm sorry, Whitney, and I'm sorry to you as well, Mr. Adams."

"Call me, Harland, son." His eyes light up when he sees I'm upholding his new impression of me.

"Speaking of son, I'd like you to know how much I love and care about your daughter."

"Weston, what are you doing?" she whispers and grabs my hand, trying to stop whatever I'm about to say next.

Harland grins and leans back in his chair. "Whitney, darling, I believe this young man is about to ask for my blessing to marry you."

"I am, sir. It's clear that Whitney values your opinion, and as her father, it's only right that I assure you my plans are to work for a small law practice while I pursue my law degree."

"Oh yeah? What are you looking to practice?" he asks.

"Corporate ethics," I say, which gets a small choking laugh from Whitney. I have to nudge her under the table. "I'd love nothing more than to have your daughter by my side as my wife, my partner, my best friend, my everything."

"You both have my blessing, but the answer to that question is up to Whitney," Harland says and slides back to give me room.

I move out of my chair, fish the ring out of my pocket, and open the velvet box. For the first time in weeks, people looking at us aren't whispering about gossip. They're whispering happiness and congratulations as they watch a young man propose to the love of his life.

"I love you, Whitney Downing. I'll move heavens and earth to be with you. I want to spend the rest of our lives earning your forgiveness for how things started between us. I want to spend eternity growing into the man I want to be and the man you're loving shapes me into. Tomorrow, we graduate and leave this experience behind us as a memory. But the only memories I'm interested in are the ones we make together as husband and wife. Whitney Downing—Adams—will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Whitney's tears fall, and she nods. "I love you so much, Weston. Of course, I'll marry you."

Harland claps with a loud boisterous voice making an announcement. "Now, that's how you ask someone to marry you. Drinks all around! Everyone's dinner is on me, father of the soon-to-be-bride."

The restaurant erupts into cheers as I slip the ring onto Whitney's finger. She pulls me by my face to crush her mouth against mine. I'd like to think some of the applause is for our love, but I'm certain it's for the free meal.

I can't imagine getting to this point from where we started, but I'm so happy I hated her enough to kick off this madness. Who would have thought my forever would come at the hands of a woman who didn't take no for an answer?

Epilogue

WHITNEY

A YEAR LATER

"Argh. Stop," Weston whines as I push the butt of my palm into his shoulder blade.

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