Page 83 of Reeling in Love

“She will. Trust me.”

“What if it doesn’t work? What if we lose our friendship, too?”

“Trust me. We won’t. We both value each other too much to go wrong with this. Being us is the easiest thing for either of us. It’s like any relationship should be. Completely free and easy. So, what do you say?”

She’s still silent.

“It’s okay if you’re not sure right now. I’m ready to wait as long as it takes for you to see the truth that I see so clearly.” I fumble a little. “Now, you better answer one way or the other, because my knee is hurting.”

Finally, she nods and her face lights up with the most beautiful smile. “Yes! Yes! Oh my God! Yes! Let’s do this.”

I slip the ring onto her finger, amongst applause and some clicks and flashes of camera from the people.

“I love you too, Gabs. I think I always have, but never acknowledged it. You mean more than life to me, and I’ll do anything to keep you happy. To keep us happy. I hope Mom was right when she said a relationship should be easy for it to last. Because nothing is easier for me than being with you.”

I hug her and give her a long kiss. It’s an unhurried kiss, like a warm embrace on a chilly night. It makes me feel complete, and I feel a sense of calmness spreading through my body, a feeling of ecstasy. That this is the right thing to do and from now on, everything will be great.

We finally let go and amidst a series of claps from the onlookers, we make our way into the elevator. I can’t stop smiling as I hold her hand in mine. She is mine, just as she was always meant to be.

In the cab back to the hotel, she’s scrolling through her phone.

“Wow! What a reel,” she says, and passes me her phone.

It’s our video, me on my knees, Nora smiling and nodding, extending her hand, and the entire Paris skyline behind us. Someone has posted it and tagged both of us. While I’m angry at the lack of privacy the person has shown, I’m glad for the photo, a memory of the most beautiful night.

Nora reposts it with the hashtag Reeling-In-Love.

“What’ll your Mamie say?” she asks. “What about her plan for you to marry Sophia for some time?”

“You know I’d never do it. And so does she. But I’ve already spoken to her. This won’t be a shock to her.”

“Well, it will be to Mom and Carla. Just imagine the look on their faces if they see this before I talk to them.”

I give her a sheepish smile.

“No. No! Don’t tell me,” she punches me on the arm. “They know? Have you already told everyone what you were going to do? Except me? Your best friend?”

“I had to take your mom’s blessing, right? Are you really upset with me? Your mom and Carla are both quite happy about it.”

“I know,” she says with a shrug. “She’s been pushing me toward this, and I think now I know why. It’s your family I’m worried about. They are the ones who don’t want you to marry me.”

“Look, I figured what Mamie wants. She wants what’s best for the company. So I asked her if there was a way to ensure for her to get what she wants because even if I married Sophia for the inheritance and if she agreed, her business decisions would not change. Moreover, she would definitely end up extracting something from us for doing it.”

“And? What did Mamie say?”

“She came up with an option two. It is a more long-term option. For now, she’ll give me the extra share that she will get, which is half of what Mom has right now. I’ll continue working in the company and prove my worth. If I do well, her entire share after her death can come to me. She said if I can grow grandfather’s legacy and take it to the next level, she’ll always support me.”

Nora’s eyes grow wide. “Wow. This is not what I was expecting. She’s not half bad, this woman. Quite shrewd, in fact. She’s okay to bend laws and morality if it suits her purpose, but she’s not bad. In fact, I think I could learn a thing or two from her.”

We reach the hotel, and I pay the driver and give him a good tip. He waves happily and goes on his way.

I hold my fiancée’s hand and lead her inside. “Mamie actually thinks you’re a good influence on me and can help me and guide me to make the right decisions. Her words, not mine. And if we have her blessing, Mom will definitely come around, especially if she gets to know that because of Mamie, we can keep at least half the share that she thought was hers, which, to be honest, is more than enough money.”

“Well, all’s well that ends well,” she says as we exit the elevator on our floor. “Now all you have to do is get a good night’s sleep so you can make a mind-blowing presentation tomorrow because a lot is at stake.”

“The presentation will be fine. I’ve prepared so much for it I can rattle it off even in sleep and answer all questions anyone may pose, even in a state of delirium. As for sleep, let’s get to bed and see what happens.”

“As your best friend, I should tell you, you need to sleep,” she says, her lips curled in a smile, as she enters the room and throws off her shoes.

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