Page 13 of The Guest

EPILOGUE

KEVIN

My father has officially handed the empire to me, and this is his long-overdue retirement party. Both of us know he won’t be quitting, though. He’ll be on the sidelines, listening, observing, and giving unsolicited advice.

The men before me won’t stop talking. I stopped listening a few minutes ago when they wanted to discuss business at a time when I just wanted to relax. I’m going to have to get used to it, I know, but not today.

Today, I have more important things to do.

I focus on Kara, holding onto my arm, smiling politely at one of the Board of Directors. She’s stunning in her deep red dress, her hair down just the way I like it. She only has a pair of earrings and a thin bracelet, but it doesn’t matter.

She glows.

I lean in close, my voice steady even though my heart is about to jump out of my chest. “Let’s step outside for a minute.” Turning to the others, I give them a sharp nod. “Excuse us, gentlemen.”

Kara lets me guide her toward the balcony, and the glass door closes softly behind us. Inside, there are at least three hundred guests. Here, it’s just her and me. Just the way I like it.

Before she can say anything, I take both of her hands in mine and kiss them. “Kara, I fell for you the first time I saw you. I fell deep and hard. It was like a part of me said, ‘It’s you. Finally, you’re here.’ I didn’t even know you were what was missing from my life until you arrived.”

A tear spills down her cheek, and I wipe it before sinking to one knee. I pull out a small velvet box from my breast pocket, and her hands fly to her mouth.

This is it. It’s the moment I couldn’t stop thinking about from the first time I laid eyes on her.

I open the box and show her the diamond ring inside. “Will you marry me, Kara?”

Her lips quiver as she nods. “I will. I will marry you.”

Happiness cracks me open as I slide the ring onto her finger and stand to pull her into my arms. She buries her face in my chest, and I lift her chin to me and seal this moment with a kiss.

“I love you, Kara. You make me whole.”

“I love you too, Kevin. I’m yours, always.”

Damn right.

Kara is mine, and I am hers. That’s the way it will be until my last breath.

EXTENDED EPILOGUE

KARA

Five Years Later

Istand at the back of the room, heart pounding in my chest, my hand gripping the stress ball.

Then it happens.

The sales manager turns to me, her smile wide, as she shouts, “The collection sold out in ten minutes!”

The entire office erupts. Cheers and laughter fill the air while my employees whoop and give each other high-fives. Someone uncorks a champagne, but the popping sound is drowned out by the roar of the celebration.

My vision blurs as tears fill my eyes. I bite my lip to stop its trembling, but the overwhelming rush of happiness and pride makes it impossible to hold back.

It’s happening. It’s really happening. Years of late nights, thousands of sketches, hundreds of meetings and trial and error,and moments of doubt. My lifelong dream has just become a roaring success.

Dad stands quietly beside me, and when I turn to look at him, his face lit up with pride, I can no longer stop the tears falling down my cheeks. He opens his arms to me, and I fall into them, hugging him as tight as I can.

“You did it, Kara. I’m so proud of you.” His voice is thick with emotion.

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