Page 229 of Taeja

“Hush it, Damon. We ago watch mi favorite rom-com.”

Damon groaned, wishing Zain was here to bear the torture with him. Taeja found a specific episode, smiling as the actors’ faces filled the screen. Damon wondered how she wasn’t tired of this show yet. He’d lost count of how many times she watched this scene.

Taeja mouthed along with the monologue of a male actor, then swooned. “Mi just love dem! Replay dat again!”

Damon grabbed the remote before she could, snickering as Taeja gasped.

“Doh mek mi and you have nothing! Mi deevn get to the best part yet—”

Damon scoffed. “Finish watching later when I’m doing my work. Come look at what I got you.”

“You got me something?”

He nodded as they got off the bed and started heading upstairs. “Yes. It’s on our bed. I guess you didn’t see it.”

“I didn’t,” she confessed. “I haven’t been upstairs since I came from the office.”

“I figured.” Damon glanced at his brother’s shirt on Taeja. It was cute how the shirt swallowed her smaller body.

Arriving in the room, Taeja gasped upon seeing what was on the bed. “Wow,” she breathed, approaching the dress.

Warmth passed through Damon. “Do you like it?”

Taeja beamed, trailing her finger along the material. “Mi love it! Thank you!”

Damon nodded, loving her reaction to the evening dress. It was royal blue, strapless, had a long slit up the leg, and a small train with silver details. He and Zain had matching ties and pocket squares to go with it.

“And these heels!” Taeja sat on the bed and slid her feet into the silver heels. She stood and held the dress against her body, striking a pose. “How me look?”

He grinned. “Gorgeous.”

Taeja smiled before carefully setting the dress on the bed and sitting. She reached for one of the jewelry boxes — the one with the silver necklace. Her eyes shone after opening each box. When she revealed the contents of the last one, Taeja gasped.

As Gavin finished hisspeech, hums of agreement traveled around the mess hall. Gavin’s eyes settled on Damon, who radiated pride. “Boss, we are extremely proud of you, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with you. Cheers to your future victories.”

From his position at the table, Damon raised his flute of champagne while a round of applause came from around him.

As the cheers died down, Taeja squeezed his thigh. She smiled as he looked at her. “We’re proud of you.”

Zain nodded from beside her, a small smile playing on his lips. “You did it, Damon.”

Damon’s heart swelled. He beamed at them. “Thank you,” he said to his brother before kissing Taeja’s cheek. “Thanks, baby.”

Taeja smiled before reaching for her champagne glass and taking a sip. Watching her, Damon realized something that left him unsettled.

At the table, all his male employees his age or older had their wives by their sides.

Taeja’s finger didn’t have his ring.

And it’d always be that way.

38

Zain parked before thehouse, glancing at Owen, who sighed after seeing Dijonae sitting on the porch. “She’s still not talking to you?” Zain pried.

Owen shook his head. “Dee naa try see weh mi a come from.”

“You’re not seeing her side either.”

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