Page 39 of Billion Dollar Vow

“Tell me about yourself. What do you like? What do you do? It might help me recommend a style,” Mr. Winston says.

How much should I share? Will Mr. Winston look at me differently once he knows I’m not from this world?

“I study art, painting specifically, and I work at a paint studio on the side,” I reply confidently. No need to apologize for who I am.

He smiles. “Do you like colors?”

“Yes.”

“Would you be open to a colored stone?”

“A colored stone?” I repeat, as if I’ve never thought about it before. “That could be interesting,”

Mr. Winston brings out a selection of platinum rings with emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, as well as the same in rose gold. My eyes scan over each, drawn to a few. Even though this is feeling very real, I know I’ll only have this ring for a short time and never wear it again.

Oliver shuffles closer, his shoulder nearly touching mine. I find myself oddly comforted by his nearness.

“Which colors stand out to you?” Mr. Winston asks.

“To be honest, I love them all,” I admit, unable to choose.

Oliver laughs. “As pretty as these rings would look on each finger of yours, let's save them for anniversaries.”

I pause, my smile faltering just slightly. “Anniversaries?” I echo, trying to keep my voice light. “You do remember this isn’t real, right?”

He shrugs, totally unbothered. “Real or not, people are still going to expect the part. Might as well get used to saying things like that.”

I laugh, mostly to ease the knot tightening in my chest. “I didn’t think it’d be this hard.”

“We're not in a rush,” Oliver says, and I appreciate that he’s trying to make this easier for me, even though it contradicts everything about our whirlwind arrangement.

I try on an emerald first, but it doesn't feel quite right. The green stone is beautiful, but too formal and not me. The moment I slide the next one onto my finger, my breath catches. “I like the rose gold with the ruby. It’s pretty,” I say, wiggling my finger around.

“We also have some pink stones, if you’d like,” Mr. Winston offers.

“I don't see myself with pink. It feels too… modern,” I say.

Next, I try sapphire. I slip it on, and my heart swells. I stare at it, feeling a warm rush pulse through me. “I love this.”

“Let me see,” Oliver asks, gently taking my hand and inspecting it.

His touch makes my body temperature rise. “Yeah. I do too. The blue looks good on you,” he adds, and I can hear the softness in his voice.

“This feels like your ring.” Mr. Winston says. “I’ll bring out a few with similar styles, then we can pick a matching band.”

“There’s more?” I gasp. What else could there be?

“Oh yes,” Mr. Winston says. “We’ll narrow it down further, choose a shape, then decide on the wedding band. And if he’s going with platinum, it’ll match perfectly. If the rings you choose don’t quite fit, I can give you a placeholder and keep you updated on when the custom one will be ready.” After trying a few more, I find the one that I love. A 6.50 carat blue sapphire halo ring set in platinum. The stone sparkles, and I can’t help but smile at how perfect it looks. “This is it,” I say, slipping it off and handing it to Mr. Winston, who grins and starts packing it up.

“You’re not going to get something like this for yourself?” I ask, arching an eyebrow at Oliver.

He points to the plain platinum band he liked earlier. “I think I’ll skip the colored stone and let yours stand out.”

I laugh, nudging him playfully. “Oh, so I’m the attention-seeker now?” The thought of people noticing the ring sends a flutter of anxiety through me. I’ll have to get used to explaining this sudden relationship.

“Absolutely.” He smirks.

I snap a photo of the rings and send it to Amber, remembering my phone conversation with her this morning when I told her I was getting fake married to Oliver. As expected, she told me to be careful, but she supports me. Her response was,“If anyone can make this crazy plan work, it’s you.”

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