And after tonight, the whole world will know it.
Caleb and I have kept our relationship under wraps for an entire year. This was largely due to office politics, we didn’t want to raise any red flags until Emmy’s Place was up and off the ground. It was also an attempt to spare Emmy and I both some of the tabloid scrutiny. Caleb has kept a low profile for the last year, and we’re hoping that when we go public with our relationship tonight, the same night that we celebrate the opening of Emmy’s Place, we’ll barely make a blip on the radar.
Now, as we make our way towards the gala, I felt Caleb’s hand wrap around mine and give a supportive squeeze.
“Before we go in there,” he whispered, “There’s something I want to ask you.”
I stopped walking and turned to face him. We’re just a few paces away from the party, and I could hear the pulse of music and chatter of the crowd on the other side of the wall.
“I know this is a big night for you,” Caleb said. “And I wanted to know… are you sure you want me to introduce you as my girlfriend tonight?”
“What?” I frowned. “Of course I do, Caleb! I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. Why would you even ask me that?”
“Well,” Caleb said slowly, “I thought I might introduce you as something else…”
“What?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he dropped to one knee and immediately I understood what was happening. My hands rushed to my mouth and I felt my stomach do cartwheels.
“Daisy Wright,” he said, pulling a little black velvet box from his jacket pocket. “Can I please introduce you as my fiancée?”
The box popped open and I see a giant diamond sparkling inside.
“Yes!” I squealed. He slid the ring onto my finger, and I threw my arms around his neck, and as much as I’d like to sneak back to the bathroom for round two, I know we have a gala to host first.
Our first gala as the future Mr. and Mrs. Preston.
Teach Me 2x
A Menage Romance
By Nicole Elliot
Chapter One: Logan
Days like this I wondered why we even did this anymore. Most of the students that would come in here won’t know the difference between ROIs and profitability calendars. But they still think they can come and waste our time. I know I should give it up, we don’t need the community’s support anymore, but sometimes there was a diamond in the rough.
Every once in a while, and I mean once in the past few years, something actually fucking impressed me. Otherwise, their idea just ended up getting bought, and they can go about their lives with their fresh few million and I had a shiny new business venture.
Jana, our dutiful secretary, already had our table set up with pen pads and a pitcher of water. For a few hours, we would be the students looking at the presentation board. As always, I was early enough to scope out the applicants and my partner, Jake, would come right in and expects me to fill him in seconds before the first applicant started. Because he is also my best friend, I always did.
But still, it was annoying.
“Your first presentation is in fifteen minutes.” Jana set the roster down in front of me with a friendly smile. Jana also moonlighted as our trusted confidant, she has been with us for years. Since the very beginning when we were running off loans until we made a name for ourselves.
“Thanks.”
I took off my sports coat and adjusted my tie. I had gotten used to being overdressed next to Jake. He always looked like he just left the gym; the MMA gym we own and was our first endeavor. It started out as just that, a gym, but now it was home to a few B-list fighters, Division I schools, and has become its own fitness brand. But I could never ditch my dress pants, tailored shirt, and silk tie. No way.
Jake finally came in with five minutes to go, when the first presenter was already outside. As I suspected, he was wearing khaki shorts and a Polo. He always had the buttons undone to show off his tattoo. I thought his shoulder piece of roses and thorns was a drunken mistake, but apparently it wasn’t. The chest tattoo was after that.
“You ready?” He sat next to me and I stifled my annoyance.
“I’ve been here for thirty minutes.” I said in response. He just laughed and shook his head.
He took one pen pad, and in big letters he wrote ‘yes’ on one, and ‘no’ on the other. I shook my head, but smiled.
“Whatever. The only way we work is when you do the hard work, and I seal the deal with my thug tattoo and muscles. It’s proven.” Man, he was a dick sometimes, but also an entrepreneurial genius.