My heart starts to race and I shake my head to clear myself of my vision, but when I look back up, I see him. It’s Zander, lowering himself back down through the skylight.
It can’t be…
He looks worn out, like he’s just run a marathon as he touches down in front of me. I almost feel bad for him – almost. But I’m more concerned with the fact that he completely dumped me and sent me back to New York like I was a load of dirty laundry.
My eyes fill with red as he steps toward me.
No. No…it can’t be.
“You—you’re not here,” I mutter. “You’re gone.”
“I’m here, sweetie. I came back for you. I’m so sorry—”
I slap him. I don’t even think about it; it just happens. My fingers sting against his strong jaw, and I instantly regret it. He doesn’t even flinch. Hell, he doesn’t even react. He leans in, wraps a strong arm around me, and pulls me to him.
“You left me…” I whimper, guarding my heart against all the feelings he’s bringing out in me.
“I didn’t want to, Amory. I had to. Childers. He was going to arrest you—”
“Arrest me?” I almost scream. “What are you talking about, Zander? Stop lying!”
“Why would I lie to you?” he asks. “If I wanted you gone, you’d be gone. I did what I did because I thought it would be the best for you. I turned myself in to save you.”
Despite my pain, I search his face for signs that he’s lying but find none. He’s earnest. Sincere. As far as I can tell, he is telling the truth. I want to believe him. And so does my heart. “Zander, I need to know now…if you want to be with other women—”
“Never, Amory,” he says quickly. “The only obstacle standing between us being together has been taken care of. Childers. He was dirty. My lawyers and private investigators have been looking into him for months. He overplayed his hand by taking me in the way he did and now he’s the one who will be enjoying a cell. Now you and I can be together. Nothing can stop us.”
“I—I just want you to be sure,” I reply, my heart ready to spring from my chest.
“Sure?” he replies with a smile. “How sure do I look?”
I shrug, feeling more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt before. “I don’t know…”
Then, as if the shock of seeing him again wasn’t enough, Zander gets down on one knee before me. “How about now?”
Oh my God! Is this really happening? My body instantly starts to buzz with excitement. I’ve been pulled back and forth with such momentum today that I can’t believe my head’s still on. Is he seriously asking me to marry him?
“Marry me, Amory. I’m a better man with you. I need you. Marry me.”
Tears spill from my eyes, and I nod my head. “Yes, Zander. Yes!”
Instantly, I’m in his arms, my face in his chest, crying with happiness that pours through me, erasing any doubts or pain I had before. His arms are almost crushing me as he holds me tight like he was scared to lose me, and as the tears fall, I know, without a doubt, this is where I’m meant to be.
Epilogue
Zander
Five years later…
I never knew it was possible to feel so good watching a person you love be happy.
I’m grinning like a schoolboy as I watch Amory do the rounds at her first show, engaging with the large crowd that has come to see her work. After she quit her job, she went to art school and started painting full time. With a little help from me, she got over being shy and started posting her work online. People loved it. In fact, they loved it so much that Amory didn’t finish her final semester. She dropped out and started taking commissions.
She didn’t want me to pull strings to get her a show; she wanted to do it on her own and made sure I didn’t interfere because she knows that I would do anything to help her get what she wants.
No. My wife got here on her own, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Forbes printed an article on me after we got married. Everyone was skeptical of course and speculating what would happen to my companies when we got divorced. Most of the online bloggers and gossip sites gave us less than a year, with the high estimates around eighteen months.