Page 35 of Ruthless Billionaire Daddy

I pulled out a velvet jewelry box from my jacket pocket. When I opened it, Delilah gasped. Sitting in the box was an engagement ring, a one-point-five carat, D-color Asscher-cut diamond. The center stone was embedded in a platinum band with a row of natural pink Argyle diamonds.

“I want you to wear this tonight,” I said, taking her left hand in mine.

“Sebastien, this is gorgeous,” she said breathlessly.

I felt her hand tremble as I placed the ring on her engagement finger. It was a perfect fit.

“Tonight, after the fundraiser, I’m going to announce our engagement, and I didn’t want it to come as a shock to you.”

“Okay.” Her gaze was still on the ring.

“Shall we?” I asked.

She nodded. I placed my hand on the small of her back where her soft skin was exposed, and I could feel myself growing hard. Tonight would test my self-control more than I ever imagined.

At seven p.m. when Delilah and I stepped into the ballroom of the Grand Seraphine, I paused. The ballroom was nothing less than exquisite. Serving staff, dressed in black and white, weaved through the guests as they trickled into the grand space, offering drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Tall tables elegantly draped in white clothes with crystal swan centerpieces dottedthe space. To the side, a spacious dance floor awaited as the soft music of a string quartet graced the stage. A banner on the far wall read, "Supporting Thompson’s Children’s Hospital Cancer Wing."

I leaned into Delilah.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” she asked, confused.

“For doing an amazing job at pulling this together.” I kissed her hand.

“My job isn’t finished yet. I’m still on the clock.” Then she added shyly, “See you later?”

“Definitely,” I smiled.

She smiled back and hurried off to talk to the serving staff while I mingled with the guests.

***

The fundraiser had been a hit, raising ten million dollars. My brothers and I each decided to match that donation, bringing the total to seventy million dollars. During the applause, I motioned for Delilah to come to my side.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce to you Ms. Delilah Malone, our senior event planner. Without her, this event wouldn’t have been as successful as it was tonight.”

The crowd applauded, and when the applause died down, I continued, “As we celebrate your generosity tonight, there is something else I’d like you to celebrate with me.”

The ballroom of the Grand Seraphine was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“There comes a time in a man’s life when a woman walks into it, changes everything, and he knows she’s the one.” I wrapped one arm around Delilah’s waist and pulled her close. Her hands were planted on my chest, and I spoke like she was the only one in the room. “She’s the one who has captured his heart, the one he’llprotecttill his dying breath, from anything andanyonewho’d try to hurt her, the one who completes him.” I paused and turned back to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have found that woman in Delilah, and tonight, I’d like to officially announce our engagement.”

The room erupted into loud cheers and thunderous applause as flashes from cameras blinded us. I leaned in and pressed my lips lightly on Delilah’s before pulling away, smiling for the crowd.

“Enjoy the rest of the evening!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brothers making a beeline in our direction. I leaned closer to Delilah, so only she would hear my next words. “My brothers are coming over. I don’t plan on telling them the real reason for our engagement. If you stay here, they’ll grill you.”

I kissed her once again, this time slower, before pulling away. “Go mingle, you’re off the clock,” I whispered. Delilah hurried off to a group of co-workers just as my brothers appeared.

“Is it just me, or does anyone else here think Sebastien doesn’t want Delilah hanging around us tonight?” Leo teased, chuckling as he patted me on the back. His broad palm covered my entire shoulder.

I decided to play along and rolled my eyes. “I know you guys, and you can be ruthless. Let her enjoy our engagementparty before you guys start dredging up embarrassing childhood memories.”

The others laughed.

“So this was an engagement party on the sly?” Vincent’s arms folded across his chest, and he lifted an eyebrow. “I should’ve guessed that something was up when you asked for all that media exposure.”

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