Page 2 of Until the Ink Dries

“Hmm. It’s rude to sit amongst company and be antisocial.”

“Mrs. Thompson, I’m not being antisocial. I’m choosing not to engage in conversation that bores me. I’ve never been one to talk for the sake of talking.”

She scoffed. “Then maybe you should find another table to sit at.”

I chuckled as I grabbed my clutch. “You’ve said nothing but a word.”

I pushed the chair back and stood to my feet. I didn’t want to be here, and I was over trying to please this old bitch. I could hear them mumbling as I walked away from the table. The bar was within reach when an arm slipped around my waist and pulled me back.

“You good, baby?” Ellis asked, spinning me around.

“I’ll be better once I have a drink.”

“How about you come with me? I have something for you.”

He didn’t give me a chance to protest before he was pulling me behind him through the sea of people. When I realized he was going for the stage, I tried to pull back.

“Ellis, what are you doing?” I asked.

“You’ll see.”

“Ellis, wait!”

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he continued to pull me toward the front. I clung to him for fear of tripping over my dress and falling flat on my face. He helped me up the steps and grabbed my hand as he made his way to the microphone.

“Excuse me. May I have everyone’s attention, please?”

The room settled and all eyes fell on us, including his mother. She held a scowl as she glared at me. I fought the urge to roll my eyes while on display for everyone to see.

“First, I want to thank you all for being here to celebrate the Thompson Family Charity Foundation’s annual benefit. Tonight’s contributions will go to so many families in need and that’s what we are all about… helping our community.”

As the crowd clapped in agreement, he looked over at me and smiled.

“Tonight is a special night for another reason, however. You see, I’ve had the pleasure of dating this beautiful woman here for two years. She is my perfect compliment, the light of my life, and I am so in love with her.”

I faked a smile as the crowd erupted in a sea of awwws. Inside, I was dying. I wanted nothing more than to run out of here.

“Willow Dawson, you are the woman of my dreams. I love you and I when I picture my future, I don’t see it with you as my girlfriend. I see it with you as my wife.”

Oh. My. God.

I screamed internally as he pulled a small box from his pocket and dropped down to one knee. Popping the box open, he presented me with a beautiful three carat, princess cut, diamond ring.

“Will you marry me, Willow? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

My ears were ringing. This couldn’t be happening. Not here. Not now. A deafening silence fell as he waited for me to answer. I couldn’t embarrass him like was unknowingly embarrassing me right now. Everyone that knew him was in attendance. He would never live it down if I said no and I would be known as the woman that publicly broke the great Ellis Thompson’s heart.

So… I did the only thing I could do.

I nodded my head yes. The crowd cheered and he was all smiles as he slipped the ring on my finger and stood to his feet. His hands came to the side of my face and his lips crashed into mine. He kissed me passionately in front of everyone while inside, I was trying to formulate the words I had to say to him.

When he pulled away, he thanked the attendees once again and we left the stage. The bombarding of congratulations was overwhelming. I put on a smile and said thank you repeatedly. The moment we got a breather, I turned to Ellis.

“Baby, can we go somewhere quiet?” I asked sweetly.

He had this look on his face like he thought he was about to get lucky. I was about to burst his bubble. He nodded and grabbed my hand, leading me out of the hotel’s ballroom. We found an empty room and ducked inside. The moment the door closed, he was on me, kissing me and gripping various parts of my body.

“I can’t wait to marry you…” he declared, trying to take my dress off.

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