Page 94 of Dirty Little Secrets
“Thank you.” Emery sits down on the bar stool and places her mug on the kitchen island, wincing as she sits down. I cast her a coy grin, and she rolls her eyes. “Oh, shut up. Don’t look so proud.”
I chuckle. “I haven’t said a word.”
“Uh-huh,” she chirps, pursing her lips.
I cock my head. “Don’t act like you’re not on cloud nine, Miss Jones.” I hold both of my hands up in the air. “Shall we count the number of times I made you come?” I lower my index finger. “One…”
She clicks her tongue, waving me off. “Grow up, Damon. Jesus.” She sighs, blowing into her tea. “So…” Emery nervously taps her nails against the ceramic mug. “What, uh… What happens now? Last night, you umm… You mentioned wanting to…leave Cavanaugh Industries. Were you serious about that?”
“Yes,” I say, straightening my posture. “I… I don’t think I’m what my company needs right now. The board… They’ve suggested I step down.” Her eyes widen. “It’s fine, Emery. I think this would be the best option for all parties.”
“But what about…” She clears her throat. “Will I still have a job?”
I frown, cocking my head. “Do you want a job, Emery? Do you want to work?”
She blinks. “Everyone needs to work, Damon. It’s called being an adult.”
I give her a gentle smile. Sometimes she can be so naive. “Simply because I won’t be the CEO anymore, Emery, doesn’t mean I’ll be broke. Based on my calculations, we’d have enough funds to live freely for the next four hundred years.”
She feigns a tiny scowl. “I’m not an idiot, Damon. I’m well aware of your financial blessings. Unfortunately, not everyone was born with a silver spoon glued to their tongue.”
“Wait here.”
She doesn’t get it. I sigh, leaving the kitchen for a second to retrieve an item that would show, once and for all, that she’ll never have to worry about money ever again. About anything ever again. I keep my hands behind my back as I reenter the kitchen.
Emery’s frown deepens as she studies me.
“I don’t like the look on your face right now,” she says warily. “What’s going on?”
“I…” My confidence wavers for a second as the gravity of my impending proclamation hits me. With a dry mouth, I slowly reveal the velvet box, and shock spreads across Emery’s fresh face.
“Damon.”
A thick lump forms at the back of my throat as my shaky fingers open the box. She draws in a sharp breath as she takes in the black diamond engagement ring—a perfect representation of my twisted love forher. The obsidian stone is rare and mystifying. Like Emery, it’s special, unique, and one of a kind. A black diamond isn’t for everyone. But it suits us. It suits her.
“I…” My tone grows hoarse as I meet her stunned gaze. “I know this is not the most conventional way to ask this question. But nothing about us is conventional.” I reach across the counter and take her hand in mine. She remains silent. Frozen. “I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Emery, and I’ll spend the rest of my life regaining your trust. You…” My voice wavers. “You have saved me, Emery. Before you, I was… I was lost. I was so fucking…sad.” She swallows. “But after you… After you, everything changed. I… I wanted to live again. I wanted to breathe again.”
“Damon…”
Resolve washes over me, and I spill my guts out to her. “Marry me, Emery. Take a chance and marry me. If you do…” I glance down at the ring. “I promise you will never have to sit in the darkness alone ever again.”
“Damon…” Emery takes a sharp breath and stands up. She places a hand over my beating chest, her voice low and gentle. “I think…” She stares at the ring. “Don’t you think you’re being a little rash? First your job, now this?” I hold my head up high, refusing to succumb to her hesitation. “This… This a lot of changes in a short period of time. Perhaps…”
I place my hand over hers and shake my head. “I know what I want, Emery. I know what my heart wants.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip, deep in thought before she finally speaks. “What you’re offering is alifetime, Damon. I…” She swallows. “I don’t have a lifetime to give you.”
She’s scared. It’s understandable. But she has no reason to be. All the logistics don’t matter. They’re an afterthought.
“Think about it, Emery,” I say, bringing her left hand up to my lips. “I don’t need an answer today. Or even tomorrow. Take as long as you need.” I glance down at the ring. “This offer is valid for as long as it takes.” She swallows, chest rising and falling, and I bring her into my arms, whispering in her ear. “I love you, Emery. Remember that when you give me your answer. I love you.” She doesn’t utter a word, merely stays cocooned in my embrace. Space. She needs space to think. I pull back, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m going to shower and then we can head back to the city. I have some business to take care of.”
“Okay,” she whispers in a timid tone, and I head toward the bathroom.
Before I turn down the hall, I pause, looking over my shoulder. Emery sits back down, her gaze glued to the velvet box. She simply stares at it. No movements. No sounds. Like she’s in a silent battle with herself. And then, slowly, she takes a deep breath and picks up the box. She holds it. Still staring.
I leave her with her thoughts, praying they align with my own.
“Stepping down?!”Javier roars, pacing back and forth in front of my desk. “Have you lost your fucking mind, Damon?”
