Read Online Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents) by Shamara Ray - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shamara Ray
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in his right one. “Melina Bradford, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Ellison Harlow III?”
A shallow breath caught in my throat. I put my hand to my chest and repeatedly nodded my head until I found my voice. “Yes,” I breathed out, “yes, I’ll marry you.”
Ellis slipped the ring on my finger. Clapping filled the room. Ellis stood up and pulled me into the circle of his arms, kissing me tenderly on the lips. I embraced him with all of my strength. He kissed me on the forehead, then brought my hand to his lips. I slowly became cognizant of the other people in the room, all of the smiling faces. Except for one. I couldn’t turn away from that one crooked, superficial smirk.
A server handed me a champagne flute. Once everyone had a glass in hand, Bebe raised hers for a toast. Daniella dashed into the room and stood next to her mother. She was tall, slim and towered over Bebe.
Bebe fixed her face with an almost-sincere smile. “Thank you all for being here tonight to share in this special moment. I would like to wish my son all the best and a future full of happiness.” Bebe moved the glass toward her lips.
Daniella grabbed the champagne glass from her mother. “We would also like to say welcome to the family, Melina.”
Ellis and I tapped our champagne glasses and sealed our toast with a kiss. Daniella came across the room and gave me, and then Ellis, a big hug. She took my hand in hers and examined my ring. “This is what I call an engagement ring. How many carats is this? Five? Six?”
Ellis laughed. “It’s something for you to set your standards by in the future.”
“Thank you for your toast, Daniella,” I said.
“I meant it. I’m so happy you’re going to be a part of our family.”
One by one, we were congratulated on our engagement. I waited for Bebe to come over, but she never did.
As Ellis drove us back to his home in Long Island, I could not stop gazing at my ring. Every time I looked away, the weight on my finger drew my attention back to it.
Ellis glimpsed at me. “Do you like it?”
“I absolutely love it.”
“Were you surprised?”
“Completely. I was prepared for dinner at Bebe’s, nothing more.”
“We were all anxiously awaiting your arrival.”
“Everyone knew about this?”
“Yes, the dinner party was for you.”
“A proposal was the last thing I was expecting tonight.”
“My parents were married for almost forty years. Since my father’s death, I’ve been thinking about the importance of marriage and family. I want us to share a wonderful life together. And you heard the advice, the words of wisdom, from everyone during dinner. These people have spent years together. They all want the best for us.”
“Not everybody,” I mumbled.
“You care to elaborate?”
“That was some toast your mother gave.”
“Mother wished us a future of happiness.”
“Bebe wished you happiness; she excluded me.”
“I’m sure it was an oversight, Lina.”
“She wants to have lunch with me next week.”
“Doesn’t that prove that Mother is welcoming you with open arms?”
“I suppose.”
Even though I didn’t believe that, now wasn’t the time to dispute it. I was reveling in the gleam of my diamond and not even Bebe could spoil my high.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MALIK
W e decided that I would pitch our first round of ideas to Donner. Kai sat next to me at the conference table, silently observing, while I explained our concept of using both real and animated drivers in the ads.
Mr. Donner scrutinized the last slide on the screen and read the tagline aloud. “ If you’re expecting to win a race with him as your driver, then you’re playing the wrong game . Hmm, a famous racecar driver referring to an animated graphic, I like it. I like it a lot. Malik, Kai, I think you’re on the right track. We’ll meet in two weeks to select the final ad we’ll present to Sphere
A shallow breath caught in my throat. I put my hand to my chest and repeatedly nodded my head until I found my voice. “Yes,” I breathed out, “yes, I’ll marry you.”
Ellis slipped the ring on my finger. Clapping filled the room. Ellis stood up and pulled me into the circle of his arms, kissing me tenderly on the lips. I embraced him with all of my strength. He kissed me on the forehead, then brought my hand to his lips. I slowly became cognizant of the other people in the room, all of the smiling faces. Except for one. I couldn’t turn away from that one crooked, superficial smirk.
A server handed me a champagne flute. Once everyone had a glass in hand, Bebe raised hers for a toast. Daniella dashed into the room and stood next to her mother. She was tall, slim and towered over Bebe.
Bebe fixed her face with an almost-sincere smile. “Thank you all for being here tonight to share in this special moment. I would like to wish my son all the best and a future full of happiness.” Bebe moved the glass toward her lips.
Daniella grabbed the champagne glass from her mother. “We would also like to say welcome to the family, Melina.”
Ellis and I tapped our champagne glasses and sealed our toast with a kiss. Daniella came across the room and gave me, and then Ellis, a big hug. She took my hand in hers and examined my ring. “This is what I call an engagement ring. How many carats is this? Five? Six?”
Ellis laughed. “It’s something for you to set your standards by in the future.”
“Thank you for your toast, Daniella,” I said.
“I meant it. I’m so happy you’re going to be a part of our family.”
One by one, we were congratulated on our engagement. I waited for Bebe to come over, but she never did.
As Ellis drove us back to his home in Long Island, I could not stop gazing at my ring. Every time I looked away, the weight on my finger drew my attention back to it.
Ellis glimpsed at me. “Do you like it?”
“I absolutely love it.”
“Were you surprised?”
“Completely. I was prepared for dinner at Bebe’s, nothing more.”
“We were all anxiously awaiting your arrival.”
“Everyone knew about this?”
“Yes, the dinner party was for you.”
“A proposal was the last thing I was expecting tonight.”
“My parents were married for almost forty years. Since my father’s death, I’ve been thinking about the importance of marriage and family. I want us to share a wonderful life together. And you heard the advice, the words of wisdom, from everyone during dinner. These people have spent years together. They all want the best for us.”
“Not everybody,” I mumbled.
“You care to elaborate?”
“That was some toast your mother gave.”
“Mother wished us a future of happiness.”
“Bebe wished you happiness; she excluded me.”
“I’m sure it was an oversight, Lina.”
“She wants to have lunch with me next week.”
“Doesn’t that prove that Mother is welcoming you with open arms?”
“I suppose.”
Even though I didn’t believe that, now wasn’t the time to dispute it. I was reveling in the gleam of my diamond and not even Bebe could spoil my high.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MALIK
W e decided that I would pitch our first round of ideas to Donner. Kai sat next to me at the conference table, silently observing, while I explained our concept of using both real and animated drivers in the ads.
Mr. Donner scrutinized the last slide on the screen and read the tagline aloud. “ If you’re expecting to win a race with him as your driver, then you’re playing the wrong game . Hmm, a famous racecar driver referring to an animated graphic, I like it. I like it a lot. Malik, Kai, I think you’re on the right track. We’ll meet in two weeks to select the final ad we’ll present to Sphere
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