AllFreeNovel
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I’ve never really given relationships too much thought. I just figured that there would be plenty of time to worry about that sort of thing later. Never mind that I’m twenty-three and haven’teven really been in arelationshipbefore. Sure, there have been guys from time to time but nothing serious.
The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is paying back the Dominio family for all that they have given me, and becoming a famous seamstress with my own clothing line. Everything that doesn’t fit into that life plan sort of just got pushed aside.
Cristiano opens the door for me, and I step inside only to be greeted with the fanciest jewelry store I’ve ever seen. Not a single other customer is here. Rather, there are many little, individualized velvet-lined boxes filled with rings. They all seem far too large to fit properly on my hand.
Feelings of insecurity surface almost instantly. I freeze in the doorway. I would maybe feel less awkward if Ada were here. She always enjoys shopping in the upscale stores, when I only stare at the prices. She constantly assures me that she can get me anything I want, but I find it distasteful to have someone spend five grandor more on a purse as a gift. And overly extravagant.
Conveniently, these rings don’t have prices on them.
I don’t even own a string of pearls, let alonediamonds.
“Go ahead, take a look,” Cristiano places a warm hand on the small of my back to urge me forward, but I cannot budge. I can’t do it. The dimmed lighting in the store is specifically focused on the trays to make them all glitter.
“This is too much…” I mutter, feeling embarrassed that I even have to say such a thing.
“Nonsense. You have a role to play, remember? I can’t have my fiancée wearing something shoddy. It wouldn’t be right. Besides, you deserve so much more than an average ring, Maeve,” Cristiano winks just as the store’s owner comes out from the back with his arms raised.
“Mr. Dominio!” He breezes. He wears his dark brown hair slicked back and his large mustache is curled upward at the ends. His tailored navy blue suit is impeccable. Clearly, this shop does very well. The knot in my throat tightens further as my fists curl into my dress. The soft fabric is doing nothing to help the way my palms are sweating.
“Gerard!” Cristiano greets in his usual charming manner. He used to addressed the teachers by name in school too. I was obviously right in my assumption that it was some sort of bizarre power play. It works every time though. “Thank you so much for taking the time to open everything up for us today. I know it was last minute.”
“For you? No trouble at all.”
I wonder, absently, how many times Cristiano has had to purchase gifts for others that amount to this much money. Yes, his sister and mother own beautiful jewelry,but has he ever bought anythingfor other women? As far as I know, I have never seen him with anyone. Has he been keeping that aspect of his life hidden from me as well?
“Is this the lucky woman?” Gerard asks, heading toward me. I paste a bright smile on my face and greet the man happily despite how nervous I feel. “She is stunning, Mr. Dominio, truly.”
“Oh, I am well aware,” Cristiano smiles.
“You’ve presented me with a challenge then! It will be no easy feat to find a ring that will suit such a vibrant young woman!” Gerard grins and heads behind the counter after releasing my hand. He immediately puts two of the trays away and produces a third, even more elaborate one. The colors are breathtaking. I could easily match my outfit and half of my clothing with each ringon the tray. Vibrant diamonds encircled by pink and gold hues, while others feature rubies and pear-shaped gems set in remarkably intricate white gold with floral engravings. Yellow diamonds the size of one of my knuckles. Chocolate-colored diamonds and every stone in between are presented to me.
Why does he need to spend this kind of money on me? It’s just a fake engagement, after all. Just a ring for show. If something were to happen to one of these I would never be able to pay him back for the damages. I hate when people spend money on me. I don’t even like Ada buying me lunch. I want to pay my own way.
“Here, darling, look at these,” Cristiano waves me over, and the moment that I’m within reach of him he slips a hand around my waist and pulls me in closer to him. I’m sure that we look like the perfect couple in love. My eyes nearly boggle out of my head at the size of the stones.
“I-I can’t wear those!” I whisper under my breath.
“Of course, you can.”
“They are too much!” I whisper again.
He picks up a ring. “Here, give me your hand.”
I almost comply and catch myself. “Really, I can’t.”
Even if my stomach is doing loops and flips just thinking about wearing a ring that he’s given me.
I try to pull away, but he holds fast. “You have to choose one, or I can do it for you. But darling, if you don’t…”
He doesn’t need to finish what he’s about to say. I know how important it is to keep up appearances in this world. Ada has been lamenting about it for years.
“Alright, then. Perhaps—” He looks at the tray beside us and something makes him stop. After a quick look, I know why. A white gold Claddagh ring. A classic Irish band that seems to be ahighly ornate and jeweled replica of the one my father had given mymother and that shewore right up until the day she passed. Shecherished that ring, and I'm sad my father died before I could get to know him and the feelings they shared.
“That one, please Gerard,” Cristiano’s voice snaps me out of my trance. I can’t even summon the snark to fight him as he delicately lifts my hand. I feel like I’m floating up above my body, watching everything happening in slow motion. A soft smile spreads on Cristiano’s face as he starts to put the ring on my finger.
I can hardly take my eyes off of it. It’s perfect. If this were a real engagement, it is exactly the sort of thing I would choose for myself and he knows it.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper, mainly to myself. I can see Gerard sliding a paper toward Cristiano out of the corner of my eye, no doubt billing details, but I can’t seem to look away from the ring. I always hated that I wasn’t allowed to reclaim my mother’s after her autopsy. I don’t even know if the investigators simply lost it or if it was stolen.
