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Sophia extended her hand and said, “It's nice to finally meet you, Natalie. Ethan has told me so much about you.”
Natalie smiled and shook her hand in return.
My sister turned her attention back to me, her expression growing serious. “Ethan, we need to discuss the Whitmore deal. He’s pushing to cancel the contract since the property owner didn’t disclose the new restrictions on the land. Whitmore thinks we should get his deposit back.”
I frowned, taking in the information. “I understand where Whitmore’s coming from, but I still think we should wait. Natalie’s parents might be able to help with the restrictions. If we can resolve that, hopefully we can close the deal.”
Sophia glanced at Natalie, clearly curious. “You think they can help?”
Natalie nodded. “I spoke with them this morning. It’s not a sure thing, but they’re optimistic. It’s worth waiting to see what they can do.”
Sophia considered this for a moment before nodding. “Alright. We can hold off for now, but we’ll need to move quickly once we know more. Whitmore is already getting antsy.”
I nodded in agreement. “Ava,” I called to my sister’s assistant, who had just entered the room, “I need you to arrange for Natalie and me to fly to Washington, D.C., today. We’ll need accommodations and everything set up for our meetings.”
Ava’s eyes flicked to Natalie, her gaze filled with curiosity and intrigue. “Of course, Mr. Sterling. I’ll take care of it right away.” She offered Natalie a polite yet professional smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…”
“Natalie,” I said smoothly, stepping forward to join them. “My beautiful fiancée.”
The word “fiancée” hung in the air for a moment, and I saw Natalie’s eyes widen in surprise. She gasped softly, her hand instinctively flying to her mouth as she processed what I had just said. Her cheeks flushed, a mix of shock and something else—something that made my heart race.
Sophia's eyebrows arched in amusement, a playful grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "Fiancée, huh? Where's the ring?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she playfully prodded us.
Natalie blushed even deeper. Her cheeks were now a vibrant pink as she glanced down at her left hand. “We… we haven’t had time to shop yet,” she teased with a shy smile, her voice a little breathless.
She nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement as we left the office. As we walked towards the waiting limousine, I felt the gravity of two worlds on my shoulders—the one with Natalie and the one with Sterling Solutions. But for now, all that mattered was making sure Natalie felt comfortable and included in every step of our journey.
With a playful smile, Natalie teased, "So, is this how billionaires propose? By casually dropping the word 'fiancée' in conversation?"
I chuckled, intertwining my fingers with hers. "Perhaps. But what truly matters is that you agree.”
She squeezed my hand, her smile brightening even more. "Yes. Yes. I agree.”
And with that simple affirmation, we headed to the airport, ready to face whatever awaited us in Washington D.C., hand in hand.
The drive to the airport was smooth, with the city streets gradually giving way to the sprawling expanse of the terminal. My driver dropped us off and quickly gathered the bags we had packed this morning. He followed us into the private terminal, his footsteps echoing in the sleek, modern space. The design and amenities were a stark contrast to the simplicity of Cedar Cove, and I could see Natalie taking it all in with wide eyes.
As we stood in the private hangar, my heart raced with anticipation. I took her hand in mine and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Natalie," I whispered, pulling out a small velvet box from my pocket and opening it to reveal a stunning vintage ring. "This belonged to my mother. She gave it to me before she passed, and I've been waiting for the perfect moment to give it to the woman I love and want to spend my life with."
Tears welled up in Natalie's eyes as she reached out to touch the ring. "Ethan, it's more than I could have ever imagined. But when did you..."
I smiled, taking her other hand in mine. "I've had it for years, just waiting for you. And if you want something different, I'm happy to have it reset or get something entirely new."
As her smile spread from ear to ear, it lit up every corner of the hangar. The joy in her eyes was palpable, and I knew that this moment would be etched in my memory forever. Natalie shook her head in disbelief, her voice thick with emotion. "No, Ethan. It's perfect just the way it is. I love it."
My heart swelled with love and relief as I watched her admire the ring. Then, trembling a little, I reached for her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. "Natalie," I said, my voice filled with sincerity and conviction, "will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she nodded eagerly, a radiant smile breaking through. "Yes, Ethan. I'll marry you." At that moment, as we embraced each other tightly, I knew this was only the beginning of our forever together.
We sealed our promise with a kiss, the world around us fading as we focused on each other. As we boarded the jet and settled into our seats, I couldn’t help but admire the ring on her finger. No matter what awaited us in D.C., I knew we were in this together.
Soon, the jet’s engines roared to life, and we were off, leaving behind the familiar and heading toward the unknown.
As our plane approached Reagan International, I glanced over at Natalie, staring out the window, taking in the sights of Washington, D.C. The city sprawled out beneath us, a mix of historic monuments and modern architecture, and I could sense her anticipation growing.
Once we landed, the driver was waiting for us as we disembarked from the plane. He quickly retrieved our bags, and we headed towards the waiting limousine. As we settled into the back seat, Natalie’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and smiled as she read the message. “It’s my mom,” she said, looking up at me. “She says we should come to their house. They have plenty of room for us.”
