Page 130 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

She arched a brow. “A rooftop restaurant? That sounds suspiciously romantic.”

I grinned. “Maybe I’m just trying to butter you up so I can get a sneak peek at your manuscript.”

“Oh, please,” she said, nudging me as we turned the corner onto a quieter street. “Like I’d let you read it before it’s ready.”

“Hey, I’m the guy that gives you ideas.”

“Too many ideas,” she teased.

We continued to banter back and forth as we made our way through the winding streets, past stained walls and windows framed with lush greenery. We climbed the narrow staircase to the roof of the apartment we were staying in during our visit. Each step felt heavier, not from exhaustion but anticipation. I’d been planning this for months, and every detail had to be perfect. When we finally reached the top, I let her step out first.

Her gasp was everything I’d hoped for.

The rooftop was transformed into a private haven. A single table set for two was adorned with crisp white linens, candles, and a centerpiece of fresh flowers. String lights crisscrossed above. The panoramic view of Rome surrounded us, the city sprawling out in all its timeless glory.

“This… this is incredible,” Kaira breathed, spinning around to take it all in. Her eyes met mine, wide with wonder. “Roman, there’s no restaurant, is there?”

“Nope,” I said, stepping closer. “Just us.”

She laughed. “You really outdid yourself.”

I pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit. “Only the best for you.”

Dinner was a feast of Italian cuisine, each course better than the last served by a single server I had hired. We talked and laughed, reminiscing about our first meeting, the wild ride of our fake engagement, and everything that had brought us to this moment. The sun was setting, the heat of the day finally letting up. The city glowed all around us as if it were alive.

The server brought our last dish, a rich tiramisu. I nodded, letting him know his services were no longer needed.

She took her first bite and groaned. “Delicious,” she said, her eyes closed in appreciation. “Everything has been just perfect. I still can’t believe I’m here. With you. It’s magical.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” I said.

“Thank you for this,” she said earnestly. “For bringing me here, to Rome, to this moment.”

“It’s my pleasure,” I replied, squeezing her hand gently. “But there’s more.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “More?”

I reached into my pocket. My heart pounded, and for the first time in a long time, I felt nervous. But it was a good kind of nervous—the kind that came with knowing you were about to take a leap worth everything.

“Kaira,” I said, my voice calm despite the chaos in my chest.

She looked at me, her expression softening. “What is it?”

I stood, pushing my chair back. Slowly, I lowered myself onto one knee next to her. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she let out a tiny gasp.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

From my pocket, I pulled out the ring—the same one we’d used during our fake engagement. The irony wasn’t lost on me, but it felt right, like it had been waiting for this moment all along. It was a beautiful ring and it suited her. I had given it to her at the wrong time before, but now it was the right time.

“I know what you’re thinking,” I said. “The media is going to have a field day with this. They’ll dig up every photo, every headline, and dissect the whole thing. They’re going to assume this is another charade.”

She laughed. “It’ll be chaos.”

“Let them,” I said, holding her gaze. “Because for the first time, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. Kaira, you turned my life upside down in the best way. You taught me how to be better, how to feel again, and you loved me even when I didn’t deserve it. I can’t imagine a single day without you. So, here I am, asking you—no PR stunts, no contracts, just us—will you marry me?”

Her eyes shimmered with tears. She slid out of her chair and knelt in front of me, taking my face in her hands. “Roman,” she said, her voice breaking. “Yes. A million times yes. I was always going to marry you. You were always my happy ever after. I love that it wasn’t a straightforward journey to this point. I fell in love with you the first time at that auction, but that wasn’t the real thing. This is real. I love everything about you, even when you’re cranky. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Relief and elation crashed over me as I slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. It was finally back where it belonged. She threw her arms around my neck, and I pulled her close and kissed her.

We stayed like that for what felt like forever, wrapped in each other and the magic of the moment. When we finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, and her smile was unstoppable.

“You’re going to regret giving the media that much ammo,” she teased, holding up her hand to admire the ring.

“Not for a second,” I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Let them say what they want. I’ve got the only opinion that matters right here.”

Her laugh was pure joy. She kissed me again. “Let’s finish this tiramisu and then go downstairs. I’ve got some thoughts about how I would like to celebrate our engagement. I don’t want to risk getting kicked out of Rome, possibly Italy if someone in one of those windows happens to see us.”

I laughed. “Now you’re making me want to skip dessert.”

“Oh no,” she said as she picked up her fork. “I am not skipping one bite of this.”

This was it. My forever. And for the first time in my life, I felt complete. I was whole. I had a real future. I was finally getting the dream I never thought possible. The dream I never knew I wanted.

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