“I think I’ll still go for that one.”
Zane leaned against the glass jewellery cabinet and handled the small square case holding the diamond solitaire.
The helpful sales assistant smiled. Dressed in a navy-blue skirt and coat, she resembled a flight attendant. “She’s a lucky girl.”
He smiled back, and she blushed. If only you knew.
News of the trial had saturated the local media in Boston for weeks. No one with the Van Der Meeliko name would ever fly under the radar again. Ella had been cunning in her campaign. Being beautiful, smart and Australian had helped her win the sympathy vote. He’d kept track of the news from Brisbane, so it hadn’t surprised him when the first newspaper he picked up after arriving in Boston had featured a full-page photo of Ella on the front cover. If he told the sales attendant the truth about who he was, she would never believe him.
He was in the same Tiffany store from which his mother had purchased Ella’s baby bracelet. ‘Copley Place Mall, Boston’, the small hidden label beneath the satin cushion in the little blue box had read. He had a rough idea of Ella’s ring size, and this ring fit snugly on his little finger.
He’d rushed out of the courtroom in the middle of the upheaval to make it to his appointment. When scheduling it the day before, he’d honestly believed the hearing would still be in its early stages, and he’d clean forgotten to say anything to his mother. His mind was on a hundred other things—and doing this had been at the forefront.
With the trial over before it had begun, he wanted to give Ella the ring, tell her how much he loved her and ask her to marry him. His life had changed drastically when he’d met Ella. He might’ve sailed along for years, living comfortably in the bubble of his serene life, and his mother would’ve taken her secret to the grave if he hadn’t uncovered the truth. But he was relieved he knew it now. It filled the gaps that had hovered subconsciously in his mind. It answered the questions he’d never been able to ask. He felt complete. More importantly, it taught him the strength of forgiveness. His mother should’ve told him years ago. Had he reacted differently, it could’ve fractured their relationship. Instead, it made him stronger and more resilient. It was the reason he’d backed off and given Ella time and space to deal with the court case.
If he’d learned anything during this entire experience, it was that every person had a story. His father was the perfect example. It’d been gratifying to learn he wasn’t the monster his mother believed him to be. Zane had learned a lot from his father’s diary entries, and they’d helped his mother heal too. Now he only wished for calm, so their lives could return to some normality and so he could convince Ella that they were meant to be together.
He wished himself luck as he grimaced.
Zane sent a hasty message to his mother in reply to hers before turning off his phone. He wanted to concentrate on the job at hand. His decision, he hoped, would prove to be a positive step forward for him and Ella. They needed this after the traumatic turn of events these past months.
“Sir, can I show you this range?”
Zane chuckled and accepted her willingness to give him her attention for the full allotted hour. She tucked a stray strand of hair coming out of her neatly fashioned hairstyle as she waited for his reply.
Why not?
He nodded, humouring her. He wanted the diamond solitaire ring. Its raised single diamond signified for Zane that Ella was the single most important person to him. He didn’t want a cluster of small diamonds. It didn’t fit.
When he passed over the entire range but still pointed to the ring of choice sitting on the glass counter, the attendant conceded defeat and chuckled.
“Mr Peden, I see you’re determined. I won’t try to change your mind with any more selections.”
“Thank you. Your service has been excellent.”
Again, a slight blush touched her cheeks. He guessed the girl was only a few years out of school.
“She’ll love it, Mr Peden.”
Funny that. Not once had Zane considered what he’d do if Ella refused. He’d spent most of the flight over thinking about buying the ring and how he’d propose to her. He bypassed plan A and had gone straight to plan B. In order for it to go smoothly though, they had to be on speaking terms. Or at least not yelling at each other.
He clamped down on his jaw, hoping she would at least give him a chance. Surely, with her mother free to return home, nothing should stand in their way. Right?
As he watched the attendant return the jewellery to the secure glass cabinets, he considered the possibility of Ella saying no. Fear clutched at his chest for a few beats. He grunted before dismissing those thoughts to the back of his mind. Zane didn’t doubt that once the stress Ella had endured subsided, she would see reason and listen to him. Zane loved her, what else mattered? He’d given her space and had understood her reasons for needing it. The media campaign had made no secret of what she thought about her father. Surely, if she’d wanted Zane away from the turmoil, it meant her feelings hadn’t changed. That she cared. Why bother protecting him if they had?
He looked at his watch. His hour-long appointment was drawing to a close, and he itched to return the courtroom. He’d heard the exciting news as he’d sped out of there. It was the best possible outcome, but God help him, why had the bastard dragged them all through weeks of headaches only to change his mind? Zane shook his head. And at what cost? The tally included legal fees and living away from home costs—not to mention the mental and physical wellbeing of both Ella and her mother. He couldn’t wait to wrap Ella tightly in his arms. It was an astonishing result, and he would do everything possible to ease Ella back into her normal everyday life.
As he drew out his wallet, he eyed the new little blue box he was about to receive. Not much had changed about its design, except this one would be tied with a white ribbon. If there’d ever been a ribbon tied around the box resting in the zipped pocket of his jacket, then it had disappeared.
Nerves suddenly burst from his chest. First fear, now nerves. What the hell was going on? He truly believed Ella was the only one for him, his soul mate—he was prepared to stake his life on it. And what other use would he have for a rejected solitaire diamond ring?
With the transaction complete, Zane left the plush store and walked outside. He took a deep breath and tucked the new box in beside the old one. Well, you’ve gone and done it now. Let’s hope she bloody well loves you. He curved his lips up as a ray of sunlight, jostling between a pair of dark clouds, streamed over the street. It was time to ring his mother. She wouldn’t leave the courtroom unless Catherine knew she was there and ready to assist in any way—of that he was certain—so she would know where to find Catherine and Ella.
The familiar sound of incoming messages beeped when he switched on his phone. His mother had sent three, and he counted a couple of missed calls, too.
A frown etched his brow when he read the first one.
Ella has fainted and is on her way to hospital. Call me.
“What the hell?” He swiped the screen. In another message, his mother instructed him to take a cab to the hospital, and the address was provided in message number three.
He ran erratically, constantly on the lookout for an available cab as his heart continued to thump heavily. It didn’t take long to wave one down.
Forty-five minutes? Damn, why did I switch off my phone? That was when the messages had started. Forty-five minutes ago! Shit, shit, shit. I could’ve left town for all anyone knows.
For the entire twenty-minute ride to the hospital, he couldn’t come up with any excuse for disappearing without a trace. Damn. He thumped his thigh hard enough to make it bruise. Sometimes nothing went to plan.
He thrust money at the taxi driver and flung himself out of the cab, yelling a ‘thank you’ over his shoulder. Inside the hospital, he raced to the administration desk and asked for directions.
“Tenth floor, sir. The nursing staff can help you once you get there.”
Frustration clawed at him when he arrived at the bank of elevators. Every time he needed to ride in an elevator in this city, there was always pressure for it to arrive quickly, and even more pressure for him to get to the required floor. He was sure that these elevators were moving in slow motion—he groaned loud enough that other visitors turned his way.
When he finally arrived on the tenth floor and the doors opened, he sped out and heard Ella’s sweet voice. He came to an abrupt halt, metres away from the nurses’ station.
None too politely, she stood ramrod straight, her shoulders tensed to capacity. “There’s nothing wrong with me, and no, you do not need to jab that needle into my arm. I’m discharging myself, so stop badgering me.”
Zane didn’t catch what the nurse said, but he clearly heard Ella’s reply. “Send the account to my father, Thomas Van Der Meeliko.”
His mother stood by Ella’s side, though Catherine was nowhere to be seen. Ella and his mother turned to leave and both came to a sudden stop after almost colliding with him.
“Zane?” his mother questioned, her relief evident.
At the same time, Ella spoke his name, but it came out reproachful, her expression angry and hurt.
“Thank goodness you made it.” His mother’s worry lines disappeared from her forehead as she reached up to pat Ella’s arm.
“Why did you bother coming?” Ella retorted, her jaw straining so that every muscle on her face looked stretched and taut, as if ready to snap. She disengaged her arm from his mother’s touch and stormed off, striding past him towards the lifts.
Zane grabbed her upper arm and placed himself in front of her, their noses almost touching. “Oh, no, you don’t.”
She wasn’t going anywhere. Not until she explained. He wasn’t letting her temper get in the way of his plans.
No bloody fear.
Dark rings circled her eyes and her face was pinched with fatigue, but she wouldn’t meet his direct gaze. He’d be a stupid man to try to kiss her right now.
But that’s exactly what he wanted to do.