Chapter 9 - The Proposal at the Tower
Two months later, Autumn arrived in Manhattan, painting Central Park in fiery shades of gold, amber, and red.
Grant had closed the entire top floor of the 30 Rockefeller Plaza restaurant for a private evening event. High above the glittering lights of the city, soft piano music played in the background, and thousands of white roses filled the room.
Elena stepped out of the elevator wearing a stunning emerald green silk gown that accentuated every curve of her delicate frame. Her hair was styled in soft, glamorous waves, and she looked like royalty.
Grant stood by the window wearing a sharp black tuxedo, holding a small velvet box in his jacket pocket.
“Grant,” Elena said softly, walking across the marble floor. “Why did you rent out this entire floor? Is there a corporate celebration tonight?”
Grant walked toward her, taking both of her hands in his.
“No, Elena,” Grant said, his gray eyes shining with intense, undeniable love. “There’s no corporate event. Tonight is about us.”
He led her to the glass window, where the city spread out beneath them like a carpet of diamonds.
“Three months ago,” Grant said softly, holding her hands tightly against his chest, “I was a man who thought success meant stock prices, asset growth, and winning boardroom battles. I thought my life was complete.”
He looked down into her dark, beautiful eyes.
“Then I met a little girl outside a school gate who asked me to lie for her,” Grant continued, his voice trembling slightly with emotion. “And when I walked into that cafeteria and saw you, I realized that I had been living in a cold, empty house my entire life.”
Grant slowly dropped to one knee on the polished floor.
Elena gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, tears instantly rising in her eyes.
Grant opened the velvet box, revealing a breathtaking four-carat cushion-cut diamond ring that caught the sparkling light of the chandeliers.
“Elena Collins,” Grant said, his voice echoing cleanly through the quiet room. “I don't want to pretend to be Mila’s dad anymore. I want to be her father forever. And I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you never have to stand alone at any table ever again.”
He looked up at her with his entire soul visible in his gray eyes.
“Will you marry me?”
From behind a flower arrangement near the entrance, a tiny voice shouted before Elena could even speak:
“Say yes, Mom! Say yes!”
Mila ran out from her hiding spot, wearing a matching tiny emerald dress, clapping her hands with frantic joy.
Elena let out a happy, tearful laugh, dropping to her knees right in front of Grant, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his in a deep, passionate, breathtaking kiss.
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“Yes!” Elena wept softly against his cheek. “Yes, Grant! A thousand times yes!”
Grant wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, while Mila jumped onto their lap, throwing her arms around both of them in a massive, warm hug high above the city skyline.
