Chapter 97: Chapter 97

"Come on, I'm starving," she tells me, and when Alfred opens the door, she steps out and I get out with her and as I walk to her, she takes my hand and we walked into the Grand square restaurant.

Once inside, we move to one of the empty chairs and take our seat and the waiter in a red jacket, white long sleeve and black trouser walks over to us, smiling happily.

"Good day, ma'am, Sir, may I take your orders?" He requests, handing us the two pen on the table as we pick up the menu on the table.

We tick and give it to him and nodding politely, he walks away.

"I remember the first time I came here, I came with Paris." she begins to speak with a calm and reserved tone, but a huge distance in her voice, "It was the day she was supposed to meet Rory for the time since they were mat he'd to get married. I knew I could not ever afford it and Rory did well reminding me of that fact that day." I see a bit of pain flicker in her eyes even as she says this and my hand on the table goes to gently squeeze hers and she looks at me and I smile.

"Well, you are here today Taylor because you decided to archive beyond anyone's expectations and for that, I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Keenan," she says and her face brightens up as a happy smile appears on it.

I want her to always be this happy and I wish I knew what would keep her happy always. I would have done it irrespective of what it'll cost me.

The waiter arrives with our orders, mine a simple Italian dish and Taylor spaghetti, seafood sauces and salad and a bottle of red wine and not saying much after that, we begin eating our food. I take note of how she delicately and uniquely eats her food and soon get lost while staring at her eat her food instead of eating mine.

If I say I want her, I'll just be downplaying it, I need her badly and I don't know how long I can take not having her and I don't care if she's going to cost me everything I have to finally have her 'cause she's worth it.

We finish eating and I clean my mouth with the napkin before dropping it down on the table.

"This definitely made up for the crazy day I've had." she tells me while she wipes her mouth with her napkin, "I followed your advice, I kept a positive mindset throughout the board meeting and I've got to say, it ended up being everything I'd expected if not more." her hand touches mine and shivers rushes down south in response, "You're my hero Keenan," she admits, and draws her hand away.

"Really?" I ask with a small laugh, sounding a little doubtful, but my heart melts on the inside.

She nods, her grey eyes showcasing the truth, "Yes, and that's why I want you to be happy."

I feel my heart leap in my chest and happiness cannot be compared to what I am feeling and I know there can never be another moment better than now to do this.

My hand on the table goes over to hers on the table where she'd just returned it to and slowly and intimately caress it and she locks her gaze in mine, silently questioning the reason for this intimate gesture.

This is my time, I tell her, I need to tell now, the time is perfect.

"I love you, Taylor and to tell you the truth, there's nothing I want more than to be able to be with you."

"Keenan-" she wants to say, but I shake my head.

"No,aw listen, love, I realized in the day I spent away from you that I cannot live or survive without you." I take her left hand up and lean forward to place a soft kiss on it and she stares at me silently. I pull out a paper from the inside pocket of my suit and set it on the table before her.

"What is this, Keenan?" Taylor asks in a whisper, as she glances at the contract before her and from the reddening of her cheek in embarrassment, I know she knows what I'm talking about, but I play along.

"Something I've always wanted to do. Taylor Snowfall, that before you is a marriage contract and if you sign it, you will legally become my wife," I pull out a black box in my pocket and flipping it open to display the ring, I move it to the side of the table where the contract is and she watches me. "so my question is will you marry me?"

This wasn't how I imagined my first proposal would be but it is what it is and I do not regret my decision now.

She stares at me like I'm crazy or insane. "Keenan, you're not serious are you?"

"I've never been more serious in my life," I reply, not understanding why she'd think I'll be joking about this.

Marriage for me is a serious commitment and I will not be entering it with just anyone, and Taylor isn't just anymore, she's the one.

The only one.

"Keenan, I love you," she begins to say and I seem to know her answer won't be the one I'm hoping for, "I'm not really what you want as a life partner." Her hand goes to the box in my hand and closes it and it feels like she just closed the door to her heart, "I'm sorry, Keenan, I can't marry you, I can't sign this." she closes the contract in front of her up and pushes it back a little.

My heart clenches tightly in my chest and my heartbeat zeroed down slowly and painful in my chest at her answer. Everything that happens the next few moments, I see them in slow motion and the rest words Taylor utters, I do not hear.

My world just crumbled before my eyes, I always thought that when she attains everything she wants, it would be the right time I thought being beside her and loving her all these years would make her choose me, but that's not enough.

"Keenan, say something."

I stare at her, not knowing what I'm supposed to say. "There's nothing to say, Taylor."

"Don't do that, we both know that what I'm saying is true." even though we both know it's the truth, hearing it from her felt like a piercing bullet to my wound and even when she does not intend them to, her words hurt so much.

My control is about to get lost, the control I've had on my emotions for so long and I hold them back along with my tears and I do that with the whole of my might. I close my eyes hoping that I will wake up from this terrible nightmare, but when I open them again, I realize it's reality.

I can't even imagine starting over with anyone that isn't Taylor, where do I even begin from? "We could work-" I begin to say, but she shakes her head and covers up her mouth, her eyes begging me to stop.

But I'm way past the stopping point and stop is almost like dying now.

"No, I'm not that wicked to put you through another year of pain or work. Keenan, you deserve better than that." tears well up in her eyes as she whimpered out.

"You don't have a clue of what it is I deserve," I say through gritted teeth, my hand balling into a tight fist.

If she did she would sign the goddamn contract!

She wipes the tear that runs down her face, and blinks the rest regaining her composure before speaking in a tone that comes out certain, "Well I know what I don't deserve and that's you, Keenan."

Third POV

The last thing Keenan expects after the horrible day, he is having is the news of Taylor rejecting his marriage proposal plastered on the media, but when he reaches his office, he saw few workers gossip and although he knows they are talking about him, he doesn't know what it was about, but he knows someone who might.

Keenan glances up from the document was working on as he hears the crack of the door. "May I come in, Sir?" Varisha asks, already poking her head-body through the door.

You can, although you're already in from the way I see it. Keenan almost answers back, but instead, "Yes, you may" he answers, beckoning to her to come in.

She closes the door and walks towards the seat with her eyes looking everywhere but at him. "You asked for me."

He drops the pen in his hand and folds his arms. "I saw some workers gossiping about me when I was coming in and yes I know employees are supposed to talk about their boss, but I can't help but wonder what it is about."

"I have no idea, sir," she replies, shaking her head so furiously Keenan realises she knew something.

"Spill, Vary, we both know how this is gonna end if you're just going to lie." he reminds her, pressing his lips together in a thin line.

With that, Vary realises there's no escaping this and her palms grow sweaty.