Chapter 54: Chapter 54

"Oh. My. God!" I couldn't hide the expression of surprise and excitement on my face. Opening the doors to that studio was like stumbling upon paradise. A huge grin was plastered on my face as I surveyed everything around me. That place was amazing!

My paintings were harmoniously displayed on every wall of that room under a covering. The panels, the easels, the original paints, the various types of brushes that I never imagined I could touch one day... Everything! Exactly everything that an artist needed was there.

If the human ability to feel pleasure fit not only in the sexual sense, but in any scenario of excitement, I would say I was having an orgasm of happiness right there.

"This is simply incredible, Joshua!" Leaning against the door, with his arms crossed and a satisfied smile on his face, Joshua watched me.

"Every artist needs their space."

I froze as soon as I saw Joshua's smile expand.

"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"It's yours."

"What?!" My eyes automatically widened. "You're not serious... are you?"

Joshua stepped away from the door and approached me slowly. In a soft and majestic touch, he slid his right hand through a strand of my hair, putting it behind my ear. And warmly, he analyzed my face.

"Happy early birthday."

"Joshua..." I murmured.

"We couldn't celebrate properly last time. So... I want to make up for it this year."

"But you didn't have to..." I glanced at the studio. "Give me all of this."

"I want you to follow your dream. And... It's a birthday present. You can't refuse." He said cunningly.

I rolled my eyes and ended up letting out a laugh.

"Really. I want to do for you what they did for me. If it wasn't for... My best friend, I would never have gotten where I am." He moistened his lips, seeming to still feel the loss of his friend, even though it had been a few years.

I slid my hands down to his waist and pulled him against my body, hugging him. I buried my face in his chest, feeling the warm scent of fabric softener and his intoxicating cologne.

"I'll accept. But, with one condition." I paused, setting up a mystery. "That you let me paint you. Naked."

I raised my head up, with a mischievous smile on my lips.

"What?!" He laughed. "Do you want to expose my body, Miss Collins?"

"Of course not. I want to keep something to remember you by."

"And it has to be my naked body?"

"That's how you are in my head right now." I said slyly.

Joshua couldn't contain himself and laughed again.

“Ok...” His hands descend to my waist, and tilting his head a little, he kisses me. “But, this...” He says against my lips, breaking our kiss. “I'll only accept it because you promised to draw something for me. And a promise is a debt.”

I remember when we had a real conversation for the first time, where I promised to draw him something. It was the same day I met Gregory. And Gregory, I miss him...

So many things happened after that day... And the last thing that would have crossed my mind at that time was getting involved with Joshua. And look where we are now.

"There's something I want to show you, and you're going to find it incredible."

"And can it get any more incredible than this?" I whispered, admiring his face.

"What do you define as incredible?" A familiar British accent echoes from the entrance of the studio.

I recognized that British accent.

I lean to the side and see Gregory. I freeze, shocked.

"No way!" My enthusiastic smile resurfaces.

Joshua moves aside, giving me a broader view of Gregory. I run towards him, hugging him tightly.

"I can't believe it! You're really here?"

"Thanks to your boyfriend." He hugs me back.

"And it's not just him." Hannah also enters the studio, followed by Nathan.

"Oh. My. God!" I almost go into shock seeing the three of them there.

I step back from Gregory and hug Hannah and then Nathan.

"How... How did you guys... By the way, when?" I ask, surprised.

"We arrived yesterday." Hannah answers.

"Joshua brought us with him." Gregory adds.

I glance at Joshua, unable to contain my silly grin.

"We knew your birthday was coming up. And... we were trying to find a way to celebrate it in a better way than last year." Gregory says.

"And then, Joshua appeared. And talked about us coming here. And... we didn't hesitate to accept." Hannah completes.

"It's so good to see you, Ali." Nathan shows an excited smile on his lips.

"I was dying to see you guys." I say, feeling tears sliding down my cheeks.

"Tell me about it. We were also dying to see you." Gregory hugs me again.

"It's too much emotion for my heart." I babble against his chest, making everyone laugh.

"But, let's not ruin the makeup with tears, ok? We have a celebration to make!" He touches my cheeks with his thumbs, wiping away my tears.

"And speaking of that, I think we should go." Nathan warns.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Surprise, darling." Gregory winks.

"Another surprise?" I grumble. "How many surprises are left? You guys are going to kill me this way." I complain.

"As many as necessary, you complainer." He retorts.

I roll my eyes. Joshua's phone rings, pulling my attention to him.

"Okay," he says on the phone, then ends the short call. "You guys will have to go ahead."

"Why? What happened?" I ask worriedly.

"There were some problems at the hotel where I'm staying, but nothing serious. Just a mix-up of surnames," he approaches me and kisses my forehead. "I'll see you in a bit," Joshua says and walks out of the studio.

I cross my arms, intrigued. What could have happened?

"Then, I think we should go," Gregory says.

"Did you find it strange that he ran off like that?" I inquire.

The three of them shrug simultaneously. I narrow my eyes, curious.

"I didn't find anything strange," Hannah replies.

"Me neither," Nathan says immediately.

"He's probably just in a hurry to resolve this matter quickly and be free to spend the day with you," Gregory adds.

But something was strange about those three. They seemed nervous, as if they were hiding something.

"You guys are acting weird."

"It's just your impression," the three of them respond in unison.

"We're just hungry, Alice. And... I think we should go before the place fills up," Nathan says.

"Nathan is right," Gregory puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me out of the studio.

"And you're going to love the place we're going!" Hannah walks alongside us.

We get on the elevator.

"It's the best restaurant. I worked there for a while before I was fired for flirting with the manager," Nathan comments and ends up eliciting a laugh from me.

"I can't believe it!" I try to contain the persistent laughter.

"Don't laugh at my misfortune, Alice! She seemed like she was interested in me, so... I thought something could happen. But in reality, she just wanted me to do things for her."

"That's what you get for thinking everyone is into you," Gregory laughs.

"But they really seem like it!"

We continue to make fun of Nathan and leave the building, heading to a car parked in front of the studio.

***

"I thought it was a restaurant," I contest as soon as Nathan stops the car at the entrance of a country house.

"We said it was a surprise. What fun would it be if we told you the truth?" Gregory says slyly.

"You guys are really weird today," I contest, shaking my head.

As we enter the location, Nathan parks the car. Hannah exits through a door on the passenger side and I exit through the other, followed by Gregory and Nathan.

In compensation, the place was simply amazing. The green lawn gave a nature feel to that country house. And I couldn't help but notice an extensive swimming pool a little ahead, and a trail that was exuberantly well-decorated with some white roses, leading towards the country house's kiosk.

We approached, and right away, something surprisingly catches my attention. My family was here.

"Mother? Father? Aunt Ana?" I looked at them and my sisters, intrigued. What are they doing here? And how did they get here before us and know about this place? "How did you get here?"

"By car, of course," my mother shrugged, stating the obvious.

"But what are you doing here? I mean... How did you know we were coming here? Did Nathan tell you?" I asked, confused.

"I have nothing to do with it," Nathan raised his hands in defense.

"Then how? Did Joshua not tell you about it?"

My mother sighed. "Why so many questions, Alice?" She raised an eyebrow. "Breathe. Everything in its own time."

"I'm confused! Can someone explain to me what's going on? Because... This surprise thing is killing me." I gave a nervous smile.

"Alice?"

My gaze automatically slid to the side, toward the voice. It was impossible to forget that voice. "Mr. Scott?" My body stiffened.

I watched the man who had been my boss for three long years. Seeing him there, along with his wife, twins, and Susanna, made my brain spin.

"Seriously, can someone explain to me what's going on here? Because my brain just exploded." They both laughed at my comment.

"And you don't even know what's coming," Gregory whispered in my ear. I looked up at him confused. "I believe it will be the best birthday present."

"Is there more?" I frowned, and he nodded.

Slowly, Gregory turned me toward another place where the trail we had followed to the kiosk led. It led to a round gazebo a few meters away from where we were.

My heart almost stopped as I saw Joshua leaning against the wooden column of the gazebo. "Go there," Gregory said in my ear.

I took a deep breath, trying to contain the wave of emotions that was consuming my body. Slowly, I walked over to him. I could feel my blood pulsing intensely. My cheeks were burning. And seeing him there, approaching me and noticing a small red velvet box in his hands, made my heart race.

"Joshua," I whispered as I entered the gazebo and stood face to face with him. I heard footsteps behind us. I quickly deduced that everyone was watching us.

His hand slid to mine. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment," he said, a charming and shy smile on his lips. "For months, I've imagined this moment. I made so many plans that... I ended up giving up on half of them because I thought they weren't perfect. Because... I could only think of how perfect you are for me."

And there I was, crying again. I couldn't contain the smile, a smile enveloped in tears of happiness. Oh, how I loved him...

"You're beautiful, fun, and a great companion. Sometimes even suspicious," he chuckled, making our families laugh together. I remembered the day I almost freaked out suspecting him. What a day... "And... my heart beats faster every time I see you, including now."

And, romantically, Joshua knelt down.

“Alice Montenegro Collins, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met." His eyes shone as he said each word. "Will you marry me?"

Joshua opens the velvet box, revealing a beautiful diamond ring. Automatically, I bring my hand to my mouth, emotional. I couldn't believe this was really happening.

"Yes. Yes!" I say without hesitation.

Joshua's smile expands. And gently, he puts the engagement ring on my finger. Getting up from the ground, I jump into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"I love you so much," he says against my neck.

"I love you too!"

I hear our families and friends celebrating. Now, I was engaged. Engaged to Joshua Scott.

***

I looked delightedly at the engagement ring on my ring finger. The shiny stone surrounded by smaller ones that wrapped around the ring's body was simply perfect. I didn't imagine that I had achieved some of the things I had dreamed of one day.

"Alice," I see Susanna approach the edge of the pool where I was sitting, waiting for Joshua to return from the kiosk. "I wanted to congratulate you. I know we have some differences, and ... that I did something I shouldn't have done. But... I saw that you are really the best for Joshua."

"It's okay, your brother had just been shot. You were only concerned about him. Anyone would do that in your place."

"I know. I think I went too far. But now, that girl won't bother anymore. She's finally arrested."

Knowing that was an immense relief.

"Anyway, I hope that someday we can be friends, since... we became sisters-in-law." She smiles timidly.

"Sure," I return her smile.

Susanna says goodbye, and Joshua returns. He hands me a glass of juice.

As Joshua sat next to me, I watched the kiosk. I saw my father with a smile on his face, chatting happily and laughing uncontrollably, completely different from this morning.

"What did you do for my father to accept our marriage?"

"He just feared that I didn't want anything serious with you. And after I said I was going to propose to you today, he calmed down."

So, that's what Joshua wanted to talk to him about when he came to pick me up at home.

"You managed to bring them all together," I say with a silly smile, watching our entire family and my friends having fun together.

"I have to admit, it was a huge job to bring everyone together. But... it was worth it. I received the best reward I could receive."

I look back at Joshua. He looked at me lovingly.

"And what would that be?" I pretended to have no idea what he was talking about.

"You." As he said that, he approached our lips, giving me a lingering kiss.

Some people say that love is often right under our noses, in that someone you least expect. But others say that love cannot be found anywhere, because you have to allow yourself to love. And there are those who believe in destiny. When you are destined for someone, no matter how much time passes, the two will find each other.

And now, I am fully convinced that the latter fits perfectly into the story I have built with Joshua. I was always destined for him.

Because, even despite all the turbulence we faced, we will now become one.

The end.