RANSOM GIFT: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Commanding Proposal, Hidden Proposal, Ransom Proposal) (10 page)

Chapter 4

We’re heading towards the Barajas airport for our flight to
Charles de Gaulle. It’ll be a short flight, so we’re not really worried of anything. We’ll be in France in no time.

Dad sent his assistant with us because apparently, he was the one who has set up most of everything that we’ll need here.

I, personally, was preparing myself for something not normal that my dad has prepared for us. I just knew that it’s going to be really unusual.

After couple of hours in the plane, we’ve finally landed. We’re set to head towards our service when a valet parking service handed over a key to a red Aston Martin’s Volante. I don’t know so much about cars, but I’ve seen it once in a magazine, and I automatically fell in love with it.

Wow! Seeing that car, and thinking that hot car was our service from airport to our home gave me chills. I knew dad was up to something, but I never expected it to be extravagant. I’ve imagined a simple house with good fencing and stuff. Well at least that’s how I’ve always pictured Paris—full of colorful little apartments.

              “Mr. Miller, this is the key to your car. You have your name in its title.” Our ever dashing assistant informed Gary.

Wait, did he say it’s Gary’s? What the fuck? That’s so awesome and exaggerated.

I rushed to glance at Gary, and he was freaking shocked. Well, it was very understandable for me. He doesn’t even a car. Well, although he knows how to drive, he has never had a chance to get one.

              “Sir… here’s your key.”

Gary wasn’t taking it, and I don’t think he’ll be able to move for a couple of few seconds more, so I took it in his behalf.

              “But that one’s a two-seater, where are you going to ride?” I asked.

              “Oh, Ms. Kristina, this is as far as I could get. The address is inside the car, and since it’s pretty easy to spot, you’re father has messaged me to go back as soon as I can for an emergency meeting. My flight’s within thirty minutes.” He said.

Awww… Poor guy…

             
“Oh, in that case, thank you so much.” I said in behalf of the both of us.

Once he was out of sight, I looked at Gary, who’s staring clear to his new car. I suddenly felt scared of his reaction.

              “Baby…” I whispered, calling out for his attention.

              “Do you think dad thought I was up for your money?” He suddenly asked.

I knew it! I just knew that when I had this unusual fear, his mind is formulating its own hypothesis.

              “What? No! I think he wanted to give you the best things because he treats you like a son.” I stated a fact.

Well, welcome to my life.
“Just accept it. He’s old, and we certainly don’t want to cause him some heart aches, do we?”

He shook his head. “You’re right. But this thing’s just not me.” He shared his sentiments.

              “I know, baby, but dad might be saddened if you refuse to take this.” I said. “Besides, you’ll be able to repay him once you start working in the company, so think of all these as an investment.” I tried to cleanse his thoughts and mind.

I knew in my mind that he’ll get used to all these, but my heart secretly fears that he might get consumed by great overwhelming stuff, and it might either change him or break him.

              “So, shall we go?” I asked him.

              “I hope the instructions are in English.” He started to cool down a little.

We hopped inside the car, and Gary pulled us out, and we drove. We checked out his school first, and then we headed out to this single-family home that was instructed in the paper inside this brown envelope. It has the address in a small white paper, the lease of the house and some special instructions like our girl Friday, etc.

We followed the instructions, and it was indeed easy to find. But holy cow, the house wasn’t simple. It’s spacious, glassy and equal parts sophisticated and artistic.

Entering the house was divine. More like, very welcoming and cozy. But wait until you enter the main door. God, the living room was perfect! The walls have unison in color, which was white, and it has successfully accentuated every single thing in the living room—from the furniture to every framed decor. It was absolutely amazing!

The kitchen was more like the best thing ever! It suits the both of us. The theme, the paintings and abstracts on the wall, its every corner was perfect for the both of us since we’re painters.

But on the second floor was the best of all the rest—our bedroom. I felt like we’re about to christen something again.
Oh, no… No, no, no…
I wasn’t ready for that yet. It’s too soon, but I was so sure that he’ll understand my reasons. I felt like he’s also feeling the same way.

Gary was obviously shocked by all these things in his name. “I mean, I knew my whole life was going to change when you became mine, but not like this.” He said.

Has his face looked like as if he won the lottery, I might doubt if I really knew him. But his face was genuinely grossed out. And somehow, it made me felt assured.
No, I didn’t think he’s after our money. But I don’t want anyone to judge him wrongly. Also, I wasn’t threatened by the idea that all these might attract women towards him, no. I was absolutely sure of my man’s loyalty as he’s sure with mine.

I’ve set everything as he’s figuring out how to use his MacBook. Apparently, there’s more that dad has prepared for him. Aside from his high-end laptop, he’s got all he needs for painting, a new phone that was once again, an Apple product, he’s got his life-size canvasses, and
he’s got me
.
Yep, I’m the most precious of them all.
I giggled at my own thought.

              “Baby, can you help me with this, please? It’s really not my gift.” He admitted.

I wanted to laugh because he was struggling with the copy paste in MacBook, but I didn’t want to insult him or make him feel down.
No, that’s the last thing in this world that I would do.

After teaching him some few techniques, “thank you so much, babe.” He said.

I smiled at him, and he cupped my face with one hand, and he slowly pulled my face closer his, and he gave me a kiss.

It felt so divine, it tasted so heavenly. I love him so much. Him alone… Just him… He’s all I’ve ever wanted and more.

              “Enough of this, I’ll check it out later. Do you want to eat outside and stroll?” He asked.

Get out of my soul, babe!
“Totally…” I answered him with so much enthusiasm. I felt like a little child with so many things going on in her head, but rejecting this amazing offer wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t that dumb.

So I headed to our room, and I was still overwhelmed by how big our house was. I changed into something mobile, and I went down with a pair of my sneakers on my feet. I saw him ready to go, waiting at the front door while staring intently to the front yard of the house. Pretty sure, he’s been overwhelmed by our mini garden/exclusive mini park, and so was I.

              “Gary.” I called out his name.

He turned to face me, and he was enjoying what he sees. “You look amazing.” He complimented me.
I was just so glad that he’s still the Gary I came to know and love. I felt like all these fancy things are already eating him up.
I shook away the frightening thought, and I walked towards him.

              “Ready?” He asked.

I excitedly nodded my head. He took me by the hand, locked the front door and we went on our way.

The streets were so peaceful, and everyone seemed to be warm even if everyone was busy doing their thing. It’s nice because then we got to enjoy the whole neighborhood. We had such long walks, but it was fun checking out every corner of Paris.

We found this small restaurant that seemed like it just sprung out of the walls when we walked by. It’s small, but very cozy. It kind of reminded me of that one Clemente and I used to go in Spain. But of course, there’s no way I was going to think of him right now.

We’ve both decided to just take a seat outside of the restaurant since there’s this table with proper shading from an orange umbrella. It seemed pretty decent, small and the food looked ravishing. It’s settled then, we ordered our food.

I had their signature pasta with meatballs, garlic bread, and gelato. While Gary had the same plus two slices of pizza. We started to eat, and the food was so divine. It’s good thing that we chose the restaurant because I could finally say that I had the best meatballs pasta in the streets of Paris. It was so good, and I was so sure that there’s no way that any other recipe was better than the one I had.

              “Oh, this is so good!” I exclaimed to Gary.

He smiled at me while positively nodding his head, and he wiped the sauce stain behind his lips before he said another word, “I agree with you, babe”.

              “Do you think they’ll tell me how they made this if I ask them?” I stupidly asked.

He laughed, and he placed his hand on my hair. “No, I don’t think so, hon.” He said.

I faked a sad face, and I frowned. “That’s too bad.”

              “Tell you what, I can try and make this for dinner. But I can’t promise anything.” He said.

My face lightened as if a morning dawn was centered solely to it. “Really, you’d do that?” I asked him.

              “Anything for you, Kristina… I thought you already know that.”

I blushed, and he leaned over to give me a soft and quick kiss on my lips.

Can it get any better than this?

Chapter 5

              “Babe, come and taste this.” Gary called out to me from the kitchen counter.

I rushed to where he was like a little kid, and I saw him waiting for me with this wooden spatula in his hand.
OMG! He’s done with the sauce!
I leaned over to allow him to feed me that very little serving of his pasta sauce replica. I tasted it.

              “Oh, my goodness, babe… How’d you do that?” I asked him with so much confusion going on in my face.

              “You like it?” He asked with a grin.

Boy did I like it!
It tasted exactly like that of the restaurant we dined in. It tasted so good. But how on Earth did he do that?

              “How did you that?”

              “Do what?” He asked.

              “You got the exact recipe.”

He smiled at me. “I was just inspired.” He said.

My face automatically curved to form a smile, and my heart was overwhelmed with so much love in it.
Thank you, Lord, for this amazing guy!

              “Get ready for dinner.” He said to me with a sweet smile on his face.

I rushed towards our room, and cleansed myself and changed clothes. Yes, I felt like a little girl. And for some reason, it suddenly has saddened me to the point of crying. It could have been the three of us, and I should’ve been the one ordering our little child to get ready for dinner. I couldn’t help but cry.

While I was in the middle of crying, our phone rang, so I came to pick it up.

“Miller’s residence…” I answered the phone feeling so confident and proud that we’re the Millers. Has it been dad, we’d both be laughing so hard by now. He’ll surely find it so amusing.

“Kristina.”

It’s Clemente…

Seriously, it’s becoming more and creepier.

              “How’d you know we moved—?” I asked him.

              “Uncle Aurelio told me. But don’t worry as I didn’t call to bother you.” He said. “I just wanted to say few things.”

My heart raced.
What’s it this time?
I’ve never heard him speak like this with such low tone.
What’s going on?

             
“Let’s hear it.” I said to him.

I had no idea what it was, but I just wanted things to be cleared out of my head. Plus, it’s important that I knew if it was indeed important.

              “First, are you really happy?” He asked.

Where did that come from?
“What do you mean?”

              “I mean, right now, with Gary…”

Oh! Of course!

              “I’m very happy, Clemente, Thank you for asking.” I answered him.

              “Good, that’s all I need to know.” He said. “Deep down, I know that you are. I’ve never seen you this alive and dedicated, even when we were still together. I’m so sorry, Kristina, for breaking your heart. There hasn’t been one single second that I’m not regretting that. But you’re happy now, and that’s all that matters to me. I resent myself for not choosing you, and now that you’ve found your happiness, I’m going through hell. I wish you’d come to me, but Gary really seems like a nice guy, so I’m not worried that he might not treat you right.” He started.

My heart was sinking. Deep down, I felt the pain. Deep down, I was blaming him for all these. But my heart belongs to Gary now, and there’s no way that he can take it back.

              “I love you, Kristina, with all my heart. And all I really want is for you to be happy, and if it means letting you go, so be it. But you should know that I will still be waiting for you here. If the time comes that Gary doesn’t seem to be the hero that he is now for you, when he’s no longer walking on water, I’ll be waiting in the wing. So he better treat you right.” He went on.

              “Clemente, I don’t know what to say.” I admitted my lack of consoling words.

              “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” He said. “That’s all I want you to know, and I can start to move out of your way now. Just know that I’ll be here if you need a friend or if Gary leaves you.” He said.

I smiled weakly. “Thank you for your love, Clemente, I really appreciate it, but I love Gary more than my own life…” I confessed.

              “I know. Just promise me that you’d be happy, okay?”

              “I promise.” I told him.

              “Good. That’s all I need to know.”

              “Thank you.” I said to him, and then I hung up the call.

I felt sad for Clemente.

There’s a knock on the open door. “Who was it?” Gary asked with a sweet smile.

Should I tell him? I had no idea if I should let Gary know that it was Clemente.
Hell no! I’m not going to lie.

              “It was Clemente. He wanted to know if I’m happy, and I said I am because I’m with the man that I love more than my own life.” I admitted.

He was stunned for a moment, and then he flashed his sweetest smile on me as he walked towards me. “I’d die for you anytime of any day.” He said with so much compassion in his voice.

What? No! I don’t want you to die…
“Okay, enough with the dying topic.” I grinned. “Let’s eat, I’m famished!” He held my hand, and he led me down the stairs to the dining area.

As always, he pulled the chair for me, and I thanked him with a smile. I started to eat, and
oh god, it was so good…

              “Hmm-mm. Gary, this is so good.” I complimented him.

              “Thank you, babe…” He said.

After thirty minutes, we’re done with our meal. I was so grateful for our dinner. He cooked heavenly, and it was by far, the best meal I’ve ever had.
Sorry, Alma, somebody has broken your record.

              “Thanks for the meal, babe.” I said to him.

              “Anytime… come here.” He said, so I came to him, and he hugged me tight. His two hands holding plates, but his body was warmed up close to me. It felt like we’re husband and wife.

I giggled.