The Proposal
Chapter : The Proposal
The restaurant was an opulent affair with mood lighting, complimentary champagne and soft classical music floating from afar. There were multiple levels that spread on three floors, each buzzing with activity. The couple in question, was seated in a secluded corner hidden from the eyes of the rest of the diners. Isabella Dawson was a regular at the establishment owned by her uncle. It was one of the three dozen of the properties that he maintained. Isabella adored her uncle but not because of his solvency. If anything, her uncle was always looked down upon by her father as he had chosen to pursue his dream in the food industry leaving the real estate business to his younger brother.
Isabella looked up at the man who had a gleam in his eyes. His well-defined jaw and the narrow eyes spoke of a sharpness that couldn’t be denied. He was older than her but his experience had served her nights well. The scar on his left
cheek, however, made it difficult for anyone to acknowledge his beauty. It revealed a pink tinge in the already healed flesh. It had been years since he had returned from the war but the physical, as well as the psychological scars, remained to serve as reminders. When he smiled it crinkled over to reveal a bit of red, giving the appearance of something out of a horror movie. In the darkness of the night that did not matter. They had been seeing each other in secret for over two years now. It was when he had started his own law firm that went on to become a great success that their dynamics changed from friends with benefits to more. His success and his honourable past did not hide the reality of his origin though and many still identified him as the bastard son of Senator Cummings. He did not use that affiliation however and chose to be identified by his mother’s name Fleming.
When Isabella started seeing him two years back it was meant to be a one night stand. She was drunk enough to ignore the glaring disfigurement in the psychedelic lights of the club. The club wasn’t his idea. He was simply trying to humour his friends, war-buddies, who bore similar scars, if not physically, than mentally. The dance floor with its dark corners and wild lights was not a safe bet for any soldier with PTSD. It was no different for him but he
persevered. All that changed when his eyes bore into Isabella’s. She was already drunk when they met. That did not affect her charm. The morning after had brought her satiation she had not experienced before and she kept coming back to him for more. Isabella did not have a dearth of men lining after her owing to the fame and position of her father and uncle but after sharing one kiss with the enigmatic Damien Fleming she had chosen to warm his bed over every other suiter, all except one. Every good thing, however, must come to an end and that is the reason she sat across from him staring at his scar, rather than wreathing under him in pleasure.
“What we have been sharing for the past two years have been overwhelming,” she confessed.
Damien looked down to hide his smiling face from her. He knew that his scar puckered up at his cheeks and it caused her discomfort. She never said it but she could witness the uneasiness creep in her electric blue eyes along with something akin to a disgust he did not wish to engender in her.
“It has been more than two years that we have been together,” he admitted in a husky deep voice that sent delicious shivers ricocheting
through her body but Isabella stifled her body’s response to focus on the matters at hand.
“I hope we can continue this for far longer though. No man has satiated my lust as far as you can,” she confessed.
Damien looked up noting the hunger in her eyes. Their food lay before them and yet he knew that nothing on the table would satiate her other than his lips. He would have gotten up from his place and joined their lips in an inseparable tangle.
However, he hesitated to bring about a kink in any of his plans for the evening.
“I assure you that I will serve your needs till my very last breath, Bella,” he promised using the name he had given her.
Isabella smiled knowing his reputation of always keeping his word.
“I have procured for us an apartment where we may meet discretely, away from the prying eyes of the world,” she confessed at which Damien’s eyes widened in awe and adoration.
“I am really honoured,” he whispered. “I admit that I have been thinking something on the same lines as well, something more stable and I have realized that I am old enough to stop the secret
rendezvous altogether.”
“Are you refusing my offer?” Isabella demanded, her voice rising a notch.
Damien couldn’t help the smile from forming on his lips voluntarily and felt guilty when Isabella cringed.
He mouthed a hasty ‘Sorry’ knowing full well that the apology would not matter. He reached out into his suit jacket and brought forth a blue velvet box. When Damien got up from his seat and hobbled out to stand before her without the use of his cane, Isabella was alarmed at the prospect of a scene being caused. It was then that Damien went down on a knee, his injured one and opened the velvet box.
“Isabella Dawson, you have given me more happiness and acceptance in the course of the past two years that I have not experienced for the remaining thirty-four years of my life. I hope to reciprocate the same and honour and cherish you till my last laboured breath. Will you grant me the privilege of calling you my wife?” he asked.
Isabella had gone deathly quiet when Damien bent down on his knee. She blinked her eyes a few times before she answered.
“Damien, please get up on your chair. You are making a scene and I do not want to attract any unwanted attention. Being seen with the likes of you may hamper my engagement with Alexander Newton.” she confessed. “Please get up and take your seat.”
Damien’s face fell at her retort. He tried to get up but couldn’t find the strength in his leg. When he tried to take the support of the dining table it toppled over and all the cutlery came clattering down. They had been eating on a balcony overlooking the pool. The sound caused people to look up and Isabella all but ran from there. It was the staff that helped him to the ground and cleaned up the mess. It was one of the cleaners who discovered the blue box containing a large diamond ring, who did not think it appropriate to report the ring or return it.
The next day’s newspaper read “Bastard Cripple abandoned at a Date.”
