Page 16 of The Negotiator
“Good. I always aim to please you.”
A waiter fills our glasses with champagne, and I take a sip, the bubbles tickling my nose.
“I have a job offer.”
I raise my brow at him. “Oh, is that what this is? An interview? I’m sorry but I already have a job.”
Oliver flips my hand and traces circles on my palm. It shouldn’t arouse me, but it does, and I feel my panties getting uncomfortably wet. “Well, remember when I proposed hiring locals for the resort? I wanted to go all in. Instead of the chef whom we had to fly across the country, I suggested to Paul that he might want to consider hiring you.”
My heart races, a feeling of euphoria washing over me. “You’re joking.”
Oliver shrugs. “I’m not. You have restaurant experience, and we decided that part of our marketing will highlight the culture and the people. You are very well-versed in both.”
I feel as though I stepped into a dream.
“Please say yes, love.”
“Yes! How can I refuse? Yes, Oliver.”
Oliver grins and takes out something from his pocket. He stands and walks to me. “One more thing.” Before I know it, he sinks to one knee.
My whole world stops, my heart pumping so loudly I can hear it in my ears. My palms moisten with sweat, and I have to resist the urge to wipe it on my lap.
“These past few weeks have been nothing short of magical to me. Meeting you, getting to know you and your family, being a part of it, enjoying the island, falling in love with you.” He lets those words hang in the air before he opens the small box, revealing a white gold ring with blue sapphire and small diamonds—the exact design of what I’m wearing. “I love you, Olivia Lang. My heart belongs to you. I’ve spent thirty-four years on this earth, wandering, looking for a place where I belong, only to find that it’s right beside you.”
My vision blurs as tears threaten to spill over. His words echo like a beautiful melody, filling me with a joy I’ve never felt before.
“Will you marry this man, Olivia? I won’t let you go. You’re my home.”
I spring to my feet. “Yes, Oliver. It’s a yes!”
Happiness wraps around me like a warm, comforting blanket as Oliver slides the ring onto my finger and pulls me in for a kiss.
For what feels like an eternity later, we pull apart, and he rests his forehead on mine. “I love you, Olivia.”
“I love you, Oliver.”
After dinner, I’m so full I feel the need to walk around the yacht. We’re in the middle of the ocean, and I stand at the bow, my dress fluttering in the breeze. The cool air kisses my cheeks as the yacht glides smoothly through the water.
Some things don’t feel real, and this is one of them. I can’t wait to tell Mom and Sammy about the two good news.
Oliver slides his arms around my waist and kisses my bare shoulder. “Hi.”
“Hi. Where were you?”
“Told the staff to stay in their bedrooms and ignore any sounds they hear.”
I whirl around and search his handsome features. “What? Why?”
The devilish smirk I know so well is back. “Because you’ll be screaming my name in no time.”
“You told them what?!”
Oliver doesn’t respond, but he sweeps me into his arms and carries me to the cushioned seats on the deck. He lowers me gently and stands, taking off his jacket and rolling his sleeves, showing his corded forearms.
“You’ve had your dessert, right?” he asks me.
My head is full of cotton, so I nod stupidly. “Y-yeah. The pudding with edible gold.”