Arabel's POV
Stella had just left my office, only to rush back in with a bouquet of flowers and a bright smile on her face.
I raise a brow in question, dropping the pen in my hand and asking, “Who is that for?”
"You, of course,” she replies, making butterflies erupt in my stomach at the thought of Richard.
Is he back in London?
I shoot up to my feet as she drops the bouquet on my desk. My eyes catch the little note stuck in between, and I grab it.
‘To the most beautiful woman ever.’
My heart begins to beat faster as I feel an instant burst of excitement. When I glance up, Stella is still standing with a grin on her face.
Just as I am about to ask her to leave, she mutters. “He is waiting outside.”
He is really here. My eyes widen as I drop the card, signaling for her to leave. As soon as she leaves, I attempt to maintain composure and avoid displaying excessive excitement before heading out.
Richard has been away for two weeks now, and it feels like eternity. Just yesterday, I was tempted to quit work today and go to New York.
I know I asked for this, but with each passing day, it becomes harder on me with the distance. It feels like I was never married, and this is my first real-time courtship.
Richard always pops in twice a week, but for two weeks now, he has only come once because of work. Because I wanted this, I know he doesn't mind coming over every time.
I haven't been to New York in a while either, but I want to go there one of these days to see Mom and Ashley. I miss them too.
When I step out, Richard is leaning on his car with sunglasses hiding his eyes. But I can tell he is looking at me as I step onto the entrance porch. A smile curves up his lips, and I dart forward.
He rushes towards me, grabbing me for a tight hug. A chuckle leaves my mouth.
“Someone misses me,” I joke, wishing he can take off the sunglasses so I can see the emotions in his eyes.
“So much that it hurts,” he reveals, kissing me briefly on the cheeks and patting my hair. “How have you been, darling?”
I nod. “I've been good.”
“Don't you miss me?” He demands it with curiosity, finally taking off his sunglasses. I narrow my eyes at him, and a chuckle leaves his mouth before he taps his chest. "I'm hurt, but it doesn't matter because I love you, and seeing you right now has taken all my pain away. God, I miss you so much.”
He takes my lips in a searing kiss, making shivers dart from my head to toe. With the same passion, I kiss him back.
“When he pulls back, he glances at me with loving eyes, making me feel a flutter. Releasing my hand, he asks. “Are you finished working already?”
I nod, even though I am not.
“Let's go,” he says, coming back to grab my hand before turning around to the passenger’s seat and opening the door for me to slide in.
“Richard, where are we going? My bag is inside, and I need to pick Daisy up from school,” I tell him, but he does not answer until the car kicks to life.
“Don’t worry,” he only mutters, making me stare at him, wondering where he is taking me.
After a moment of silence, I sigh and ask again. “Richard? Where are we going?”
“You will see,” he says briskly, leaving my curiosity still hanging in the air.
Wherever he is taking me, I will know eventually when we get there. Because of his silence and serious expression, I also keep quiet.
He focuses on the road until we turn in the direction of my house, and I furrow a brow. I turn to him, and a smirk appears on his face.
I smile unconsciously, too.
What is he planning this time?
Watching his handsome face as my heart flutters with each passing moment, I realize how much he has been doing to make me happy. Not only that. He has been doing his best to make up for all his mistakes.
He cares for me, treats me well, and even makes jokes to make me smile.
It is evident that he is sticking to his promise of creating good, joyful memories to rule out the negative ones.
It's amazing how little I think about our past now. And it makes me realize all his efforts are working.
The thought of our divorce and everything that follows no longer stings like it used to. Even the thought of Alex doesn't make me sad or traumatic.
I believe everything happened because it was meant to. And I believe Richard and I are back together because we are meant to.
Still, I haven't decided on accepting his proposal about getting married again. I have never heard of couples getting divorced and getting back together again.
That is the only thing that still scares me. A second marriage.
“Here we are,” Richard announces, making me jerk out of my reverie to see I was right. The moment he turned onto the road to my house, I suspected this.
I just don't understand why we are here.
“Why are we here? You should have told me you were bringing me home,” I mutter, searching his face for a clue.
“Let's go.” He doesn't satisfy my curiosity. Instead, he steps out and jumps over to my side to open the car door for me.
Still staring at him, he gets out of the car. He ignores me, closes the door, and then grabs my hand as he moves towards the front door.
“Richard?” I call, halting with a frown. “What is this about?”
When he doesn't answer again, my heart starts to race as my mind rushes over to the two different times he proposed marriage to me.
Is this what it is about? Is he trying to propose to me again?
My gut churns as his gaze skims over me before he replies. “It's a surprise. Let's go.”
“What is it, Richard?” I stand my ground, determined to get this out of him right now. We don't need to go inside and end up embarrassing each other in front of my domestic staff.
I am not ready to marry him again. For now, all I can be is his girlfriend. He already promised to wait until I was ready, and it is baffling that he is doing this again.
He peers down at me, his eyes boring into me as if to figure out what is going through his mind.
When he lets out a soft chuckle, my uprising anger dies down quickly.
“I know what you are thinking,” he says, grasping both of my hands and releasing his hand almost quickly, making a shiver run through my spine. “But that's not it.”
I blink, embarrassment creeping to my face.
He knows?
“What do you think I am thinking?” I question calmly. If he truly knows what I am thinking, then my assumption is wrong about him wanting to propose to me again.
Then what's this all about?
“I already promised to wait, didn't I?” He steps closer, tugging a pleat of hair behind my ear. “This is not it. It's just a surprise I have planned for you, and you won't get to know what it is if you continue to stand there instead of coming with me to satisfy your curiosity.”
He steps away, throwing me a wink before walking to the front door. I rush after him, determined to hit him for being sarcastic.
Before I get to him, he throws the door open and runs in, as if he already knows what I have in mind.
Smiling brightly with curiosity kicking in again, I dart forward into the house, glancing around for any strange activity going on, but there is nothing.
Richard is also nowhere to be seen, which has me furrowing my brows in confusion.
Before I can approach the kitchen to find Natty or anyone else to give me an inkling of what's going on, a sound stops me, making me spin around to see the front door opening.
Two guitarists enter, playing a beautiful song, followed by Stella, my secretary. It makes my jaw drop in confusion.
What is Stella doing here?
David, the head of the accounting department, follows along, as does every member of his crew. When I realize all my staff are here, it suddenly dawns on me.
“Happy anniversary to us,” they chorus, screaming in excitement.
My mouth is still agape. I finally close it, and my eyes begin to sting with tears.
Richard suddenly appears from behind me, followed by mother, Ashley, Caleb, and Daisy. Daisy is carrying a bouquet just like the one Richard brought over to the office.
“Happy anniversary, mom. You are my role model, and I want to have a company just like yours when I grow up. I love you.” She says, making a short laugh leave my mouth, followed by a lone tear.
She smiles and extends the bouquet towards me before giving me a hug.
Music begins to float in, and everyone starts to congratulate me.
How could I have forgotten today was my company's fourth anniversary? Richard remembered and organized this.
No one at work reminded me, even though we always make sure to celebrate a little at the end of the day with a few drinks and food. Last year, we went out to a fancy dinner to celebrate.
The first year, it was just a few of us. None of them have been to my house.
“I am super proud of you, Arabel. I love you.” Mother tells me with a wide smile on her face, and I rush into her arms.
"Thank you," I express my appreciation, shedding another tear.
I move to hug Ashley, who is grinning from ear to ear.
“Thank you,” I say to her. “I miss you.”
She pouts, looking cute. “I miss you more. When Richard talked about bringing us here to celebrate with you, I was over excited. I couldn't wait to see you. There is a lot I want us to talk about. How are you?” She blurts everything out in one breath.
I smile at her and whisper. “We will catch up later.”
Someone grabs my hand from behind, and I see it is Richard. Natty appears with the others, and they start to give out refreshments.
Happiness floods through my veins, and I dart my eyes to his face. “Thank you.”
He shakes his head, kisses my forehead, wraps his two hands around my waist, and leans me backward. “I love you too.”
“I didn't say…” I pause, a short laugh scraping my throat. “I said thank you for this. I didn't expect…”
"And I said I loved you," he repeats grimly, forcing me to fix my eyes on him in order to see the emotions dancing around . My heart ricochets with a burst of electricity zipping over my skin. “I love you, and I will do anything to see this smile on your face. Now. Always and forever. Happy anniversary, baby. I wish you all the best.”
Heat radiates my cheeks, and I'm sure he noticed, as a look of amusement crossed his face.
Before he can taunt me about being flustered, I slam my lips against his, uncaring about the audience but conscious of the warmth kissing him always sends through my veins and my entire body.