43 Unfinished Breakfast

Dane regretted calling Cleo to come back after filling in for his meeting but that was their only option as he was his closest confidant and saw all that transpired last night. He called Cleo to come back and act as their witness so they could sign as lawful husband and wife.

His regret—Cleo, was being hugged by his soon to be wife. As soon as he stepped over that door, his soon to be wife ran to Cleo and pulled him into her arms. It was only for a second but still, he never even got that far with her.

His cold, murderous gaze fell on Cleo as he wondered how to go about drafting a new position in search for a female secretary.

"Cleo! Thank you, I love the dress. It's beautiful," she shouted in glee, then pulled away from the stunned Cleo who stood rigid as a rock.

He recovered all too quickly, Dane noted.

"Oh, it's nothing heh. I have a little sister so I tend to know what kind of things she..." Cleo trailed off as he felt Dane's murderous gaze emanating.

"I mean, it was all Dane's idea! Yes! He was the one that told me to find you the most beautiful and expensive dress so I only did as I was told. You should praise him, not me!"

Cleo panned over to Dane who nodded in satisfaction. But Cleo's relief was short-lived as Dane's chopsticks nearly broke apart in two at her next words.

"But still, you went and chose it for me so the credit should go to you."

By now, the draft he was writing in his head was finished. He only had to type it onto his laptop and send it out. Dane stood from his seat, startling Cleo as he himself pulled at the strands of his hair. He turned to Cleo and almost opened his mouth to tell him he was fired.

But he never got the chance to do so.

Prisana skipped over to Dane and hugged him tenderly from behind so that he forgot all about that draft. He almost choked on his food but managed to swallow it. One day, she would kill him with her sweet nature.

In the corner of his eyes, he saw Cleo praying in the corner.

She boldly leaned down and kissed Dane's cheek. It nearly sent him over the edge as his heart did that thing where it skipped a beat.

"Thank you...Elias. For everything. Meeting you has changed my life for the better and about what I said yesterday, I never regretted a single moment spent with you. Even if this marriage is built on lies, I hope we can be great...friends and play our roles as they are meant to be."

He pulled her into his lap so that she squealed in surprise. God, it was dangerous. She was dangerous because he could get used to the feel of her in his arms like this.

"As do I. The thing is...I can't give you a fancy wedding or undying vows but I can only give you something simple."

Dane rustled into his black robe pockets. He opened the small blue box and she gasped as she lay eyes on the heart shaped diamond ring. This was his mother's ring and something very precious to him as it was the last keepsake he had of her. He wouldn't give this to just any woman. No one but her.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"This ring is my devotion and my promise to serve you so please accept it and be my wife so I can..." his gaze trailed to her blushed skin that looked more delectable than the Chinese takeout they ate together. "Devour the rest of my breakfast."

Prisana accepted the ring and continued to admire it with sparkling eyes. The moment she allowed him to slip the ring onto her ring finger, he felt this feeling of deep satisfaction knowing that she was his even if it was a beautiful lie.

Dane raised a hand to shoo away Cleo so he could wait outside as he eagerly tried to undo her sash but she held his hands.

"I-I thought you wanted to finish your breakfast."

"My silly wife, I am finishing my breakfast."

"Oh."

She clutched the sash so her dress wouldn't come undone. The same mistake wouldn't happen twice. Then, she went and smiled.

"Don't be so impatient, dear. When we are officially married, you can have me but not now. I'm eager to sign the certificate."

"You're driving me mad. I'm a man of my word and I never go back on it."

"Oh but," he saw the wild and playful glint in her eyes. "Isn't it so much worth the wait when we finally become husband and wife? And, I feel insecure about Giovanni and father. Every second that goes by as they are looking for me, I'm scared something bad will happen if we postpone this...If we sign right now then you can do whatever you want. That's my only condition."

"Don't go back on your word my lovely wife to be."

The beast picked up his fussy lynx and he quickly walked out their den and past Cleo until he had her seat belted and ready to go. She huffed and puffed and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Stop picking me up. It makes me feel like a princess and I don't like it."

"But I like having you in my arms and it's alright to feel like a princess when you're with me," he admitted, turning back to Cleo.

"Cleo! We'll depart immediately. Drive as fast as you can, as if your life depends on it."