'Til Death Do Us Part

His eyes glanced through the glass and between each diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Tens or even hundreds of rings were displayed for his choosing, each one glinting in the room's artificial light, begging to be picked. And each price tag turned him away. An employee stepped into the room from behind a curtain, returning a ring to its place.

"Excuse me?"

The worker looked up and smiled. "How may I help you today? Are you looking for a gift for your special someone?"

"Yes. My name is Nathaniel Warren. I'm proposing tonight."

"Ah, I see. How exciting!" He unlocked the glass cabinet behind the counter and reached into the sea of glittering jewels to retrieve one ring that was towards the top of the price hierarchy within. "This one has sixteen half-carat diamonds lining the outside, with a beautiful centerpiece of-"

"Not that one." Nathaniel said shortly. "Unfortunately, my budget is rather slim, and I don't think she would appreciate something as gaudy as that." Slim budget, hah. I just don't want to spend as much on this one if she's going to try and leave me and keep the jewels, like the last one.

The worker looked taken aback, but put the ring back, and looked for another. "What do you think she would like?" He asked distractedly, gazing at the rows of pure silver and gold.

"I'm not sure."

"Well, what do you know about her?"

"She's pretty, and has dazzling blue eyes," Nathaniel murmured.

"Ah, then maybe sapphire?" He ducked down again to look for a fitting option.

"Perhaps."

The worker grabbed a delicate silver ring with a sapphire and tiny pearls. "Does she like the ocean? This was last year's best-seller."

"The ocean? I don't know if she's ever been."

The employee, who's nametag Nathaniel now noticed read "Jim", gave him a questioning look."You don't seem to know a lot about this lady. You're ready to marry her?"

Nathaniel laughed lightly. "You've never seen her, or anyone like her. Let's just say there's no way she's not the one."

"She sounds like she deserves the world." Jim smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"I'll take the sapphire one. She's a size four."

Nathaniel began to wander down the counter, admiring the different jewelry and pointing out in his mind the ones that would match her eyes. Jim watched him hesitantly, setting the ring in a velvet box with a navy silk lining, and putting it in a bag with the store's logo.

"Here is your ring, Nathaniel." He turned on his heel, and went to the cashier, taking the bag and handing him two thousand dollars in cash.

"You're paying in full, upfront?"

"Yes." Jim was bewildered. He stood there for a moment, holding the two thousand dollars as he watched Nathaniel walk out of the store, whistling some random tune that had gotten stuck in his head earlier that day, the bag swung over his shoulder.

It was a fairly short walk to the restaurant. He'd told Beth he was making reservations at this place, and now it was time to do that. He looked left and right, and left again before crossing the street and heading around the corner. New York City was a big city, with lots of buildings that were so tall, you couldn't see the tops of some of them through the clouds. He wondered if that was heaven, if it sat atop fluffy clouds that drifted by, and if airplanes could see the glorious, golden palaces.

He had arrived now, and he stopped to look up at the big red sign that read "Balthazar". All the big shots came here to eat, to talk, or to do business. If you were lucky, you'd see a celebrity walk through to the restaurant's private rooms. They'd pull up in a big limousine, and step out onto the curb, and sometimes there was a mob of overexcited fans waiting for them, and bright flashing cameras. He shuddered. The press would be such a pain to deal with. Nathaniel was glad he was not a shining celebrity. He hated people.

Inside, there were many people sitting at long tables with an overlaid cloth and small candles dotting the centerline. They were dressed very smartly, their cocktail dresses, slip dresses, and tuxedos beaming back at him glamorously. He walked straight ahead to a man who looked like he was in charge of seating people.

"Excuse me, can I make a reservation for tonight?"

The man grinned, revealing his perfectly white and straight teeth. They were very bright and almost distracting to Nathaniel. "Yes, sir, but our table availability is rather low. We have two left.

"Any window views?" he asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not. Those are usually the first to go. But, if you'll leave me with your cell number, I can call you if anything opens up."

"Thank you. I'll be getting engaged tonight, so hopefully something will." He gave the man, who began chattering excitedly with congratulations, his number. After the necessary information was exchanged, Nathaniel took his leave. Hoping to find time at home to get ready for this evening, he looked at his watch, which read 3:30, and started on his walk home. A couple past him, holding hands and talking about the Restaurant from whence he had just come. He turned sharply and quietly, following behind them and attempting to listen in.

"I hope we see someone famous while we're there. It would make my day." The woman put her head on the man's shoulder as they walked.

"And I can't believe we got a spot by a window! I've heard the views are stunning."

"I know. Happy anniversary, honey."

Oh, so they have one of the coveted window seats. Nathaniel quickened his pace, stomping past them and spinning around, pulling a checkbook out of his coat pocket.

"I hear it is your anniversary! Congratulations."

The man and woman looked startled, panicked expressions adorning their faces. People in New York City typically kept to themselves on the streets.

"Thank you," the man piped up. "Is there something you want?"

"I believe there is." Nathaniel clicked his pen. "Your window seat."

"I-" the man stuttered, hesitating. "It's not for sale."

"Oh, really? Name a price."

The couple looked at each other.

The woman stepped forward boldly. "A million dollars." Her husband grabbed her hand, whispering at her upsetedly.

"Ouch, that's a bit hefty, is it not? I'd do a hundred thousand," he offered, eyeing her carefully.

"Five hundred." She bartered.

"Are you insane, woman?" He continued trying to pull her away. She shook him off.

"Deal." Nathaniel scribbled a rough five hundred thousand dollars and zero over one hundred cents, to the order of… "What are your last names?"

"We don't want your money!"

"Jameson," his wife said flatly.

"Will you quit telling him everything?"

"Me? You know how much debt you have. God knows you could use a bit of help. We can't afford that restaurant right now because of your lousy and demanding parents! It was a silly idea in the first place!"

Nathaniel held out the check and she snatched it, glowering at her husband.

"I can't believe you'd actually pay that much." She looked Nathaniel over in his expensive suit and well-groomed hair.

"I always get what I want. Now, if you would be so kind as to call the restaurant and say you won't be able to make it for your reservation tonight."

Mr. Jameson huffed.

"Get out your cell phone right now, Paul, before I hit you. This is five hundred thousand dollars right here!" He reluctantly pulled it from his pocket and she scrambled to grab it from his sweaty hands so as to dial the number herself. "Let's see, it should be in your recents… Ah, here it is."

The call was short and sweet. The entire time, her husband was glaring at Nathaniel.

"All right, that should do it." She hung up and stared at the phone for a moment, still in disbelief of the money she now possessed. "Wait," she paused. "Paul, who is this?"

"Who, honey?"

Without saying a word, she pressed a button on the phone, and held it up to her ear. Her face shifted and a look of horror washed over her. "Who is this?" A few moments later, "Paul is a lying heinous mung, and you aren't any better, Kate."

Instantly, her husband's eyes widened and he tried to snatch the phone from her. She yelled a few more ugly words into the phone and hung up, proceeding to fling his phone into the nearby road. It shattered the moment it hit the curb.

"You!" She shouted at Paul. "You think you can just cheat on me?"

He put his hands up defensively and backed away, but she wasn't about to let him off the hook. "Get back here you coward!"

Nathaniel turned around and began walking towards his house, whistling as he went. That hadn't gone how he had expected, but it was rather amusing. His phone rang.

"Mr. Warren!" It was the same man who had taken his reservation at Balthazar. "A window seat just opened up. Would you like me to reserve it for you?"

"Yes, please. Thank you."

"All right, I'll see you at seven."

Nathaniel hung up, and with a little extra hop in his step, walked up the stairs to his house, and went inside to get ready.

~...~

Nathaniel pulled up in front of Beth Tenant's house in his 1980 Chrysler New Yorker, the ring discreetly placed in his coat pocket. He turned off the engine and got out of his vehicle as her door opened and she came out, dressed in her finest apparel- a black halter dress and diamond earrings Nathaniel had gotten her after their first date. He was awestruck. She came down off her porch, stepping on each stair slowly, the jewels adorning her neck and ears glittering in the setting sunlight. She was almost shining. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she took Nathaniel's outstretched arm, and allowed him to lead her to the passenger side of his car. After making sure she was comfortable, he walked around to his side, and slid into his seat. They left her house, taking a right turn, and headed towards the Balthazar, five minutes ahead of schedule.

"So," she started. "Why did you suddenly decide to take me to a fancy restaurant?"

"It's not so sudden. It is, after all, our two month anniversary."

"Yes, two months. Usually, something as nice as the Balthazar might be reserved for a six-month, or one-year anniversary."

"You've dated me long enough; I'm sure you know by now that I have money, and lots of it, and that I like to spend it on you."

Beth smiled. "I suppose."

"Is that alright with you?"

She nodded meekly.

The rest of the drive was silent. Beth admired the brilliant sunset and its painted clouds through the window until the view was disturbed by skyscrapers. Nathaniel silently took a deep breath, making one last turn and pulling up to the curb in front of the Balthazar restaurant. He got out, handing his keys to the valet, and opened the passenger door to help his bride-to-be out. They walked arm-in-arm inside, to where the waiter showed them their seat.

She gasped as they sat down. "A window view! How ever did you get it?"

"You have your secrets," he laughed, "and I have mine."

After a few minutes, their server came to take their order. Nathaniel ordered the finest steak they had, and Beth went for an olive salad.

"Beth, are you serious?"

"Quit poking fun at me. Salad is good."

"It's green," he teased.

"It had better be!" They had a laugh, and her dazzling smile once again made Nathaniel weak, as it had so many times in the past two months. His heart raced, but he felt it was time.

"Beth?"

"Yes?"

"Will you…" he stood from his seat and walked around the table, taking a knee in front of her and pulling the ring box from his coat pocket. He took a deep breath. He shouldn't have been nervous. He already knew the answer. "Will you be my Mrs. Warren?"

Beth's eyes widened. The waiter had just arrived with their wine, and he stood back, watching excitedly. She looked around at the eyes on her. Nathaniel had made quite the spectacle.

"I-" She hesitated, biting her lip and her leg shaking uncontrollably. "Nathaniel…"

He looked up at her expectantly.

"No."

The entire room was washed with an awkward silence. "N-no?" He stuttered.

"No." He stumbled to stand to his feet, an embarrassed flush creeping up his neck. He returned to his seat, smoothing a hand through his hair. "It's been two months."

"Beth…" he reached for her hands, which were clasped neatly on the table.

"Two months, Nathaniel." She pulled away. "I don't think I know you nearly well enough to marry you."

"Beth, listen," he started, but she stood up and took a glass of wine from a nearby waiter, downing it. After setting the empty glass on the table, she took her leave. "I don't want this to end!" He called after her.

"Keep the ring!" She shouted back. "Maybe you'll need it next year when we know each other better!"

He grunted angrily, throwing the box onto the table before picking up her empty wine glass and smashing it on the floor. There were a few frightened yelps from people at neighboring tables.

He snatched the ring box and stormed from the restaurant, chasing after her. By the time he got outside, she had already hailed a cab and was climbing in.

"Beth!"

And she was gone. For now. He knew she'd be back. She hadn't broken it off, so she was still interested.

He huffed, and went to retrieve his car from the valet.

~...~

It was a long, thoughtful drive home. No one had ever told him no. At least not anyone who had gotten away with it. He thought through the process. Maybe it was a bit short, but he hadn't done anything incorrectly. He had treated her perfectly. The last two had been all over him when he proposed. Gold diggers. He mentally rolled his eyes at them, knowing full well that they got what they deserved.

He took a swig of the whiskey in his hand, inhaling deeply as it burned down his throat and buzzed his mind. He finished the drink and rolled down the window, feeling the sixty-five-miles-per-hour wind across his face, and flung the glass outside. He didn't even hear it shatter on the pavement as he sped away. The alcohol zinged through him. He was too impatient. If she wouldn't marry him now, by choice, he'd have to make it a bit...easier for her to accept that she was his.

He picked up his cellphone and flipped it open, eyes flicking between the road and the dim screen. It didn't take him long to scroll through his contacts and find who he needed to talk to.

"Hello, Mrs. Tenant? This is Nathaniel Warren and I… yes, I am your daughter's… boyfriend." The woman on the phone began to yell at him for pressuring Beth and a number of other oddities that were likely not his fault. "Excuse me!" he shouted into the phone, and Beth's mother went silent. "I suggest you hold your tongue before I cut it from your miserable mouth. Is Beth in the room? No? Good. Now, listen very carefully to what I have to say. If you don't it could be the ruin of your family. Do you understand?"

The woman on the other end of the line peeped a small "yes".

"Good." Nathaniel cleared his throat and stepped on the gas, letting the wind muss his hair." Then let's begin."

~...~

Beth received a call from her mother the next morning, encouraging her to accept the proposal. It was odd, and Beth argued a bit, confused as to why her mother had had such a sudden change in heart. She had full-heartedly agreed with Beth's decision the night before.

"You know he has money," her mother reasoned. Beth told her the money wasn't worth it if she wasn't sure she loved him. They bantered a bit more until Beth caved. She could see where her mother was coming from, and felt a lot of pressure for her approval.

"Alright," she said. "I'll do it. But you have to come down from Watertown and see us for the wedding. Maybe stay a while. I love you, mom." And that had been the end of it.

Another two months later and it was the big day. Beth had been very stressed up to this point, and so had her parents, but the moment the vows had been said and the rings exchanged, it looked as if a burden had been lifted from their shoulders. The wedding had been every bit as extravagant as it should have been with the amount of money he possessed, constantly coming in from his parents. But it wasn't fun for Beth. She didn't enjoy the dancing. The cake was over-baked and tough. Her parents got into an argument. Someone spilled red wine on the train of her dress. And after she and Nathaniel left the wedding together, it continued downhill.

A month into their marriage, and it had completely fallen apart. She hated him. While Nathaniel was out late, often partying if he wasn't dealing with business inquiries, Beth would raid the alcohol cupboards. Another month in, and she began looking for a divorce lawyer. Quietly, of course. Nathaniel would beat her if he knew. She found someone to help her fairly quickly, but as soon as she mentioned Nathaniel's name, he was off the job. He wouldn't do it. When she asked why, he told her the stories.

There was someone named Ann Williams two years ago. The two of them were only nineteen years old, but so lovestruck that nothing could keep them apart. After a few months of marriage, he found out she was in it for the money, and so she decided to divorce him. It was a rough case, very messy. When it cleared up, Ann had gone missing. They were officially divorced, but no one knew where she had gone. And Mr. Warren still had his money. Only a year later, Gabriella Simmons. One of the most beautiful women in the city. Same case. He proposed after only a few months of dating, she filed for a divorce, and went missing.

Beth was horrified. She didn't know what she had gotten herself into, and what was worse was that she didn't know how to get out. If she filed for divorce behind Nathaniel's back, he would assume she wanted his money. But she couldn't stay with him. She headed home with a heavy conscience, and sat in the kitchen with a bottle of wine, waiting for Nathaniel to come home.

She was more sober than she'd ever been in her life as the front door opened and slammed shut and Nathaniel called out, "I'm home!"

He came into the kitchen, his smile fading as he saw her sitting there, a half-empty bottle of wine in her hand.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm… talking with you?"

"No, I mean what are we doing. Here. Married."

"It was a vague question, what did you expect me to say?"

He wandered over to her, stopping by the sink to admire the knives she'd washed earlier in the day. He picked one up, turning it over in his hand, and held it up to the light.

"You've been married before."

"Twice," he admitted, stepping closer. "And you've been talking to lawyers behind my back." Her eyes flicked to his, panicked. She stood up, backing away as he approached her. "Isn't it obvious? I know how this whole charade will play out. It's already gone as expected, so far. I force you to marry me, you secretly try to divorce me, I kill you, yada yada." He smirked at her horrified expression. "It's not as if I haven't done this before. Come on, you can trust that no one will ever realize you're gone. You'll disappear into the countless missing faces in New York City. Honestly, I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did."

Beth realized she had run out of space to back into. She flattened herself against the wall, shrinking away with fear. "Why are you like this, Nathaniel?"

He sneered. "Me? Why me? Why you, Beth. Why couldn't you just love me? Why didn't you want to marry me? Why, why, why? There are too many questions in this world neither of us can answer. I gave you everything. Was I so horrible? Or did you just want my money, like the others?" He took another step and she squeaked, sinking to her knees, tears dripping endlessly onto her ruined dress.

He squatted in front of her, playing with the blade of the knife he held, teasing her. He was torn, so tempted to both slit her throat on the spot, and to kiss her.

"Please," she begged. "Don't do this."

He'd already made up his mind. "I always…" He placed the edge of the blade to her delicate neck. "...get what I want."