RANSOM GIFT: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Commanding Proposal, Hidden Proposal, Ransom Proposal)

by Kristina Royer

  Chapter 5

  “Babe, come and taste this.” Gary called out to me from the kitchen counter.

  I rushed to where he was like a little kid, and I saw him waiting for me with this wooden spatula in his hand. OMG! He’s done with the sauce! I leaned over to allow him to feed me that very little serving of his pasta sauce replica. I tasted it.

  “Oh, my goodness, babe… How’d you do that?” I asked him with so much confusion going on in my face.

  “You like it?” He asked with a grin.

  Boy did I like it! It tasted exactly like that of the restaurant we dined in. It tasted so good. But how on Earth did he do that?

  “How did you that?”

  “Do what?” He asked.

  “You got the exact recipe.”

  He smiled at me. “I was just inspired.” He said.

  My face automatically curved to form a smile, and my heart was overwhelmed with so much love in it. Thank you, Lord, for this amazing guy!

  “Get ready for dinner.” He said to me with a sweet smile on his face.

  I rushed towards our room, and cleansed myself and changed clothes. Yes, I felt like a little girl. And for some reason, it suddenly has saddened me to the point of crying. It could have been the three of us, and I should’ve been the one ordering our little child to get ready for dinner. I couldn’t help but cry.

  While I was in the middle of crying, our phone rang, so I came to pick it up.

  “Miller’s residence…” I answered the phone feeling so confident and proud that we’re the Millers. Has it been dad, we’d both be laughing so hard by now. He’ll surely find it so amusing.

  “Kristina.”

  It’s Clemente…

  Seriously, it’s becoming more and creepier.

  “How’d you know we moved—?” I asked him.

  “Uncle Aurelio told me. But don’t worry as I didn’t call to bother you.” He said. “I just wanted to say few things.”

  My heart raced. What’s it this time? I’ve never heard him speak like this with such low tone. What’s going on?

  “Let’s hear it.” I said to him.

  I had no idea what it was, but I just wanted things to be cleared out of my head. Plus, it’s important that I knew if it was indeed important.

  “First, are you really happy?” He asked.

  Where did that come from? “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, right now, with Gary…”

  Oh! Of course!

  “I’m very happy, Clemente, Thank you for asking.” I answered him.

  “Good, that’s all I need to know.” He said. “Deep down, I know that you are. I’ve never seen you this alive and dedicated, even when we were still together. I’m so sorry, Kristina, for breaking your heart. There hasn’t been one single second that I’m not regretting that. But you’re happy now, and that’s all that matters to me. I resent myself for not choosing you, and now that you’ve found your happiness, I’m going through hell. I wish you’d come to me, but Gary really seems like a nice guy, so I’m not worried that he might not treat you right.” He started.

  My heart was sinking. Deep down, I felt the pain. Deep down, I was blaming him for all these. But my heart belongs to Gary now, and there’s no way that he can take it back.

  “I love you, Kristina, with all my heart. And all I really want is for you to be happy, and if it means letting you go, so be it. But you should know that I will still be waiting for you here. If the time comes that Gary doesn’t seem to be the hero that he is now for you, when he’s no longer walking on water, I’ll be waiting in the wing. So he better treat you right.” He went on.

  “Clemente, I don’t know what to say.” I admitted my lack of consoling words.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” He said. “That’s all I want you to know, and I can start to move out of your way now. Just know that I’ll be here if you need a friend or if Gary leaves you.” He said.

  I smiled weakly. “Thank you for your love, Clemente, I really appreciate it, but I love Gary more than my own life…” I confessed.

  “I know. Just promise me that you’d be happy, okay?”

  “I promise.” I told him.

  “Good. That’s all I need to know.”

  “Thank you.” I said to him, and then I hung up the call.

  I felt sad for Clemente.

  There’s a knock on the open door. “Who was it?” Gary asked with a sweet smile.

  Should I tell him? I had no idea if I should let Gary know that it was Clemente. Hell no! I’m not going to lie.

  “It was Clemente. He wanted to know if I’m happy, and I said I am because I’m with the man that I love more than my own life.” I admitted.

  He was stunned for a moment, and then he flashed his sweetest smile on me as he walked towards me. “I’d die for you anytime of any day.” He said with so much compassion in his voice.

  What? No! I don’t want you to die… “Okay, enough with the dying topic.” I grinned. “Let’s eat, I’m famished!” He held my hand, and he led me down the stairs to the dining area.

  As always, he pulled the chair for me, and I thanked him with a smile. I started to eat, and oh god, it was so good…

  “Hmm-mm. Gary, this is so good.” I complimented him.

  “Thank you, babe…” He said.

  After thirty minutes, we’re done with our meal. I was so grateful for our dinner. He cooked heavenly, and it was by far, the best meal I’ve ever had. Sorry, Alma, somebody has broken your record.

  “Thanks for the meal, babe.” I said to him.

  “Anytime… come here.” He said, so I came to him, and he hugged me tight. His two hands holding plates, but his body was warmed up close to me. It felt like we’re husband and wife.

  I giggled.

  Chapter 6

  Days have passed so quickly, I had to leave for Spain the next day. I felt like dying, as if I was a candle about to run out of wax. It’s so hard to leave him tomorrow. And the night was going to be the longest I’ve ever had with him.

  He’s about to start school, and I had to start my internship at our hotel. I’ll be back here in few days—three days to be exact, but ever since we got together, that’s going to be the longest that I won’t be able to see him. Sure, we could do video calls, and I guess that has considered that idea, which was why he bought him his Mac, but it’s still not enough for me. I had to touch him. I just had to.

  “Babe, can’t you just stay?” He asked.

  Gary, you have no idea how much I want to stay. But I had to be strong for him, his dreams and out future.

  “I can’t, baby. We have to do this for us. You do know that there’s nothing I want more but to stay here, right? But I have to go for you.” I said to him.

  “I know.” He said.

  “Do you trust me?”

  He nodded. “I do, with my life.” He answered.

  “I trust you.” I reassured him. “No matter what… and you can guarantee that Clemente can’t do anything to me.”

  He cupped my face with his hands. “I know that, babe.”

  He kissed me on my lips, and I kissed him back. I’ve missed this kind of kiss. I’ve longed to have this moment for such quite a while now. I knew right then that we’re both ready to jump into again. Maybe we can try for another one. Not that we’ve forgotten our first child, no, we just don’t want them to feel bad for their parents.

  I touched his neck, and I knew that he knew we’re on. So he placed both hands on my waist, and he started kissing my chin, jaw, the back of my ear, and back to my chin. He traced down my neck with his lips, and I felt the fire tingling in my every being.

  I pressed my hands against his back, and I caressed it with a bit pressure because I knew that he wanted my hands pressed hard against his skin. His hands are on the trail of dress, and he slowly raised it up, exposing my legs, giving that soft tracing of his nails on my skin. It’s so arousing. My whole body heated up like I was in a sauna or whateve
r. He continued raising up my dress until it revealed my hips… then my waist… then my bras… until he has successfully taken it over me. He stared deep into my eyes while unhooking my bras, which only took him split second for he already knew his way to my underwear.

  I was melting in his stares, and my knees were trembling. He softly touched my shoulders, down to my arms, to my hands, and once his hands are holding mine, he slowly raised it over his neck, and he left them hanging there. He leaned over to kiss me wildly and passionately. My lips were burning with so much intensity from his lips’ every maneuver. His hands were on my hips caressing them like there’s no tomorrow. His movements suddenly turned wild and incontrollable. He has caught him off guard once he carried me with his hands through my hips, and threw me into him. I curled my feet in his ways to gain balance, and I was hanging on me like a monkey hanging on a twig.

  He gently pushed me towards the bed, and I squealed. I did not expect him to do that. But I liked it. I made my sexiest laugh, and made sure that it was indeed sexy. He noticed it, and he moved closer until he’s on top of me. We had so much love to share, and so we started sharing it right away.

  *****

  We fell asleep out of deep exhaustion. Lucky for me, I had the alarm set so I won’t miss my flight, although deep down, I wished I didn’t have to leave.

  He’s still sleeping after the alarm, so I managed to make my away out of bed without waking him up. I tiptoed into the bathroom, and got ready for my flight.

  I wanted to spend few more time with him, but he seemed so exhausted. Knowing I would have to leave him alone gave me this feeling of pain. But I wanted to make the most of those three hours left, so after getting ready, I went down on the kitchen, and make him a breakfast. I knew that I’d only have to be gone for three days, but still, it’s the first time, which made it even painful.

  I’ve decided to go with sunny eggs, bacon and pancakes. Well, those were few of the few breakfast meals I knew how to cook. I know, not even Spanish of them. But still, they’re meals. I moved as quickly as I could, and in no time, I had the food ready for my baby. So, I went up to wake him up.

  “Gary…” I whispered close to him as I wake him up.

  He slowly opened his eye, and I’ve never seen anything beautiful like it before. His eyes were like little butterfly wings gracefully moving like they have to. He’s so dreamy.

  “Hey.” He said after gathering up all his senses.

  I smiled at him. “Time for breakfast, I need to leave in two hours.” I couldn’t hide the sadness in my voice.

  “Oh.” He said then moved quickly to get up. “Let me cook breakfast for you.”

  I smiled proudly of myself. “I already did.” I said.

  He was obviously shocked that I cooked breakfast for the two of us. His smile seemed more like a reaction of amusement. He’s glad of what I did, and he was obviously very proud of me.

  “Let’s eat it then.” He said.

  I reached out my hand to him, and he took it. But instead of getting up out of bed, he pulled me in, and I fell on top of me.

  “There you go. This is where you belong.” He said.

  I blushed and gushed at what he said. “Damn right this is.” I said to him with my ever stupid grin. “But you have to eat for school today, and I have a flight to catch.”

  He faked a serious face, and frowned at me. “But…” He sounded like a little child.

  I laughed at him. “Let’s go, baby…”

  “Right… I want to eat that special breakfast.” He teased me.

  “Let’s go.”

  We headed down to the dining, and he was surprised at the breakfast that I prepared. I had no idea if it was because the food looked good, or because I only cooked these pretty easy meals. Whatever it was, I just took it as a compliment.

  “I’m sorry. Those were all I can cook.” I apologized.

  He turned to face me with a sweet smile, “come here”. He called out to me. “I am such a lucky guy.” He said when I was already in his arms.

  “You are?”

  “Oh, I am. You have no idea how lucky I am for having you for the rest of my life.” He said, I giggled.

  “Let’s eat then.”

  We spent the whole two hours in the dining—talking, sharing jokes, laughing, and taking our time to stare and memorize each other’s face. Those three days could be very tough, so we made sure to just enjoy each other’s company.

  And when it was time for me to go, neither of us cried. We just hugged as tightly as we both could before I gave this middle-aged Italian flight attendant my plane ticket, and head inside this pretty gigantic tube towards the inside of the plane.

  “I love you. I’ll see you in three days.” He said to me, only he has no smile in his face, but instead, longings and sadness filled his facial expression.

  “I love you. Be at your best behavior.” I told him.

  “Clemente should be at his best behavior.” He teased. “Have a safe flight, baby. Call me when you land.”

  “Let’s just Skype tonight, I don’t want to disturb you at your class.” I said.

  He smirked. “More like my class is disturbing us.” He said.

  We both laughed, and I kissed him for the last time before heading inside that sad tube.

  “I miss you already.”

  “I love you. Take care.” He said, and I went in.

  I turned to look back at him, and he was staring intently at me. Oh boy, we’ll be like this every Monday. Well, I didn’t really care. As long as we can be together and won’t have to part completely, I’ll take anything.

  It’s been the longest flight of my life. It felt sad, lonely and very boring. Two hours later, I was already sitting in my dad’s car with him on shotgun.

  “How was your flight, sweetie?” He asked.

  “Sad.” I answered him.

  And he laughed. “You’re kidding. It’ll only be for three days here, and four days there.”

  “But dad, I thought you understand us.” I accused him.

  “I do, but baby, there’s more to life than just being together. Letting him grow and be the person he ought to be is also a form love.”

  Well, good for you to know that, dad. But for me, no wise words could stop the hurting. “I just can’t wait to work these three days off then fly to him.” I was stating the most honest thing I’ve ever said to my dad ever.

  He laughed. I knew that he can understand my feeling because I’ve never felt anything like this before, and he knew that… he knew that very well.

  “Take this day off, sweetie. You can start tomorrow.” He said.

  Great! What was I supposed to do without Gary if not to work?

  “I’ve got nothing else to do, dad.”

  “Go Skype with him or something. Just don’t make out via computer, it creeps me out.” He said.

  What the fuck? “Dad, stop it!!!” I yelled at him. It’s ultimately gross to hear it from him.

  “Alright, I’m sorry.” He said laughing, along with his driver, whom we both treat as a family.

  “Ha-ha. It’s so funny, you two.”

  Gross…

  Chapter 7

  Working at a hotel was such an exhausting thing to do. I wasn’t even sure if I was glad that we had huge one as I had to move from places to places, walk from one point to another, rushing towards an elevator opening… all these while wearing a goddamn pair of heels. Oh, plus my weight. I had to lose weight, and make myself light for this kind of work.

  I was rushing so I didn’t even have time to take care of my poise or my fines. And so, I stepped on a particular guest’s foot while inside the elevator.

  “Hey, watch it!” The girl shouted at me.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” I apologized, and then I tried to move on.

  “You should be careful if you don’t want to lose your job.” The girl hissed at me.

  What? What the fuck did you just say, slick Barbie doll? I glanced at our elevator stuff, and she knew
who I was. But looking at her made me realize that even though I literally own this whole shit, I had to be kind to our guests no matter how rude they were.

  “I’m so sorry.” I repeated myself, only this time I wasn’t sounding very sorry.

  It was just the four of us in this spacious elevator. This thing can hold up to fifteen people so her voice was pretty clear, but her boyfriend won’t stop staring at me, which made it all pretty awkward.

  That’s right… you might be skinny, but I’m way prettier…

  The elevator door opened, and it revealed my dad along with his assistant and three other assistant. Wow, why so many assistants, dad?

  “Hola, Mr. CEO.” The elevator girl said.

  My dad smiled at him, and then he looked funny at me. What, dad?

  “How’s everything so far?” Dad has caught my attention before I enter this elevator door.

  “Hey, dad…”

  As soon as I greeted my dad, I saw in my peripheral vision that the girl whose hideous foot I stepped on looked at me with jaws dropped on the floor. I had no idea with her boyfriend’s reaction.

  “You seem enjoying your first day. I’m glad you’re getting ready to take on my place someday.” He said out loud, not caring if the guests could hear.

  Eat that, bitch! Well, I had no time to mess with her back since I’ve got tons of things to do, and Ms. Coy, the head for Marketing, needs this pile of paper works in my hands.

  I smiled at my dad. The elevator door opened up on my floor, so I readied myself to go out. “I’ll see you at home, dad.” I said to my dad.

  “Go get them, tiger.” He teased at me.

  “Whatever.” I teased him back.

  We didn’t care if anyone could hear us, we’re father and daughter, and he’s not the CEO to me, regardless of where we were or who’s with us. He’s never been like that to me… y’all can just eat that up!

  As I was making my way to Ms. Coy’s office, I’ve noticed someone standing on the corner to my left, I turned my head to check who it was and it was Clemente. Wow! Stalker alert! I raised my brow on him as acknowledgement that I actually saw him standing there. He raised a hand on me, and he was moving towards my direction to talk to me. OMG… it’s about to get super awkward in here.