Ron paused for a while. "Sure, I am coming over."

"No, don't." I peeked a little from the window. I couldn't see anyone, but I was sure, those damn reporters were hiding somewhere near my house, waiting eagerly for some juicy photographs. "I am coming over. Just tell me where to meet."

"Right now, I am at my office," Ron said. "Can you come here?"

"Fine, I am coming." I instantly cursed under my breath when I remembered that my car was still parked at my old workplace. "Shit, I should've retrieved my car, now I have to take a cab."

"Don't worry." I forgot Ron was still on the other side of the phone. "I am sending a car with my man. He will pick you up."

"Alright." I agreed solemnly. "Send the car to the back door of my house."

I heated some ready-made food in the microwave and gave it to Arthur. I told him I was going out for a walk. To intake some fresh air. He naturally wanted to come with me, but I stopped him.

It was my turn to do some proper duty.

I closed the back yard gate silently and promptly pulled the hoodie over my head. The familiar silver jaguar was waiting for me. A person came out of the car and walked towards me cautiously. I easily recognised the person. He was from the other night, with Ron while they helped me from those bastards.

"Miss Davies." He told me politely as he gently opened the door for me.

"Thanks." I murmured quietly as I got in the passenger seat.

The ride was quiet and almost took fifteen minutes to reach our destination. That person quickly climbed out of the car and opened the door for me. I smiled at him thinly. He smiled back at me politely.

The blonde receptionist was staring at me stark. I looked at her with my peripheral vision.

DING

When the elevator door opened, I saw that Ron was waiting impatiently for me at the elevator door.

"Liza." He smiled warmly and released a relieved sigh. He looked at my companion thoughtfully. "You wait here." The buzz-cut nodded his head understandingly and seized his guard position. Ron led me. "Please come this way."

We entered his office room. That familiar room looked so different at night. I took a seat in front of his desk. He went to his land phone gracefully.

"One fresh tropical mixed juice, please." Ron put down the receiver after requesting the juice. He looked at me wonderingly and smiled nervously. "So..."

"Let's get straight to the point, without hitting around the bush," I cut him off sternly. "Shall we?"

Ron sighed and nodded his head.

"I want to accept your offer." I looked straight at him. "About the marriage."

Ron straightened up on his seat and blinked several times.

"Liza, are you sure?" He whispered as he gripped the table corner so hard that his hard knuckles turned white.

I closed my eyes and mom's sad face, dad's crying face and Arthur's beaten up face displayed in front of my vision. I opened my eyes and looked at Ron.

"Yes." I released a shaky breath as I gave him my answer resignedly.

Ron released a relieved smile, "Let me call over Jess, she will...."

"But," I stopped him abruptly, "can you assure me that everything will work out after this marriage."

"Yes," Ron told me firmly, "you can have my word."

"If it won't work out", I ignored his words bluntly, "I will claim half of your whole property. And I want that to be written."

"Sure," Ron smiled contentedly, "I won't mind."

"Fine." I huffed, "Call that bitch."

"Cough, cough, I am already here." I instantly jumped on my seat when someone suddenly spoke up just behind me. I abruptly turned my head to see that bitch... I meant, Jess.

"Good evening." Jess smiled beautifully at me and placed a nice-looking glass, full with mixed fruit juice in front of me. I smiled back awkwardly.

"So, shall we proceed with the plan?" Jass asked professionally.

"Yes," Ron answered affirmatively. I nodded my head.

"So, we will arrange a press meeting, the first thing, early in the morning, to announce your marriage to the world." Jess started to describe her whole plan properly, without wasting any time. "Needless to say the reporters will try to dig up the information as much as they can. So, we have to be extremely careful." Jess looked at me, "I believe in Ron. He did many interviews before. But I assume, This will be the first time for you. So you will connect with me through Bluetooth. Nothing but deliver them the answers which I will give you. Do you have any questions?"

"No." I didn't know what else to say.

"Let me arrange a meeting with those reporters." Jess held out her phone and started scrolling.

"Then, I should take my leave." I consumed the last drop of my juice and got up from my seat. "I have to inform my family too."

"Wait!" Ron also got up from his seat. "They still don't know?!"

"No," I replied to him and about to take my leave.

"I will come with you." He straightened his grey suit.

"For what?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"From now on I will always be with you, for any situation." Ron looked into me deeply.

Thump.

I startled with the loud thump sound of my heart.

What the fuck with that thump!

"Whatever." I tried to conceal my odd expression as I rolled my eyes.

***********

"So, you decided to marry him," Dad asked me carefully. I glanced at Ron cautiously and looked at my dad. I nodded my head positively.

We were all sitting in our living room. Arthur was too furious to say anything. Mom was silent with shock. I assumed only, dad recovered from that shocking news. I could sense that Ron was also very tense.

"But, why?" Arthur yelled angrily.

"This is my life, and only I will make decisions about my life," I told him calmly. I could never tell them the actual reason for my decision. If they found out the truth, They would never let me take that step. But, I had to do that for them. I was sorry.

"What!" Arthur whispered with a pained expression and it pierced my heart. I blinked back my tears and tried hard to remain calm.

"Matt," Ron spoke up, "I know it is a big decision, for everyone. And I can understand, it is hard to accept, but I can assure you that, I won't put you down."

"Liza," Mom got up and kneeled down in front of me. "I know, why are you doing this. Please don't do that."

My anxious heart started to pound like crazy with nervousness. I gripped my own hand so tightly that my nail sank into my skin and made some crescent spots. Shit, mom caught my intention. If she blurted out I was doomed.

"What are you saying?" I laughed with an extra loud sound. "I know Ron very well. That's why I thought I should give it a chance."

"You are giving a chance to marriage, not dating." Arthur chewed out those harsh words.

"WHATEVER!" I got up from my seat and crossed my hand over my chest. "I already made my decision, and I don't want to hear anything about this matter."

"Fine!" Arthur growled angrily, "Just send us the invitation card." and stormed off from there.

Mom got up from her kneeling position and sat beside dad. They both focused their attention on Ron. Somehow, Ron looked very calm.

"Matt, Elle, I know it's not easy...."

"How old are you?" Dad cut him.

"Umm," Ron looked at me, "twenty-six."

"Hmm." Dad stroked his chin as he gave a humming sound.

"Do your parents know about the marriage?" Mom asked afterwards.

"Yes." Ron nodded his head. "But I sincerely wish we all can introduce ourselves properly. How about a pleasant dinner next Friday?"

Mom and dad stared at each other.

"Sure, we are fine with that." Mom finally told Ron.

"That's great," Ron said contentedly. He got up to take his leave.

"Oh, that's right." Ron looked at me. "I want to arrange a personal bodyguard for you."

Not that shit!

"I don't need a bodyguard." I squinted my eyes.

"Yes, you do," Ron told me firmly. "After that night incident."

"What incident?" Mom butt in instantly.

Shit!

I didn't tell them.

"It was nothing." I tried to shake off the topic. "Okay, I will accept the bodyguard thing." I huffed.

Ron took out his phone and called someone. A few seconds later a person entered the room. It was that person who picked me earlier and also was present on that day with Ron and Ryder.

"Liza," Ron spoke up, "this is Ian, your personal bodyguard and Ian this is Liza."

"Miss Liza, nice to meet you." Ian extended his hand graciously and me politely.

I didn't know why, but I felt like deja vu. I slowly reached out and took his hand. "Nice to meet you too."

Ron was looking in my direction. I turned to find his eyes on my neck.

What was he staring at?

"What?" I asked him.

"Umm...did you lose the necklace I gave you?" He asked me with a hesitating tone.

"No, I still have it. Why?" Something in his low tone was screaming the importance of the necklace and which made me lie to him.

"Great!" He released a relieved sigh. "Can you please wear the necklace at tomorrow's press meeting?"

"I..will think about that." My chest felt tightened. "I won't promise, though."

"Thanks." He smiled warmly.

***********

I was sitting on one of those chairs celebrities usually sit, waiting patiently as an attractive girl was doing my hair and another one my makeup.

I was getting ready for the press meeting.

I watch silently as people run back and forth to complete the arrangements. It had been half an hour since Jess had practically begged me to do that hair and makeup. I agreed on just one condition that I wouldn't change my dress. Jess reluctantly allowed me to wear my black jeans and deep blue t-shirts but I had to put on some makeup.

"I love your necklace," the hairdresser gushed. "It's lovely."

"Umm thanks." I mumbled. I looked at the necklace attentively through the mirror .

I almost tore down my bathroom to find it. I nearly got out of the bathroom when I saw the necklace was hanging on the corner of the bathroom cabinet on the right side of the mirror.

I held the necklace with my right hand and caressed it with my left fingers.

"Are you ready?" I turned around to find Jess, an earpiece slung over the side of her face to her lips and a clipboard at hand. She handed me over a Bluetooth speaker.

"I set it up." She told me. "You just need to place the device on your ear."

"Where is Ron?" She looked around to find him. "Ah! There he is."

I looked at her mentioned direction and squinted my eyes.

He also dressed up with a simple dark blue shirt and a pair of black jeans. He Looked flawless even with those simple getups. Well, I was accepting him in a tux.

"Are you sure, You won't change?" It was like Jess read my mind.

"I think we both look like a lovely couple with those matching outfits." He smiled sweetly.

Awww, so sweet....

I really wanted to puke.

"Ready?" Ron asked me as he held up his hand for me.

"Do we really have to hold hands?" I queried him as I looked at his hand.

"YES," Jess replied to me instead of Ron.

I hesitated a little before reaching out for his hand. His big palm engulfed mine.

I held my breath as we made it to the stage. The room is crowded with reporters. Every single eye landed on us. My eyes blinded with the barrage of flashlights. I forced a huge smile on my face. Ron pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. He took a seat next to me.

"So Mr Ryan you guys are dating, right?" One of the reporters asked as soon as I relaxed on my seat.

No shit sherlock!

"Yes." Ron looked at me and smiled lovingly.

"How long?"

"Almost..."

I stared blankly at the backside of the room as they were interrogating Ron about us.

"Miss Davies," I brought back to reality, when a reporter shifted his attention to me, "what's it like to be the girlfriend of Mr Ryan?"

I bitterly waved a middle finger to him in my inner mind.

"It's like a dream comes true." Jess delivered the answer to me. "Look at him with adoration." She also included some weird instructions.

"It's like a dream comes true." I gazed adoringly at Ron.

"Why did you deny your relationship with Mr Ryan earlier?"

"Because," I started to repeat after Jess carefully, "he was just taking over a big responsibility and I just started my college. We were just taking some time." My eyes flicker to Ron. He was smiling continuously. "We never intended to hide it from the world."

Someone should give me an Oscar for my excellent acting.

"I was actually planning to bring her to the world," Ron told them with a sad expression, "in between the whole disaster happened. We felt so upset by those false assumptions. I mean how could anyone sneak in our private time!" The reporters looked at us in sympathy.

JUST WOW!

Somebody should give him an Oscar too.

"But today as is everything clearing up." Ron got up from his sitting position and took out a bottle green little square box from his jeans pocket. "I would like to do an important thing in front of you guys."

The crowd cheered.

Ron opened the box gracefully and kneeled in front of me smilingly. I could see a stunning ruby red coloured diamond ring inside the box. I had no idea how the hell he arranged it in one night.

I almost choked.

"Liza," he chuckled slowly, "will you marry me?"

"Say, yes," Jess spoke up through Bluetooth.

I bit the inside of my cheeks.

Fine....

"Yes." I croaked out my answer with a thin smile on my lips.

The reporters started to clap loudly.

                      **********

Author's Note:-

Stay safe everyone. Wash your hands and don't touch anything. Try to avoid crowded place.

And as usual,

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