“I’m sure you do,” said Adrian with the hint of a chuckle.
“Yes,” he said, gaining some confidence. “I have graduated from Wharton and have already made a few millions investing in some start-ups. I promise to raise Carmichael Industries to new heights.”
Adrian eyed the pompous cunt disinterestedly.
“Good news for the company I guess.”
“I’d love to stay, but I have an urgent meeting in an hour,” he said.
“It’s okay. Thanks for stopping by.”
Five minutes later he was strutting in front of the cameras lining the corridor, the concerned cousin and next in line at the head of a business empire.
“Asshole,” said Adrian under his breath.
Karen, who had been silent throughout the entire episode, turned to face him.
“Pompous douche. Can’t wait for me to kick the bucket before he gets my majority stake. At least that’s what he thinks.”
“What?” blurted out Karen, “He is your closest blood relative.”
“In truth, I am sick of my blood. It’s time someone else took charge. My greatest regret about dying is not seeing his face when my will is read.”
“Why?” she said, still puzzled.
“All the shares in my name go to you.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Lowering her voice to a hushed whisper, she said,
“Are you serious?”
“As serious as lung cancer,” he said with a sheepish grin, “The board appointed me CEO because they wanted a ‘man’ in-charge, but I always considered you to be a better leader. A better person.”
“But Adrian….”
“No buts. Take charge of the company. Make me proud.”
She held his hand tightly and kissed it.
“I will, I promise.”
His gaze turned to her wedding ring. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship–twenty four carat gold embossed with sapphires and a flawless D diamond in the centre.
“Remember our wedding, honey,” he said, looking up at her face.
She nodded. She could never forget it. * *
Words set actions into motion. When Adrian brought up the word “marriage” over breakfast, just mentioning a possibility for the future, it touched a nerve inside Karen.
Twenty-four hours and a long flight later, they were in San Marino. She had promised him a surprise but he had hardly thought it would involve an impromptu trans-Atlantic flight. The small nation of San Marino, on the windward side of the Apennines, is the oldest sovereign nation in the world.
This picturesque state-nation was far away from the prying eyes of anyone they knew. The entire decision took about fifteen minutes in her head.
“You should know, I’m not a fan of surprises,” said Adrian as he boarded the private jet.
“I bet that will change after today,” she whispered seductively into his ear. “And it will definitely change after tonight.”
That was enough for him as he rushed into the refurbished Concorde. The supersonic aircraft meant it was a four hour journey.
Four hours meant enough fucking to book a hall of fame spot in the Mile High Club.
The plane taxied to a halt as they hurriedly got dressed. They had travelled incognito. A lone car waited at the airfield to take them to Castle Faetano.
The scenic beauty of the place was striking, but they did not even look at the multitude of meadows and forests that they went through. Their eyes were fixed on each other. To them, no scenery was more gorgeous than the other.
Two stone gargoyles flanked the gates as a winding road led up hill to the castle itself. It was one of Victor’s lesser properties around the world, serving as his bachelor pad whenever he was in Italy for business.
The castle was a few miles outside the main state. It was perched on top of a high cliff, precariously overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The castle itself was built as part of a large fortress defending against invasions by sea. The grandeur took their breath away as Karen held his hand and entered.
It was exactly what he had always wanted- to be far away from his toxic family. To only be with the person he loved the most.
“But.. but..” Adrian stammered, “I don’t have a ring.”
“Keep walking. It’s all taken care of.”
Flummoxed, he followed her as she walked up the spiral staircase leading up the keep. At the very top, there was a small door opening into a narrow vestibule. Curiously, he followed her into it. What he saw on the other side blew him away.
The roof of the castle gave them an unparalleled view of the sheer cliffs all along the coast giving way to the cerulean sea. A few fishing vessels dotted the azure horizon. Waves crashed against the rocky shore, foaming and frothing.
The sun was about to set, spreading a lustrous hue across the sky. The red shade streaked across the middle of the calm water, illuminating a sail or two. The waves hitting the breakers caused a thin mist at the foot of the cliffs, sparkling in the sunlight.
On the other side, the Apennine mountain range was bathed in the glow of the setting sun. The slope shone brightly all the way from the foot of the castle to the peak, which dazzled. The combination formed a kaleidoscope of nature that very few get to see.
But Adrian did not see it. All he saw was the sun lighting up the face of the woman who was soon to be his wife. A man came up and handed him a small box.
“I thought the groom gets to pick the ring,” he grumbled as he opened it. His face was frozen in an expression of awe.
“The one you had in mind, right?” she said, expectantly.
“Y-yes, but how did you know?”
“That you would have wanted to give me your mother’s ring?” she said. “Let’s just call it intuition.”
An elderly cleric presided over the ceremony. The three of them were ready to begin. The ceremony went on in classic Latin.
“Ego facere.”
“Ego facere.”
The language did not matter, the place did not matter. In the end, it was their intrinsic love that shone through, brighter than the diamond about to be placed on Karen’s finger.
Four years after his mother had passed, her ring was worn by the only other person who loved him unconditionally.
“Kiss me, stupid,” said Karen, stomping on the floor indignantly.
“Oh,” he blurted, shaken out of his reverie. He had lost himself in the wonder and spontaneity of the moment.
“Ugh, guys,” she said, rolling her eyes. Not waiting any longer, she grabbed his head and forcefully pressed her soft lips against his. The first few moments passed in total shock for him. His tongue seemed paralysed as she plunged her tongue deep into his mouth. Her arms wrapped around his head and she gently sank into the kiss. This kiss was deep and passionate as he began to respond as well. Their tongues played together to the last embers of the setting sun. She leaned closer until her lips were level with his ear, “You’re going to have to be more eager during the night.” * *
The latest dose of chemo had been particularly brutal. He shuddered and thrashed in his bed, writhing in unbearable agony.
“Honey, hold my hand. Don’t let go.”
He arched his back off the bed and shook violently. Doctors rushed in and injected him with various drugs. The sedatives only seemed to aggravate his pain and the painkillers were utterly useless. His ravaged immune system lashed out at everything pushing his fever to 106.
He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes to block out the pain, but it couldn’t be done. His skin felt like it was on fire one moment, entombed in ice the next. A white hot torrent of pain went down his throat.
Pain was no longer a word or a concept, it was his only reality.
His limbs felt like they were racked repeatedly and his sinews were burning. He tried curling into a ball, but it only made the IV cut deeper into his skin drawing some blood from his frayed vein. Finally, he just could not hold back any more and let out a scream. A blood-curdling shriek which made Karen’s heart stop.
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