Chapter 44 - Anastasia

It's been a month since I heard from Daniel. Best month of my life. He dropped the lawsuit against Harvey, made his mistress settle with the firm, and wired me $10,000,000 all within two days of the opening of mom's will. I guess he finally accepted his defeat.

Harvey and I discussed about celebrating but haven't come around to making any plans yet. However, he has been spending more time here in Boston than he used to. He comes every other afternoon and stays the weekend. I love having him around almost every day. He's definitely making me rethink the whole moving in together proposal.

Today I'm traveling to him, and decided to draft up a pros and cons list about it.

He was out taking care of some last things for work when I got to his place. I was supposed start getting ready for our fancy date once I arrived but I'm kind of tired. And we can't reschedule. Because it's not really a date; Harvey was invited to a birthday gala by a big client of his and asked me to be his plus one since I'd be in town. It would be a bummer to cancel last minute.

As I hear keys turning, I hide away my pros and cons list. "The man of the house has arrived" Harvey says as he walks through the door

"Really? Where is he?" I look around to tease him

"Oh, is this how we're going to play it today?" he chuckles as he puts his things down, "Let me show you who the man of the house is" he smirks as he walks over to me and pulls me in for a kiss.

"We have to be leave in an hour and I have to get ready" I remind him

"I'll be quick"

"I don't want you to be" I smirk.

He bites his lip. I kiss him one more time before heading to the bedroom.

Harvey follows me and stays with me as I do my make-up, my hair and get dressed. He compliments me every time I ask for his opinion and I just melt. He gets ready too, fixing up his hair and putting on his tux which makes me want to cancel our everything and rip it off him already. Damn ovulation week.

•••

Honestly, it isn't half bad. And when I say that, I mean I grabbed some free alcohol and went straight to the buffet. I stuffed my face with food while Harvey was away charming other potential clients.

"Are croquettes keeping you away from me tonight?" he teases as he finds me

"They are delicious. I am so full..." I admit, grabbing one more

"Why did you sneak away from me?" he asks

"I thought you wanted to talk with clients, so I didn't want to be in the way" I answer

"Don't say that, you know I love having you by my side"

"During business?"

"During everything" he smiles and kisses me softly. "God, you look stunning tonight" he says as he pulls away

"You paid a lot for the dress" I remind him that I went shopping with his card.

I fell in love with this dress as soon as I saw it on the window. Emerald green satin fabric, gold accents, off-the-shoulder neckline, snitched at the waist and a cut beginning on my thigh that goes all the way down. I've never worn something as fancy, not even in my own prom.

"I'll pay for a thousand more if they look so good on you. Come on, let me show you around" he places his hand on my back

"Ok, fine" I reply, blushing.

He introduces me to a couple of people and we engage in some smalltalk.

When he notices that I'm getting bored of talking about money and businesses, he moves us over to the back of the floor for some privacy.

"I texted Ray to pick us up. He'll be outside in 10 minutes" Harvey tells me

"Thank God" I sigh relieved. "Until then, how many sliders do you think I can eat in 10 minutes?" I wonder

He just smiles, "I love you" he tells me. "But no, sliders. You gotta see the theater 2nd floor

"They have a theater on the 2nd floor?!" I laugh

"Oh yes" he replies as excited as he takes my hand.

He leads me to another room through a door that is out of sight for most people. I don't question it and just follow him, embracing the fact that we are sneaking out.

We reach a flat of stairs. "Wait..." I stop him and reach down to take my heels off. I can't take another step in them.

To my surprise, Harvey picks me up and carries me up the rest of the way. I feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"Wow, yeah, that's..." I trail off as we enter the huge empty theater.

My words fade out when I see that the stage and stairs are lined with big candles. Two violinists start playing music by the sides of the stage.

I look at Harvey, who smiles at me much more relaxed than before. He takes my hand and leads me to the main stage.

"What..." is the only word I can make out as I let him take me up each step until we are standing in the middle of the stage.

The two of us. In an empty theater. With candles being the only source of light. And the sweet melodies of the violins wrapping around us.

"Do you know what day it is today, Ana?" he asks softly, his fingers gently wrapping around mine.

"It's not any anniversary, I believe"

"It's not" he says, his eyes locked on mine. "But this day last month, we almost got married" he reminds me. "It was rushed. Forced. And deep down, we both felt that it wasn't right. Not because we didn't want to get married, but because it wasn't for the right reasons".

He takes a breath, his voice trembling just slightly.

"Love was never our issue. It never even flickered. It was everything else that got in the way. Time. Distance. Life pulling us in different directions. But we kept coming back. No matter how far we drifted, we found our way to each other again. And piece by piece, we tore down every wall, every excuse, every fear. Until we landed here. Right where we're meant to be".

He lifts my hand to his chest, holding it over his heart.

"Because this... this is where I belong, Ana. Right next to you. I knew it 14 years ago, when I first looked at you. I knew it last month. I know it now. And I'll know it every day I'm lucky enough to wake up next to you".

Tears flow freely down my cheeks before I can stop them. My chest is tight, aching in the most beautiful way.

"I don't care about the distance. Or the noise of other people's opinions. I don't care about anything that tries to stand between us. Because none of it matters when I already have everything I want, everything I've ever hoped for, right here in front of me".

He drops to one knee. His hand reaches into his jacket pocket, trembling just enough to match the pounding of my heart. He doesn't rush. He doesn't need to. His eyes never leave mine.

"You are my whole world, Ana. You always have been. And I would give you everything without a second thought. Because I love you more than I could ever fit into words. And I want you forever. I want the laughter, the fights, the midnight phonecalls, the messy schedules, the beautiful mornings next to you and the quiet moments no one else sees. I want you. All of you".

When he pulls out the ring, my breath catches. It shines in the soft light. An oval-cut diamond, long and luminous, cradled in a platinum setting that tapers like delicate wings around it. Tiny diamonds encrust the band, catching the light with every slight movement, like stars scattered along a silver path.

It's bold, unmistakably regal. But it's still intimate. Personal. It doesn't feel like a show of wealth. It feels like him; thoughtful, intentional, extravagant in the way he loves me.

Harvey stays on one knee, holding the ring like it's something sacred, and not just metal and stone.

"Ana, would make me the happiest man in the universe by giving me the chance to call you my wife? Today, tomorrow and forever".

My knees buckle. I fall to the ground with him, tears streaming freely now. "Yes, yes, yes" I repeat, cupping his face with my shaking hands.

He slips the ring onto my finger and it fits as though it was made for it. "Do you like it? I can get you another it if you hate it. I just went with what I think you like and would wear. I didn't go for cuts like marquise or princess because they would rip your gloves easily if you were to wear it at work, and then I thought--" he begins to ramble

"I love it" I reassure him.

He kisses me.

"Was this planned all along?" I wonder

"You think I'd ever go to a client's 60th birthday just to socialize? I just needed the excuse to bring you here" he explains.

"I love you"

"Love you more".

His arms are around me, holding me so tightly I can feel the tremble in his shoulders, and mine. All the years of missed chances and near-loves collapse into nothing in the warmth of that embrace.

There's no fear now. No doubt. Just us. Finally us.