44
One Month Later
“A Crumbling Empire? What Next for Lemaiyan Group After Amanda's Exit and Erika Lemaiyan’s Entry? Also Inside: Never Seen Before Couple Photos of Amanda Lemaiyan and Lucas Erikson”
Amanda pushed the notification away and made a mental note to unsubscribe from that and all other news outlets that tended to push celebrity gossip to her inbox.
She wasn’t interesting in keeping up with what the internet thought about her. She was even less interested in keeping up with gossip about the Lemaiyans.
“We are here,” the driver said, bringing the car to a stop. Amanda’s gaze shifted to the outside. They had arrived at the docks.
She put her phone into her bag and got out when the driver opened the door for her.
Closing the door, he went to the back to retrieve her suitcase.
“I’ll help you bring it to the boat,” he said, leading the way down the dock.
“Thank you,” she told him, going after him. She saw Lucas the moment his boat came into sight.
He stepped off the deck and onto the dock, a smile lighting up his face as she got closer. Finally, he took her in his arms and swirled her around, before putting her down to her feet and pressing a kiss to her lips.
Then he pulled back, grinning. “You’re here.”
“I am,” she agreed, then gave him a quick peck. “Captain.”
He laughed, then took hold of her hand to bring her onto the boat.
David had already placed the suitcase beside the door, and he stepped away. “Have a safe voyage, Ms. Amanda, Mr. Erikson.”
“Thank you, David,” Amanda thanked him.
David, who Helena had assigned to Amanda a month ago, made the walk back to the car.
“I’m so excited,” Amanda said, turning back to Lucas.
He gave her another quick kiss. “Me too. Sure you won’t get sick of me after a few weeks of being stuck with me in the waters?”
“We’ll have to see,” she teased.
Pulling away, he picked up her suitcase and opened the door leading inside. He carried the luggage into the main salon, and she followed him inside.
They were setting off for a two-month voyage, during which they intended to visit a lot of places.
It would take them far away from everything and everyone else, give them a break before they got back for a new beginning.
A new beginning that was long overdue.
A lot had happened in the past month.
The Boltons had engaged Charles in a closed doors legal battle, with the former demanding compensation for every last cent the Lemaiyans had defrauded of them. Charles had two options—pay up quickly and quietly, or fight and face the Boltons in a very public lawsuit that would leave his conglomerate suffering from sinking stock prices and his family a bad reputation once his scheme was revealed.
He choose to do it privately. By the time the lengthy meetings between the legal teams from both sides were done, weeks had passed, and in the end, Charles ended up paying every last cent he owed. He also has to give up his seventy percent share of Lemaiyan Fits, transferring it to Amanda.
Concerning Amanda’s exit from the family business, Lemaiyan Group gave a short statement that indicated she had decided to work with her mother’s family instead. A few days later, Rebecca was quoted in an interview saying, “Amanda’s maternal grandmother has always been fond of her, and she always wanted to bring her over to their side. I guess she finally won.”
They made it sound as if Amanda had decided to switch loyalties from her father’s side to her mother’s family, and the public ate it up. Considering how vocal Amanda had been about the things Adeline Bolton had been passionate about, it wasn’t a hard tale to sell.
But while the Lemaiyans got themselves out of that bind without ruining their reputation, they made headlines for another reason.
Erika Lemaiyan.
Erika, Simon’s twin sister who Charles had never acknowledged as part of the family.
Her appearance created a buzz that was now sharing the limelight with the gossip surrounding Amanda and Lucas.
According to word Amanda had received from Cara, the twins were all about getting into the family business. Simon, who until then had appeared to be disinterested in the business, was now quite active during board meetings.
For Rebecca, it was business as usual. Amanda, who she had always thought was her biggest threat, had left, only to create space for two more threats.
That night, while the boat sailed smoothly on the calm waters with the starlit sky in sight, Amanda stood at the bow, feeling the warm ocean breeze in her face. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the coming couple of months.
Two months in which she wouldn’t have to worry about anything. Or think about anything other than how to best spend her time with the person she wanted to be around every minute of the day.
She was afraid she might like it so much that she wouldn’t want to ever go back. Not a good idea, given she had a company waiting back home.
She felt Lucas before she saw him. And before she could turn around to face him, he wrapped his hands around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“How are you liking it?” he whispered, his warm breath caressing her cheek.
“Very much,” she replied, smiling.
“I’m glad,” he said, then released one of his hands and reached for his trouser pocket. “I found something.”
“Yeah?”
He lifted his hand to her line of sight. Something small and shiny glowed, reflecting the boat lights.
A ring.
“Lucas?” she whispered, eyes stuck on it.
“I know normal people don’t propose after only one month of dating,” he said, “but I’ve actually had this ring way longer than that. I was thinking of asking you to marry me even before you became my girlfriend. I figured it wouldn’t do me no good to be so excited.”
Amanda pressed a hand to her lips, smothering her chuckles. “You’re crazy.”
“That I am, for you. Have been, since that first night we spent together.” Then he turned her around in his arms so that they were face to face. “Am I going too fast?”
She shook her head, smiling. “No, you’re doing good.”
She had spent the most part of the past year going slow, remaining behind lines that kept her from being truly honest with her deepest feelings. But now, she was done walking around as if on egg shells. She loved this man, she trusted him, and he made her happier than anyone or anything had ever. He had slowly broken down her walls, crept into the deepest corner of her heart, and settled there. She wanted to keep him there, forever.
Lucas held her left hand in his then went down on one knee. Holding the platinum band in his other hand, he looked up at her. “Amanda, you’re the love of my life. And I want to be with you for a very, very long time. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she replied, maybe a little too fast, a little too loud. As fast and as loud as her heart was beating as he slipped the band onto her ring finger.
It fit perfectly, as if it was made for her. And it looked so beautiful, with its elegant platinum band half-set with diamonds.
Then he was on his feet again and kissing her, sending her thudding heart into overdrive.
When they pulled apart for air, he reached down and hooked one arm behind her knees, the other supporting her back. She shrieked in excitement as he lifted her into the air, then turned towards the door leading into the boat.
“I have a great idea on how we can begin the rest of our lives.”
She wrapped her hands around his neck and smiled at him coyly. “Why don’t you show me, Captain?”
Later, while they lay tangled up in sheets and each other’s limbs, Amanda found herself unable to stop smiling.
It wasn’t all that long ago that she had felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. As if everything around her was falling apart, and there was nothing and no one to hold on to.
But now?
She felt perfectly at home. In the midst of all the chaos in her life, she had found Lucas, and he had turned out to be her anchor.
And in his arms, she felt like she belonged, truly, fully, for the first time ever.
He had won over her heart a long time ago, and she had no intention of taking it back.
Finally, she had found the true love that had evaded her for so long.
She couldn’t be happier that she had found it with him.
THE END
