Chapter 9 - The Mafia Boss Gave Up His Empire Rather Than Lose HannahOne year later, Vincent stood in the same hallway where Hannah had first touched his scar.
The thirty-seventh floor had changed.
Brighter.
Safer.
More open.
There were flowers near the elevator.
Employees laughed.
Nobody whispered anymore when Vincent walked through the building.
Hannah stood near the supply closet.
Holding a box of printer paper.
Vincent stopped.
“You're blocking the hallway.”
She smiled.
“I own the supply closet.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You stole my line.”
“You taught me.”
He walked closer.
She touched his scar.
“You know,” she whispered, “I still think this is the most important thing that ever happened to me.”
“Which part?”
“The scar.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because it taught me something.”
“What?”
“That sometimes the things people are most afraid to touch are the things that tell the truth.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then handed her a small box.
She frowned.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Inside was a ring.
Not the old ring.
A new one.
Elegant.
Simple.
A single emerald.
Hannah stared.
“Vincent.”
“I don't want a political marriage.”
She laughed.
“Good.”
“I don't want an arrangement.”
“Better.”
“I don't want a wedding that looks like a business transaction.”
She smiled.
“Excellent.”
He took a breath.
“I want a life.”
Her eyes filled.
“With you.”
She looked at the ring.
Then at him.
“You're proposing in front of the supply closet?”
“Yes.”
“That's not romantic.”
“I was trying to recreate the circumstances under which we met.”
“That is possibly the worst proposal in history.”
He smiled.
She laughed.
Then she cried.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Employees began appearing around the corner.
Daniel was there.
Maria too.
Someone started clapping.
Hannah covered her face.
“Oh my God.”
Vincent laughed.
“You're embarrassed.”
“Fourteen people stared at me the first time.”
“There are more than fourteen now.”
She looked around.
The whole floor was watching.
Hannah shook her head.
Then she smiled.
“Fine.”
She kissed him.
The office erupted.
Daniel whispered to Maria.
“Finally.”
Maria smiled.
“I knew.”
Hannah pulled away.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“You promised me dinner.”
“I did.”
“You also promised to stop working late.”
“I lied.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Vincent.”
He smiled.
“I'll try.”
They walked toward the elevator together.
His hand was wrapped around hers.
No guards between them.
No secrets.
No fear.
Just a future.
May you like
The future she once thought he'd blocked.
The future she now realized they had built together.
