Chapter 14 - THE PROPOSAL AT TABLE SIX
Dante proposed at Lombardi's Prime.
The restaurant had become successful again.
Marco remained head chef.
The employees were treated fairly.
The kitchen was clean.
The food was excellent.
And table six had become a small legend among the staff.
---
One evening, Dante invited Sonia to dinner.
She arrived wearing a dark green dress.
He stood when she approached.
“Beautiful,” he said.
She smiled.
“You're biased.”
“Completely.”
They sat.
Ordered dinner.
Talked.
Laughed.
Then dessert arrived.
A small chocolate cake.
Sonia frowned.
“What's this?”
Dante smiled nervously.
“Something special.”
She looked at him.
“You're acting strange.”
He laughed.
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
He took a breath.
Then stood.
Sonia's heart began pounding.
Dante walked around the table.
Kneeling beside her chair, he took her hand.
“Sonia.”
Her eyes filled.
He smiled.
“The first time I met you, you thought I was a stranger who needed help.”
She laughed through tears.
“You were muddy.”
“Very.”
“And rude.”
“Occasionally.”
He smiled.
“You risked your job to protect someone you didn't know.”
His voice trembled.
“You reminded me that kindness isn't weakness.”
Sonia covered her mouth.
Dante continued.
“You taught me that power means nothing if it doesn't protect people.”
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
“Sonia Mitchell, will you marry me?”
She stared.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
The restaurant erupted in applause.
Marco appeared from the kitchen wiping his eyes.
Luca grinned.
Emma cheered.
Robert stood beside the bar, crying openly.
Dante slipped the ring onto Sonia's finger.
May you like
Then kissed her.
And for the first time, table six held a memory neither of them wanted to forget.
