Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR
Christian sold the Obsidian Club.
The building remained.
The chandeliers remained.
The city skyline remained.
But the private lounge on the sixty-eighth floor no longer belonged to him.
He told me over breakfast.
I nearly dropped my coffee.
"You sold it?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
He smiled faintly.
"Bad memories."
I laughed.
"Fair."
He looked at me.
"Also, I want to build something different."
I studied him.
"What?"
He hesitated.
Then said:
"A foundation."
I raised an eyebrow.
"After everything we learned about foundations?"
He laughed.
"A real one."
He explained.
Independent oversight.
Transparent finances.
Programs supporting young people who had lost parents to violence.
Scholarships.
Legal assistance.
Counseling.
I stared.
"Why?"
Christian looked down.
"Because I know what it's like to inherit a life you didn't choose."
My heart tightened.
He continued.
"And I want other people to have choices."
I took his hand.
"That's a good reason."
He smiled.
"Would you help?"
I looked at him.
"Doing what?"
"Making sure we don't become the kind of people who forget why we started."
I laughed softly.
"That's a full-time job."
He nodded.
"I'll pay you."
I shook my head.
"Christian."
He smiled.
"Fair salary. Independent authority. No special treatment."
I considered him.
Then said:
"I want my own office."
He laughed.
"Done."
"And the right to disagree with you."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You already have that."
I smiled.
"Good."
He leaned closer.
"And one more thing."
My heart raced.
"What?"
He took out a small velvet box.
I froze.
"Christian."
He looked nervous.
The man who had faced assassins without flinching was nervous.
He opened the box.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
Smaller than Victoria's.
More beautiful.
"Maya Cole," he whispered, "you saved my life before you knew my name."
My eyes filled.
"You saw danger when everyone else saw luxury."
He swallowed.
"And you reminded me that power means nothing if you don't know what to protect."
Tears slid down my cheeks.
He took a breath.
"I don't want a merger."
I laughed through tears.
"I should hope not."
He smiled.
"I want a life."
He looked into my eyes.
"With you."
My heart pounded.
"Maya, will you marry me?"
I stared.
Then whispered:
"Yes."
Christian's eyes widened.
"Yes?"
I laughed.
"Yes, you impossible man."
He slipped the ring onto my finger.
Then kissed me.
May you like
And for the first time, the most feared man in Manhattan looked completely, beautifully ordinary.
Happy.
