**Zahra**
"Yeah," he replied with a brief smile curled on his lips.
His assistant raised a sceptical brow at me, and at that moment, my mind couldn't process anything anymore.
"I…thought that's supposed to be our client from the Waltz group. Or…?" His voice cracked as his eyes slowly went back to his boss.
It was as though he murmured some words to him and he nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah…she's the one. I…never expected to see her again though," Mr Smith spoke with the ring in his hand.
I stood there frozen and my mind was numb. I couldn't comprehend what was happening and what all this was leading to.
The shiny diamond ring in his hand was sparkling in the whole place, and it was as though my world shifted.
He…is Smith? How? Does it mean that he has been deceiving me all this time?
My eyes swept over him for the millionth time since I got there, but I kept questioning myself.
As he stared at me, it was as though he could read through me and the guilt was eating at him.
I lowered my gaze in confusion, just maybe I'm hallucinating or dreaming. All of a sudden I felt a hand on my hunched shoulders.
"I…I know I shouldn't have hidden this part of me from you. I do…I shouldn't…," he spoke as his eyes searched my face as though reaching my thoughts and he paused.
A soft gasp escaped from my lips and still my mind couldn't process anything. "Ken? You?! I…!" I didn't know what I was saying at this point.
"That! Listening to my advice now is the best thing, boss, you know. At least let people know who you're for, God's sake," his assistant intruded in our conversation, and he transferred his gaze to him with a wicked stare.
Meanwhile, is he the only one in this category? Situations led to the other, and it wasn't my intention to hide my name from him either.
"I didn't mean to intrude though. But damn…you should do better from now on!" He added as though he doesn't give a damn about his boss' warning stares.
"I don't know what to say but…I…," his voice broke miserably and this diamond ring was still in his hand.
For a moment, a lengthened silence loomed between us and the air was tense with unreadable emotions.
"Actually, the first spot we met was my second home. But I've never bumped into anyone and…," he paused as his eyes studied the ring unhurriedly.
"It has always been with me anywhere I go there and it's as though to me, the universe will find a way to let us meet again."
"We have been friends for just a short while and it seems we have known each other for decades now. And…I've made up my mind to fulfil my promise to you," he revealed, and his mouth curled into an unconscious smile.
I stared at him wordlessly, and I swallowed the saliva in my mouth. Anxiety cooled in the pit of my stomach and the reason I was here seemed to have evaporated from my entire being.
I grasped for air as I took a sharp breath and I took a step to make myself a bit comfortable. I've been standing since I strolled in for what feels like forever.
"Kenneth Smith, I am…" as those words slipped through my lips and I spun towards him, I was taken aback.
My heart skipped a bit, and I didn't understand what was happening - why he thinks he can take such a risk even without thinking deeply about it.
I proposed it earlier, but I knew it was going to be a hard nut to crack. Therefore, I didn't want him to ignore all odds and do this, which seems impossible.
"Wh…at! Ken?" I stammered as a soft gasp escaped from me.
He knelt before me, about to take my hand in his, and for a moment it felt strangely comforting.
"Lily, you don't have to think too much. I've waited for this moment for a while now, and I ask you to be mine," his voice was smooth like velvet as it hung in the air.
I swallowed the lump that lingered in my throat and my mind whirled in disbelief. I only stared, tongue-tied, and before I could respond, he slid the ring on my finger.
It was as though my senses shrugged and my world had been shifted. "Wow! Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Smith!" His assistant screamed as he tried taking a few pictures of us.
How's this even possible? I stared at the diamond ring on my finger and I couldn't help but wonder how a client meeting suddenly turned into a marriage proposal.
"Oh my God! I can't imagine the look on Mrs Smith's face when she hears this great news…especially when she hears it's the same lady you have been talking about nonstop. God!" He added.
As he spoke, Ken's eyes couldn't leave my face, and I kept wondering if he was reading my thoughts. "Are you okay?" He enquired as he planted a peck on my hand before he rose to his feet.
I sat there frozen, and I wondered why he made this decision to fulfil this promise, I saw it as impossible at first.
I could feel the weight of the ring, as it was placed on my finger. All this while it's as though all my words have been stuck in my throat and it's just a thought running through my mind.
"Lily," his voice nearly shattered me. "Look at me. I'm here with you and…you know what? You'll be fine," his reassuring words made my mind a bit more relaxed and I gave a nervous nod.
Frankly, I didn't see this part of him for the past few months as we became friends. Or will I say? We met at a spot we both loved.
And yeah, it's been a while since I stepped foot there, even though for the past few months it has been my favourite place, but I don't know why I don't fancy it anymore.
"I…don't know what to say. I…," I blinked rapidly and my voice cracked.
"Hey! You don't have to say anything, Lily. That's why I'm here for you," he responded eagerly without hesitation as he turned my eyes on himself.
His assistant cleared his throat and his eyes went back on him. "Umm…boss, do you think Zahra Kaplan from the Waltz group will still be on her way? Or…we should reschedule the meeting with her CEO ASAP and leave here?"
The moment he voiced out those words, my heart skipped a beat, and my body was shaking. I spun towards him and it was as though my soul jumped out of my body.
"Yeah, I think you should. Because…I can't keep my…"
I cleared my throat and he paused. My eyes slowly went back on Ken and I shivered. I searched anxiously on his face as though I wanted to read my thoughts just so I know how to utter these words.
"I…I am Zahra Kaplan." My voice broke as my fingers felt tensed on my lap.