Chapter 9 - The New Reign
As the terrified union leaders scrambled out of the room, Arthur walked over to Clara's chair, a wide, proud grin spread across his face.
"That," Arthur declared, leaning down to press a kiss to the crown of her head, "was the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed in this building."
"Numbers don't lie, Arthur," Clara chuckled, leaning back into his touch. "Guns make men afraid for an hour. Audits make men afraid for the rest of their lives."
"God, I love you," Arthur whispered smoothly.
Clara froze, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up at him, her dark eyes wide with sudden emotion.
It was the first time he had said the words out loud.
Arthur looked down at her, his expression softening into complete, unarmored vulnerability. "I love you, Clara. I think I've loved you since the day you corrected my tax estimates six months after you started."
Clara felt tears prickling behind her eyes, but a radiant, beautiful smile broke across her face. She reached up, taking his hand and pressing it to her cheek.
"I love you too, Arthur," she whispered. "More than all the clean books in Boston."
Arthur pulled a small, velvet-lined box from his inner pocket—a box he had been carrying with him for two weeks, waiting for the right moment.
He didn't get down on one knee—he knew Clara hated theatrical nonsense—but he placed the box on the mahogany table in front of her and clicked it open.
Inside rested a stunning, flawless emerald-cut diamond ring, set in platinum, flanked by two deep red rubies.
"I promised myself I would never bring a woman into my world," Arthur said quietly, looking into her eyes. "But you didn't enter my world, Clara. You redefined it. You turned a blood-soaked crime family into a legitimate empire."
He took her left hand, brushing his thumb over her ring finger.
"Run this empire with me. Be my wife."
Clara looked at the sparkling stone, then at the man who had torn apart an army to protect her, who had held her when she was bleeding on his floor, who had given her his trust when he had never trusted another soul in his life.
"On one condition," Clara said, a mischievous spark in her eye.
Arthur laughed softly. "Name it."
"I keep control of the financial books," she said firmly. "Including your personal accounts."
May you like
Arthur smiled, slipping the heavy diamond ring onto her finger where it fit with absolute perfection.
"The books are yours, my love," Arthur whispered, leaning down to capture her lips in a deep, promise-filled kiss. "And so am I."
