Chapter 10 - The Walk Beside Her
The sun was setting over the hills of Greenwich, painting the autumn sky in brilliant shades of gold, violet, and deep crimson.
The guests were dancing under a white silk marquee on the lower lawn, the sound of a live jazz quartet drifting softly through the cool evening air.
Nora stood near the edge of the stone terrace, watching the party, her heart at peace.
A heavy, warm hand slipped gently into hers.
She turned to see Elias standing beside her. He had removed his tie, the top button of his white shirt undone, his grey eyes looking down at her with a quiet, permanent devotion.
"How did I do?" Elias asked softly, a small smile touching his lips.
"You were perfect," Nora replied, leaning her shoulder gently against his arm. "Your mother cried."
"She did," Elias agreed, his fingers tightening around hers, bringing her hand up to press a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "And now... my contract with you is officially over."
Nora felt a tiny, bittersweet pang in her chest, though she kept her smile warm. "Yes. I suppose it is."
Elias turned her to face him, taking both of her hands into his, looking down into her brown eyes with total, absolute clarity.
"So I'd like to negotiate a new one," Elias said softly.
Nora raised an eyebrow, amused despite her fluttering heart. "Is that so, Mr. Vescari? What are the terms?"
"No speech lessons," Elias murmured, leaning down until his lips were inches from hers. "No corporate toasts. Just a simple agreement."
"Tell me," Nora whispered.
"You walk beside me," Elias said, his voice thick with emotion as he closed the small distance between them. "At galas, in my home, in your small apartment in Brooklyn, and everywhere else this life takes us. Not behind me, Nora. Not in front of me. Beside me."
Nora looked up into the grey eyes of the man who had torn down an empire's worth of walls just to reach her hand.
She smiled—a radiant, beautiful, fearless smile—and pulled him down to kiss her.
May you like
"Term accepted," Nora whispered against his lips.
And as the golden sunset bathed the estate in warm light, Elias Vescari wrapped his arms around the woman he loved, knowing he would never have to walk alone again.
