The Bodyguard

Chapter 38 - Birthday Gifts

Three months later I’m almost finished with college and Gabriel and I are discussing plans for after. He’s keen for me to move in with him and find a job in Lakeland City, but I’ve not decided yet. I keep putting him off because although we love each other intensely and we spend all our weekends together, we’ve only been together for five months. It’s pretty fast by anyone’s measures and I’m still young. If I’m completely honest the idea is terrifying me. It’s such a huge commitment and I don’t know anyone in Lakeland City apart from him.

Amy has already accepted a job in Paris to start in August and her and Dex have decided they will end their relationship when she goes. This seems crazy to me, why would they carry on seeing each other when they’ve put an end date on their relationship? Why wouldn’t Dex want to move with her? Either way my opinion doesn’t matter and since she’s moving, getting a place with her isn’t an option.

Sophia and Jeff are moving in together close to college, neither of them have jobs lined up but they love the area and plan to stay.

Kate is moving back home to her parents who live in the south, not that I’d consider her an option anyway.  We drive each other crazy.

I have no job offer yet so I should probably let that make my decision. I just can’t bring myself to look for a job near Gabriel or anywhere else because that’s the equivalent of making a decision.  As usual I'm waiting for something to come along and land in my lap and allow that to dictate my living arrangements.

It’s my birthday tomorrow and I know Gabriel has something special planned, but he won’t give me any clues. I’ve tried asking Amy but she’s being an annoyingly excellent accomplice.

I go to bed with butterflies in my stomach. It’s the first birthday I’ve got to spend with Gabriel and he’s over the top at the best of times. I hope he’s not going to be too extravagant since I don’t usually make a fuss.

I’m woken up by my phone buzzing and I see it’s Gabriel calling me. It’s a Friday, but since it’s my birthday I didn’t set my alarm, I’ve handed in most of my work now so had gifted myself a day off. Gabriel didn’t know that though so I can’t be mad with him.

“Good morning beautiful birthday girl!” He yells excitedly.

“Hey,” I reply sleepily.

“Sorry baby did I wake you? I thought you’d be on the way to class by now.”

“I’ve finished most of my work so I figured I deserved a day off,” I explain.

“Of course you do beautiful. Well today is going to be the best birthday ever, just leave it to me. I’ll be with you after lunch and I’m taking you out somewhere lovely for dinner.”

“Ok, what should I wear?”

“Don’t worry about that, I can help you choose when I arrive.”

He ends the call telling me he loves me and can’t wait for later.

I treat myself to brunch out at the bakery and a walk in the sunshine. I come home to shower before Gabriel arrives and I’m still in my robe when the doorbell goes. He’s seen me like this enough times now so I don’t worry as I go to open the door for him.

“Happy birthday!” He shouts before I've even opened the door. I can’t help but laugh at the thought of his face if someone else had answered.

I go to hug him, but an enormous box and bag get in my way. We head to my room and he presents them to me with his trademark grin.

The large rectangular box is white with a silver bow, which I untie slowly enjoying the anticipation of the beautifully wrapped gift. Inside is a black dress, it’s made of the softest material and feels expensive. I pull it out and turn it around and I notice it’s backless with an intricate web of silver metal down the back. It’s so unusual and stunning. By the looks of it it’ll reach just below my knees and the back is gathered where the lower back meets the silver chain.

“Do you like it beautiful?”

“I love it! It’s so pretty, can I wear it tonight?” I ask eagerly.

“That was the plan!” Gabriel chuckles and hands me the bag.

I see the name on the side and freeze.

Jimmy Choo

He’s got to be kidding me.

I pull out the box and lift the lid nervously half expecting this to be a joke. But inside are a pair of the highest silver strapped shoes I’ve ever seen. They are the perfect accessory to the dress and closed toed which makes me smile. He does know me really well.

“Thank you,” I tell him with slight tears in my eyes. “No one has ever bought me anything like this before.”

“Well you are my queen and as such you deserve the best.”

I’m itching to get ready over the next few hours. I feel guilty for wishing my day away but I just can’t wait to be able to wear my new gifts.

When I’m finally ready I feel like royalty. It’s changing the way I stand and move, I can see I look good and my confidence is at an all time high as a result.

Gabriel still won’t tell me where we’re going but I know it’s fairly local because we’re here rather than at his place.

I see Ford waiting with the black Mercedes as I step outside and I realise it’s been months since I last saw him. I greet him warmly and ask how he’s been to which he replies that he's been away.  I ask him where and he tells me he’s been busy on a project away for Gabriel, who ushers me into the car, ending the conversation quite abruptly. That was slightly rude, maybe he’s just in a hurry, I know he hates to be late.

I look over at Gabriel who is seated beside me wearing an immaculate grey suit with pristine black shoes and looks edible. He still manages to outshine me even in my new attire.

We pull up outside The Park Hotel and I smile. The place he took me on our first evening date, the night we first slept together. How romantic!

He opens my door and takes my hand as he greets the uniformed man at the door. He leads me to the restaurant and this time the lady on the desk sees me and smiles like she knows me. I smile back not sure why she’s looking at me like that and we follow her inside. She takes us through the restaurant and outside into a small, but beautiful terrace overlooking the park. It’s stunning and covered in fairy lights and lanterns. It is busy tonight and full of people, but it’s only when I notice Amy’s irritating smirk that I realise they are my people!

Amy is sat with Dex, Sophia, Jeff and Kate. Anna is here with Matt, Gabriel’s sister Cathy, her husband Chris and Jill. Oh my word, there's my Mom and Peter who are sat with, wait, is that my dad and his new ‘lady friend’ as he calls her.

I’m brought out of my trance when they all shout, “surprise!”

I’m stunned into silence and I just look at Gabriel open mouthed and he smiles at me lovingly saying, “happy birthday beautiful.”

“Speech!” Shouts Amy and I glare at her.

“Errrr...” I begin nervously. “Thank you all for making the effort to come here and surprise me, I’m in shock right now so I will don't know what else to say other than thanks. Thank you especially to you Gabriel for organising all this.” I add.

“Anything for you my love,” he tells me then addressing all our guests he says, “thank you all for coming tonight. As you know this beautiful woman whose birthday we're here to celebrate is very special to me, she’s become my everything and I have asked her to move in with me when she graduates next month.”

Why is he telling everyone this when he knows I’m undecided? Is he hoping he will change my mind and force the decision? That isn’t fair.

“I can’t imagine spending my life without you Kristen, you are my whole world.” He pauses and reaches into his jacket pocket.

What is happening right now?

He takes out a small black velvet box and kneels on one knee in front of me.

Oh god, he’s not is he?

“Please make me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life by your side.”

He didn’t actually ask the question, as usual it’s a statement, an order and not a question, no 'will you' in sight. At least he said please, that’s something I guess. I know I’m being selfish and ridiculous picking at his words when he’s organised all this for me, but I can’t help feeling slightly trapped by the fact he never asks what I want. He only tells me what he wants and I get ‘punished’ in his own special way if I don’t comply. I enjoyed it the first couple of times, but it’s wearing thin now and I just try to keep in line and avoid upsetting him so we don’t have to go there again.

I look over and see my Mom who is smiling and nodding with tears in her eyes. She’s never looked prouder of me. I look over at my Dad who is smiling too and gives me an awkward thumbs up to demonstrate his approval.

I look at Gabriel’s handsome face and I know I won’t do any better than him. I do love him and it’s not like I can turn him down so publicly without losing him. I decide I’ll say yes and then discuss a very, very long engagement with him when we’re alone.

It’s not like he’s asking me to marry him right now is it? I look at his face and he’s waiting for an answer to the question he didn’t actually ask.

“Yes.” I reply shyly and that’s all it takes, my guests cheer and Gabriel scoops me into his arms.

“I love you and you’ve made me the happiest man alive by saying yes to me," he whispers in my ear.

He takes the ring out and slides it onto the finger on my left hand that has always remained bare until now. Of course, just like the dress and the shoes, it fits perfectly.

I finally see the ring, which I hadn’t even noticed before and like everything Gabriel has and does, it’s ostentatious and showy yet classy. There is a swirl of small diamonds surrounding a huge rock all set in a platinum band. It’s stunning, of course it is. It’s nothing less than I would have expected from Gabriel to his future wife.

Future wife... the weight of that title hits me and the anxiety I’ve felt many times before accompanies it.

On the one hand, Gabriel is handsome, rich, charming, totally out of my league really and I could never get another man like him. He’s crazy to love someone like me.

On the other hand, he’s possessive, controlling, has anger issues and kinks I’m not sure I’m into. He will have control over even more of my life if I move in with him let alone marry him and I already feel suffocated.

I sit down at the head of the huge table and as we order our food and everyone is enjoying the champagne Gabriel bought to celebrate our engagement, I can’t help thinking that the one thing I am sure of is I’m not ready to marry him. This needs to be a long engagement and I’m going to have to be very strong if I’m going to get my way. This will not be a battle I’ll win easily.