Ten mountain men for Christmas

Jasmine POV I sat on my couch staring at the steam rising from my untouched cup of tea. My hands trembled a little, not from fear but from excitement. My heart had been racing since morning. I had rehearsed my words again and again in front of the mirror, even practiced kneeling so I wouldn’t wobble in my heels. Everything felt right. Everything felt perfect. So when Sarah walked into my apartment and dropped her handbag on the table, I didn’t waste a second. “I am going to propose to Charles tomorrow during the company’s Thanksgiving dinner,” I announced. She paused and stared at me. She paused for a long time. She stared at me like I had just confessed to robbing a bank. Then her eyebrows shot up, almost touching her hairline. “Are you sure that’s the best idea?” she asked slowly, soft but firm. She sat next to me, twisting her lips the way she always did whenever she was about to disagree with me. “Jasmine, think about it.” “I have thought about it,” I replied. “For months.” “That’s the problem,” she said under her breath. I gave her a look and she sighed heavily. “I’m not trying to ruin anything for you,” she started. “But Charles… I don’t know. He doesn’t look at you the way someone in love should. He looks at you the way someone looks at an open treasure chest.” I rolled my eyes. “Sarah, not again.” “Please don’t act like you haven’t seen it,” she pushed. “You’re the CMO of one of the biggest companies in the country. You’re literally the heiress to your parents’ multi-million dollar empire. And Charles… he just happens to be around every time money, power, or connections are mentioned. Jasmine, it’s too convenient.” I shook my head and stood up, pacing slowly across the living room. “Charles is not like that,” I defended him. “He comes from a humble beginning, yes, but that doesn’t make him a gold digger. He works hard. He tries his best. And he loves me.” Sarah watched me quietly, almost sadly, like she was looking at someone walking into a storm without an umbrella. “You love him,” she corrected gently. “I am not sure he loves you the same way.” Her words hit deeper than I wanted to admit. For a moment, I felt a small sting in my chest. But I pushed it away. I couldn’t let fear replace certainty. I believed in Charles. I believed in what we had. So I forced a smile. “You will see tomorrow,” I said. “Everything will be perfect.” She didn’t argue further. She only nodded, but her eyes held worry. The same worry she had shown every time I mentioned Charles. The same worry I always ignored. The next day came faster than I expected. I stood in front of my mirror wearing a fitted emerald green gown that hugged my body in the right places. My hair was pulled into a soft bun with loose strands framing my face. I applied a final coat of lip gloss and breathed out slowly. Tonight was the night. The night I would ask the man I loved to spend forever with me. My driver took me to the hotel ballroom where the Thanksgiving dinner was being held. The place was decorated with gold lights, autumn leaves, and warm candles. Laughter filled the air. Clinking glasses. Soft music. Everyone looked happy and relaxed. My coworkers greeted me warmly. Some complimented my dress. Others asked if my parents would be arriving later. I smiled and answered politely, all while my heart beat fast inside my chest. I scanned the room until my eyes found him. Charles. My heart softened immediately. He looked handsome in his dark suit, hair neatly styled, his smile easy and charming as he talked to a group of people. When his eyes met mine, he lifted his hand and motioned me over. I walked to him, trying to calm the swirl of nerves inside me. “Hey, you made it,” he said, giving me a light kiss on the cheek. “Of course,” I replied, smiling. He didn’t notice how my hands shook. He didn’t notice that I kept reaching into my small purse to feel the ring box. He didn’t notice anything except the attention he was getting from others. But I told myself it didn’t matter. He would notice soon. He would see just how much I loved him. Dinner was served. Speeches were made. Toasts were given. Everyone was enjoying themselves. When the CEO finished his end-of-year remarks, I knew it was my moment. My heart pounded. I pushed my chair back and stood. “Uh… excuse me, everyone,” I said, attempting a confident smile. A few heads turned. Then more. Soon, the whole room was looking at me. The lights felt hotter, brighter. For a moment I thought of sitting down but I held my ground. Charles stared at me with a small frown. He looked confused, but not in a bad way. At least, that’s what I thought. “I… I want to say something,” I continued, my voice shaking slightly. “To someone very special.” Some people gasped. Some smiled knowingly. A few pulled out their phones. I turned toward Charles. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to kneel. “Charles,” I began. “You have been my peace on hard days and my partner on good ones. You’ve shown me laughter, patience, and hope. So today, in front of everyone here…” I opened the ring box with trembling hands. “Will you make me the happiest woman and marry me?” Gasps filled the room. Cheers rose immediately. People clapped and chanted his name. “Say yes, Charles!” “Do it!” “Come on, man!” I held my breath. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. I had pictured this moment so many times. Him smiling. Him lifting me up. Him kissing me. Instead… he just stared at me. Silent. Expressionless. The cheers around us slowly faded into confusion. “Charles?” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Charles?” He blinked once. And then, with the coldest tone I had ever heard from him, he said, “No.” Everything stopped. The room went quiet. The air turned heavy. I felt the floor tilt beneath me. My smile fell. My chest tightened painfully. “No?” I repeated, my voice small, shaky. I wondered if I heard wrong. Maybe he misunderstood. Maybe he was joking. Maybe this was all one big mistake. He stepped back slightly, putting distance between us. His face twisted into something unfamiliar and full of disgust. And before I could breathe, he added in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, “Do you think I can marry someone like you?”