Master of None

Proposal

Anabelle stood out like a sore thumb in the jewelry store, the most expensive in the city. It was all muted colors. Anabelle was dressed in a bright red vintage dress from the 1940s and her blond hair was up in finger-waves. 

Beside her, Mr. Scott looked like he belonged - in a tailored navy suit, brown shoes, and perfectly coiffed hair. An employee approached him and asked if they could assist. He ignored them and turned to Anabelle instead.

"So what do you think?"

"Well, I think she'll like a ring like she likes her interior design. Simple and modern. Probably a solitary. Do you know if she prefers rose gold, yellow gold, or platinum?"

"Yellow gold."

"Could we see the solitaries with a yellow gold band please?" Anabelle asked the employee. They nodded and showed the way. As they passed another display, Anabelle was distracted by a victorian style ring. It had a large opal as the center stone and diamonds flowered out around it. The whole thing was set in white gold. She had to keep herself from drooling at it - it was her dream ring. But the price tag made her eyes pop out of her skull. 

"Ms. Schnider, what do you think of this?" Mr. Scott called her over to a case containing several simpler styled rings. 

They talked back and forth until they both decided on a yellow gold band with peekaboo diamonds on the side and a whopping 1.75-carat diamond. They walked away from the store with the ring in Mr. Scott's pocket and Annabelle's head spinning from the amount of money he had dropped on it.

"OK, now where should I do it?"

"Huh?"

Mr. Scott turned and looked at her.

"Where should I propose? She's returning tomorrow night and having a party the day after. I was thinking of doing it at the party?"

"Well, I guess. But does she like public stuff like that? Or would she prefer to have something private? Something more personal?"

Mr. Scott thought for a minute. 

"You're right. She doesn't like public stuff. For a reality star, she doesn't like being in the spotlight. She would prefer a quiet proposal."

"All right, so then... what's her favorite place?"

"Her home. Specifically in her studio where she does all her designing."

"So do it there. Get her favorite flowers, order her favorite takeout, and surprise her when she gets there."

"A surprise at her house... flowers, candles, food. A classic proposal. Great idea. Let's go to Crust."

"Crust? That's her favorite takeout? Isn't that the expensive French place?"

He nodded. Anabelle shouldn't have been surprised - of course, a celebrity's favorite restaurant would be a Michelin Star French place. 

The outside of the place was unassuming, but the inside was as Anabelle would expect - white table cloths, crystal and china, and a wall full of top-shelf liquor.

Mr. Scott ordered Mediterranian Muscles, Spiced Duck Breast, Potato Crusted Sea Bass, and Bread Pudding. Emmaline hoped her stomach wouldn't growl, she hadn't eaten since noon and the food smelled divine.

They left the restaurant with four bags of food. They stacked everything into the back of Mr. Scott's car then he drove Anabelle to her apartment building.

"You can go home now. Thank you for all your help." He handed Anabelle a food bag. She looked at him quizically.

"This is my thanks for helping out. It's the sea bass, I remember you said seafood was your favorite. I would've botched this without you."

Anabelle smiled, she couldn't believe he had remembered something she had said in passing. She shrugged. 

"Just gave some pointers, nothing too special."

"Still, those pointers made all the difference. I would've embarrassed myself in front of strangers if I had gone with my original plan and I know she wouldn't have liked it. So really, thank you."

Mr. Scott patted her on the shoulder awkwardly then jumped into his car. Anabelle had to keep herself from running into her building, she was ecstatic to have the chance to eat Crust food. She had always wanted to try it, but it was so dang expensive she could never bring herself to. 

The excitement was worth it, her first bite of the sea bass was buttery perfection. She wanted to dissolve into a puddle of delight just from the taste. She scarfed the whole thing down in what seemed like seconds then went to get ready for bed. 

Her phone dinged as she was washing her face - a photo of a feminine hand wearing the ring they had just picked out. Then Mr. Scott captioned it with 'She said yes!"