Chapter 9: Friendship and Proposal
449 Words
Adrian began visiting Benice's boutique frequently.
Sometimes he came to order clothes.
Other times he simply came to talk.
Their conversations grew longer each time.
Benice felt comfortable around him.
Adrian admired her strength and independence.
One evening he spoke openly.
“Benice,” he said gently, “there is something I need to tell you.”
She looked up from the fabric she was arranging.
“Yes?”
“I admire you very much.”
She laughed softly.
“You admire my clothes?”
“No,” Adrian replied.
“I admire you.”
His words surprised her.
“I built my life from nothing,” she said.
“That takes courage.” Adrian explained.
Benice looked away.
“My past is not something I am proud of.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Your past does not define you.”
He paused before speaking again.
“I would like to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Benice stared at him in shock. “Meaning what?” Benice asked doubting what she heard.
“Marriage” responded Adrian.
“From a billionaire?” Thinking within herself.
But there's something Adrian saw in Benice that others didn't see.
“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent, hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” (Ella Wheeler Wilcox).
The great Michael Angelo saw a piece of marble thrown away by the owner! Immediately, Michael Angelo shouted “it's important and valuable to me. Theres an angel imprisoned on it and I must set it free."
Ah! He saw what others did not see! He saw BEAUTY in that MARBLE! No wonder he became the greatest painter in history.
"We are told never to cross a bridge until we come to it, but this world is owned by men who have crossed bridges in their imaginations far ahead of the crowd.”
Before now, Adrian has perched himself to Benice, introduced his noble birth and the type of family business which he inherited.
“A billionaire asking for my hand in marriage?” asked Benice in disbelief.
“For me, it felt unreal because, if he got to know my history, he wouldn't open his mouth again.” Benice soliloquised.
But Adrian was serious.
Oswald Sanders wrote " Eyes that look are common - Eyes that see are rare.”
But the biggest surprise was still coming.
"I would like to take you to my family," Adrian proposed.
"No, that's too early, we need to know each other very well before introducing me to your parents" Benice suggested.
This suggestion didn't fit well with Adrian who was already desperate to have her.
- Writer
