Proposal

Laura.

My phone pings with a text beside my desktop, and I quickly halt typing, pick it up, and read.

“Girl, I think your boyfriend’s about to propose to you today! Congratulations!”

A startled gasp sneaks out of my mouth. The phone falls from my grip, drawing the attention of my co-workers, Martin and Gray.

They give me a weird look, and I chuckle half-heartedly.

“Are you okay, Laura?” They chorus.

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Totally,” I grin and cut my gaze away from them.

I can’t believe what I just read! Liam is proposing today? Oh my god!

My boyfriend has finally decided to seal our love forever.

I pick my phone back up and reread the text from Tessa, my cousin’s friend who works in the jewelry store a few meters away from Liam’s house.

And yep, she’s sent a picture for proof.

I look at the ring, glinting off the sunlight, and spot a bright smile tipping up my lips.

Another text comes in.

“And it’s a ten-carat diamond ring, Laura! I’m so happy for you!”

I stop to breathe completely, blinking away the tears that are welling up in my eyes.

It’s really going to happen! My boyfriend of three years is about to propose.

Liam is the only guy I’ve ever been with, and that’s because he swept me off my feet the first time we met in a café. He literally narrated all the scenes in Romeo and Juliet! So apt.

Maisie used to say men in this century don’t love the way I want to be loved — simple, thoughtful, and polite.

But then I met Liam.

When Maisie met him, she blatantly told me the relationship wouldn’t last, but Liam and I waxed stronger for three years, and now he’s about to propose.

The way he talks to me and his gentle, kind of love with less heat totally ticked all my boxes in a man.

And then in the café, he asked to be the Romeo in my Juliet, and without wasting time, I said yes to him.

That’s how we began dating three years back, right after I moved to L.A. with my cousin, Maisie.

I work to pull myself together and shoot a text to Tessa.

I check the time. Five minutes to lunch break.

I quickly start packing up the files on my desk, fighting to calm my racing heart.

Obviously, Martin and Gray are still staring at me, wondering what caused a reaction from me that quickly.

I’ve barely talked to them or anyone since I began working at Cryvex, a crypto company, for three years now.

Immediately it hits twelve o’clock on the dot, I leave my desk hurriedly and excitedly, and advance to the glass door at the same time as others and push it open.

The company’s building is bustling as usual, even from this third floor, and it’s floored with natural light from the massive glass ceiling.

I prance through the marble corridor covered with glass balustrade, into the elevator, hitting the button for the ground floor.

I truly can’t wait for work to close before heading over to Liam’s. I’d better do it now because the excitement is truly killing me.

Thankfully, I’m the only one in the elevator. So, I use that opportunity to adjust my black plaid skirt and powder blue shirt.

The elevator dings when it reaches the ground floor, and I walk out, strutting past the foyer to the employees’ garage where I parked my old sedan.

I got it second-hand with my first paycheck from Cryvex from an old couple on my street, and the price was very cheap. Unfortunately, it breaks down more than it works, but what can a girl do?

I shove inside, pulling the broken door shut, and then step on the pedal.

The engine revs, signaling me to drive out. With so much energy, I hit the road.

Liam stays on Melrose Avenue, and according to G****e Maps, it’s just a twenty-minute drive from Cryvex.

I hit the road like I own it. I probably do at this point. I mean, I’m getting engaged to my boyfriend. It’s enough to drive me wild.

The moment I reach his apartment complex, I park the car on the curb. Seeing Liam’s metallic Ford car parked before mine is yet another confirmation that it’s truly happening.

I breeze through the front door, waving at Mars, the rotund security guy who’s always asleep whenever I come here.

I’m surprised he’s awake now.

“Ms. Laura…I don’t think now’s the best time to…”

I’ve already moved into the elevator before I realize he’s talking to me.

Oops.

I’ll have to catch up with him later. Now, I’ve something more important to attend to.

I raise my fingers to know if they’re in good shape. I’ve never had a manicure before, apparently because of money, but I’d have used my last penny to treat myself to one if I had known earlier Liam was proposing today.

My nerves hit when I reach his floor and the elevator doors flutter open. I swallow past the nerves and strut down the long hall until I reach his door.

It's locked, but I have my keys. I pluck it gently from my bag and slide the key card through the panel. The door creaks open with ease, and I enter.

Here we are, the place I’ll turn from Miss to Mrs.

Mrs. Stonovich.

Liam’s father is Russian, according to what he told me, but I’ve never seen him or heard anything more about him.

The apartment smells just like him, and is as unkempt as usual. That’s how I always know he’s at home.

The TV’s on, blasting off some reality show.

On the almond sofa lies his wallet and car keys, and the receipt of the ring he got for me.

When I look at the price, my heart practically skips. Two hundred thousand grand.

I know Liam has money, but this much?

I must be the luckiest girl on earth then because I only feed from hand to mouth and have never known luxury.

Dropping the receipt, I head into the hallway that connects to his master bedroom. The door’s ajar with the sunlight streaming in through the window.

I let myself in, and I see his clothes strewn over the floor, but he’s nowhere in sight. So typical.

I crouch down and gather the jeans and his briefs, heading to the bed to drop it. But my hands hang mid-way when I see another pile of clothes on his bed.

A peach-colored backless dress and a white, rumpled G-string panties.

Those aren’t mine, I hum inwardly. My grip on his clothes loosens, and I slowly pick the panties, inspecting it.

Who could this belong to?

Still wondering and twirling the G-string, a noise, more like a moan, streams from the bathroom.

My forehead crinkles. I don’t even know when the panties slip from my grip as I advance toward the bathroom.

The shower’s on, the rapid beats of the water on the tiles muffling whatever sound that’s coming from there. I almost think that I had imagined that moan.

But I will my legs to keep moving until I approach the door and nudge it open.

A soundless gasp trails from my lips. My eyes widen as I doubt if this is happening for real!

If Liam is in the shower with another woman, a blonde, banging her in the shower, her back pressed against the wall.

The thunderous beats of my heart serve as solid proof that I’m not imagining things.

It’s really happening.

The girl’s legs are wrapped around his waist. His dick lodged perfectly inside her.

Her face contorts from pleasure. Her mouth dropped open, gushing mewls and praises to Liam’s name.

Now, I can hear it clearly, even through the beats of the shower, their pounding sex.

I can’t see Liam’s face, but his groans are enough proof that he’s enjoying this.

Enjoying cheating on me.

“Yes, Lee. Harder.” She cries, her eyes rolling skyward now. “I shouldn’t have broken up with you before. Fuck, I miss this,”

My body’s literally frozen. I can’t even speak despite the need to lash out, burning through my veins.

The only thing I feel is tears running down my cheeks.

Liam’s pace picks up. He groans, kissing the girl on the lips.

“I’m coming,” His hoarse words reach my ears.

“Oh, yesss…cum inside me,”

She shrieks and digs her fingers into his back, mapping them on it.

That’s when I see it.

The diamond ring.

That’s when my powers of speech return with force, and I let out.

“Really, Liam? You…are giving someone else my ring and fucking her in your shower?”

The way I shouted had both of them pausing, their eyes landing on me--- Liam’s wide with shock, but as the girl’s eye lands on me, it shines with recognition.

It makes my brows furrow. I give her a deep look, taking in her square jaw, crooked nose, and brown eyes.

And I remember her.

It’s Bianca.

Liam’s ex-girlfriend.