THE WEIGHT OF THE RING

Chapter 5: The Weight of the Ring

The air in the master suite felt heavy like it was made of lead. Elena stood in front of the mirror. She did not recognize the person staring back at her. She was wearing a midnight-blue silk gown that Julian had sent her. It was a gift. It felt like a trap.

"A year " she said to herself, her fingers touching the hollow of her throat. "One year as a Vane."

The door to the dressing room. Julian walked in. He was wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He looked like a billionaire. He was holding a box and the diamond inside was catching the light.

"The investors are here, " Julian said, his voice cold. "The people from France are already at the bar. They want a perfect story. If they sense any problems they will pull out of the deal."

Elena turned to face him, her silk skirts making a sound on the floor. "What about me? What happens to my life while I am pretending to be your fiancée? I have a business to run. I have a reputation to protect."

Julian stepped closer to her, the box in his hand. "Your business will be very successful. You will be the woman who changed me. You will be the one who made Julian Vane commit to someone."

He took her hand. His touch was like electricity. He put the ring on her finger. It felt heavy. It was like a weight that was holding her down.

"It's too big, " she said, looking at the ring.

"It's a Vane family heirloom " Julian replied, his eyes finally meeting hers. "Its meant to be noticed."

The rehearsal dinner was being held in the ballroom. The room was full of people and they were all talking in hushed tones. There were investors, Manhattan socialites and reporters trying to get a story.

Silas and Penelope were in the center of the room and Silas looked happy.. Penelope looked like she was waiting for something to go wrong.

"Julian! Elena!" Silas called out raising his glass. "The moment we have all been waiting for!"

The room went silent. All eyes turned to them. Elena felt a twitch in her eye. Julian's hand on her back was steady.

A man approached them, his eyes sharp behind his glasses. "Julian, I am Mr. Moretti from the Bisset Group. I was just saying how much I appreciate the values in my partners."

Julian did not blink. "Then you will be happy to hear our news, " he said.

The dinner was like torture with five courses. Elena played her part perfectly laughing and talking to the guests.. As the dessert was being served the pressure became too much.

"Julian, don't keep us waiting, " Silas said, his voice carrying across the room. "I think you had something to ask Elena?"

Julian stood up and the room was silent. He looked at Elena and for a moment his mask slipped. She saw a glimmer of Julian, the one who was haunted by his past.

He did not get down on one knee because Julian Vane did not kneel for anyone. Instead he took her hand. Pulled her up to stand beside him.

"Five years ago " Julian began, his voice echoing in the room. "I made a mistake. I let my pride blind me to a beautiful woman. I spent five years trying to forget her. I couldn't."

He turned to Elena, his grip on her hand tightening. "I didn't hire you to plan my brother's wedding. I hired you because I couldn't imagine my life without you in it."

He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a small piece of paper. It was the floor plan from the night of the viral video, the one he had mocked.

"Elena Rossi, " Julian said, his voice thick with emotion. "Will you marry me?"

The room erupted in cheers and applause. The reporters were taking pictures. The French investors were. Silas was cheering.

Elena looked at the paper in Julian's hand. She felt a shiver run down her spine. He had kept it all these years as evidence of her failure.

"Yes " she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise. "Yes Julian."

He pulled her into a kiss. It was like the whole world had disappeared. There were no investors, no cameras, no reporters. There was the heat of his body.

As he pulled away he leaned into her ear, his breath hot. "Don't get too comfortable Elena " he whispered. "The merger is signed in the morning and after that we have a problem."

"What problem?" she hissed back her smile fixed for the cameras.

"Look at the door, " Julian murmured.

Elena. She saw a woman standing at the entrance of the ballroom. It was Julian's mother. She was flanked by the head of the rival firm Julian was trying to absorb.

The merger was not a victory, it was a trap. And the ring on Elena's finger was no longer a shield, it was a target.