“They are sapphire gemstones and the metal is twenty-four karat gold.” An assistant entered the room and Oliver nodded to him.
“Do you have anything… more subtle?” Emily asked as she chewed her lip. Twenty-four karat gold? Sapphires? She dared not ask how much it was, and there was no price tag. Of course, there’s no price tag. Emily was no stranger to expensive clothes and jewelry. But this was on an entirely different level.
Oliver surveyed her for a moment, then motioned for his assistant. The young man sped to his side and leaned in for Oliver to whisper something into his ear. Emily watched on curiously and swayed side to side slightly on her heels. Noelle had given her the most unpractical pair of shoes and insisted she wear them. She longed to kick them off and walk around barefoot, though she would never do that in public.
“Here, let’s see how this does?” Oliver unfastened the sapphire necklace and handed it to his assistant, who gingerly held it in his nimble hands. Oliver turned and held out a delicate string of white and yellow diamonds. Emily admired the way it sparkled in the spotlights.
“They look like sunflowers,” she said barely above a whisper. Oliver nodded.
“Yes, that is because they are sunflowers,” he said as he fastened the back. He stood away and held up the mirror. Emily touched the necklace lightly and stared at the mirror in wonderment.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, mostly to herself. The necklace was light, and a string of sunflowers danced across her collarbone.
“How much?” she asked. Thinking she would buy it herself. David had already paid for her clothes. She didn’t feel comfortable letting him buy her expensive jewelry too.
“For you, Mrs. Marks, I wouldn’t accept anything more than the cost price.” The skin around Oliver’s eyes creased as he smiled at Emily with his hands pressed together. “Three hundred thousand.”
Emily resisted the urge laugh. Three hundred thousand dollars? Suddenly, the necklace weighed heavy on her chest as anxiety flooded her veins. Act natural. You’re a billionaire housewife, remember? That’s like pocket change for the Marks family. She couldn’t stand the thought of having David pay for this necklace. The price tag was the same as her mortgage. There was no way she could raise enough money. How could she keep up the act that she was David’s wife and get out of the jewelers without the necklace?
Emily did not have to worry, because the door flung open and David charged in. His brows heavy set and his face in a brooding expression.
“Sorry, Oliver, we need to leave.” He nodded to Joffrey and Robert who walked out of the room. Emily’s hands shot up to the necklace and she fumbled with the clasp.
“I hope everything is okay?” Oliver asked mildly as he carefully took the necklace from her hands.
Emily didn’t wait another moment. This was her opportunity to get out of there. “Thank you for your help. I’m sorry we couldn’t stay longer,” she said politely and made for the door. David stayed behind.
“Can I see that?” she heard him say to Oliver just before the door swung shut.
Having come from a dark room, the sunlight was blinding and Emily squinted to allow her eyes to adjust. The busy rush of the New York traffic flooded her ears and she basked in the sound for a few moments, taking a deep breath of taxi fumes in the air.
“Mrs. Marks.” Emily’s eyes snapped open and she blinked looking for the owner of the voice. Robert was standing in front of her and shifted to the side to block the sunshine from hitting her eyes.
“Please, will you call me Emily,” she said exasperated. The bodyguards knew this was a charade. They didn’t need to make her feel any more uncomfortable. Robert inclined his head.
“As you wish. Mr. Marks has asked me to take you to the car.” Emily nodded to him and followed him into the limousine idling a few feet away. As she lowered herself into the car, she caught sight of David approaching, hot on his heels.
“Everything okay?” she asked, once they were both seated and the car door closed.
“I need you to do me another favor.” David’s look was severe. His eyes bore into hers and sent flurries of excitement through her.
“What is it?” she asked, wondering what he could possibly need from her.
“Henry, take us to the registry office. Robert should have given you the address.”
Henry nodded and a small divider raised to the ceiling and hid the front of the car from view. David turned back to Emily, she cocked a brow at him.
“I need you to marry me. Today.”
Emily’s mouth fell open.
Chapter Sixteen
Big Promises
David’s heart was racing. He stared into Emily’s dark eyes and searched for a sign. He wasn’t sure what kind of sign he was looking for, exactly. Happiness? Excitement? Fear? Emily’s expressive face was a mixture between forlorn and sympathy. Not exactly the response he was hoping for. But time had run out. If they didn’t do this quick, everything would be in vain.
David took a breath and told Emily the news. His grandmother had taken a bad turn and was requesting for everyone to come. Her anticipated birthday party was going to take place as soon as the guests arrived. That wasn’t all. David’s father explained that his grandmother’s lawyer would require evidence of David’s marriage to Emily. Faking a relationship wasn’t enough.
Emily graciously agreed. David clenched his jaw and silently berated himself. This was not going the way he planned. Now that he had developed feelings for Emily, he wanted to make things right. Tell her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He wanted to have an honest relationship with her. They were on the way to the justice of the peace to get married, and there was no time to explain why he needed the share in the family
