Jude's Proposal

Rose stretched her arms and squinted her eyes as the sun shone onto her face through between the curtains. She yawned in contentment as she saw the familiar ceiling and the lamp shade stood next to the door to the balcony.

Ah… Heaven! I'm home. Today is my first day as a CEO. I need to rise and shine! You can do it, Rose! She muttered to herself. But as soon as she rolled to the other side of the bed, she was dumbstruck. A dashing sleeping man was lying there. Gosh! What did he do here? As the question popped out in her head, she dumbstruck for the second time that morning as suddenly she thought of…

She pushed the blanket aside and there she looked at herself and oops! Did we make love last night? She gasped.

"What's wrong honey?" Jude murmured next to her ear before he brought her down to back on the bed. His arms around her waist intimately. Rose blinked her eyes.

"Hey, did we er… make love last night?" she asked, feeling a little embarrassed. Jude tightened his arms around her and slowly nodded his head.

"You assaulted me with your seductive moves. So, yeah…" Jude added, and he was wreathed in smiles, amused by the way she acted. Well... Last night she was a seductress, an enchantress and this morning she became the timid cat. Oh, how sweet!

"You and your nonsense!" she refuted, pulled the blanket from him and simply covered her face in embarrassment. Jude gave out a hearty laugh and hugged her even more although she was covered in the blanket.

"You even said we are friends with benefits though I'm strongly disagree with your thoughts."

"I said that?" Rose peeked from underneath the blanket and eyeing him in suspicious manner. Jude flipped over, his knees on both her sides, hands entrapped her on both side of her shoulders and inched closer to her.

"You even accused me by telling me that I got you hooked in a dangerous game." He watched her closely that she reluctantly closed her eyes to avoid his scorching eyes. Damn! Did I really say those things? Gosh! What had come over me? Oh my!

Jude slowly unveiled the blanket from her reddened -face and stared right into those hazel brown eyes as if challenging her. Rose innocently blinked her eyes and bit her lower lip nervously. Crap! This is intense! I can't look directly into his mesmerizing eyes. I can't! I really can't! She was screaming internally that she clutched the blanket to tight.

"It is dangerous. What we do now is indeed dangerous! What if things didn't go as plan? What then? I need to protect my own heart!" she blurted. Jude squinted his eyes and eyeing her up close, suspiciously.

"Then, marry me." Simple. Rose was momentarily stunned. Marry him? Uh… I was his supposedly fiancée, am I not? Ah… hang on… This is the first time he proposed me, literally. But still, she was speechless beyond words.

"Marry me, Miss Rose Smith." He said the second time. A gasp could be heard when he proposed her. Both turned to the door and there were two figures stood still. Leah clasped her mouth in shock while Jeremy looked on as if he had seen it coming. In his hand was a big bouquet of red roses.

"Sorry. I don't know that you two are – "She paused awkwardly before continued, "I saw the door was opened, so I thought I should come in and check on you."

"I told you we should just wait at the living room!" Jeremy glared at the shock Leah. Meanwhile Rose covered her body and face with blanket.

"You didn't tell me that your uncle is going to propose to my friend Rose!" she rebutted him. Jeremy shrugged then dragged her out from the bedroom.

Right after the two leaving them alone, Rose glared at Jude in askance. She quickly got off the bed, picked up her robe and went straight to the bathroom. Dear God! That is crazy! How am I supposed to face my friends after this? Gosh! Jude too. He is to blame for all of this. Not me. I didn't do anything. I'm the victim here. Right… That is right. She quickly cleaned herself with the hot water and feeling refresh afterwards.

Rose stared at her own reflection on the mirror and she realized Jude had left the considerable number of hickeys on her chest and breast areas but, the distinguished one was the one on her temple. Goodness! She tried concealed it with the concealer but to no prevail. Gosh! She pushed open her bathroom and glared deadly at him while Jude looked at her innocently.

"Look at what you have done! Today is my first day as a CEO of a big company. And here I am, come with the love bite on my temple! I can't even conceal it my expensive concealer! And I don't even know if I have the right attire to cover up later." She fumed while pointing at the hickey on her temple whereas Jude looked on. He stood abruptly and pulled her into his hugs and murmured, "Let them know that this beauty is indeed taken." Rose scoffed.

"Jude, does friend know how each other taste?" this time Jude was stunned while Rose smiled flirtatiously at him. It was then Jude gave out a muffled laugh and hugged her intimately.

"But it doesn't mean I accept your proposal, just as yet." She whispered to his ear.

After she dressed up and walked to the living room, Leah came to her side and nudged her slightly.

"So, did you say yes to the male God's proposal?" Rose rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"No," she answered curtly.

"Why not?" both Leah and Jeremy exclaimed, shocked upon hearing her curt answer.

"As I told him, I need some space to rearrange my thoughts. Hey, what it has to do with you two?" She asked them back. She walked towards the kitchen, brewed the coffee and took out a loaf of French toast and jam.

Leah approached her with her Samsung S10 Plus in her hand. She tapped few times and then showed it to her. Rose who just had took a sip of her coffee, choked profusely. Jude who just entered the kitchen swiftly walked to her and patted her back gently. He gave her the napkins which she took appreciatively and quickly wiped away the residue from her lips.

"Here, your coffee." she passed him a cup of coffee while she continued to read the report on her own tablet.

"Damn! Those reporters are so savage!" What wedding bell soon ringing between Townshend and Smith? Gosh! This is so absurd. She squinted her eyes reading through the reports. Even the business section discussed the strong prospect between the two major corporates in the country. There might even the merger between the two – one was the ruthless and capable gentleman while another one was the most competent and witty lady with bright prospect in business world.

Jude appeared nonchalant, as if he had long anticipated this kind of situation to be happened. He slowly sipped his coffee and gestured Jeremy to come closer to him. Jeremy, as if he understood the meaning behind his uncle's gaze, came to him and brought along the bouquet.

"I planned to give you this last night. But then, I changed my mind and asked Jay to bring it today." He handed the bouquet to her which Rose accepted with a broad smile on her face that warmed his heart. Well, at least she accepted the roses. Rose inhaled the scent and took out the card that was slipped between the roses. It was then she remembered about something.

She abruptly turned to Jude.

"Were you the one that sent a truck of roses to my gallery back then? The handwriting exactly similar like this one," she inquired with curiosity written in her eyes. Jude chuckled and ruffled her hair before he planted a kiss on her cheek. "Guilty as charge." with his palm on his left chest, he confessed sweetly. Leah who was watching squealed excitedly. She had her hand on her heart and put on a dreamy look. Rose speechless. Jeremy shook his head looking at the way Leah react. Childish, he scoffed inwardly.

"You sure is a romantic man. I bet the one that able to hook your interest must be lucky and perhaps had save the world in the past life to deserve a man like you. Wow! I'm officially jealous." she teased him while sipping her coffee. She didn't aware the meaningful look that Jude cast at her.

"Then, you should accept his proposal, don't you?" Leah snapped her fingers in front of her.

"That's right lady boss! Just say yes to my uncle's proposal." Rose looked at the three people in front of her and shook her head, chuckled softly.

"Well... let me think it through. May I?" she said in the end, still smiling.