Chapter 21! Let's get married!

Jeremy continued to hold Kimberley's hands as the two stood by the car with their backs to the road behind them while facing the Price mansion.

Kimberley felt that the atmosphere around them was too weird. How come she feels so good just holding the hands of a man she met just recently and to top it all, she barely knew him. The feeling was so foreign to her and she just couldn't explain it.

Jeremy turned to look Kimberley straight in the eyes and said "my offer still stands" but before Kimberley could be disappointed in him, Jeremy concluded by saying "the newly completed building is still up for grabs. I'll send you the address later and you can give me your response after a tour of the building. Mind you, I'm not taking no for an answer though" For a moment there, Kimberley thought Jeremy was going to bring up the issue of marriage at such a time. Her feeling of indebtedness towards Jeremy made her feel that she would be asking for too much if she were to take him up on his current offer. Seeing the dilemma she was in due to the reluctance to accept his offer and the fact that he wasn't willing to take no for an answer, Jeremy said "Go on in. Your mom is dying to have you in her arms right now." He sounded so neutral even though his heart was in turmoil. He couldn't help worrying about the thousand and one what-ifs in his mind but decided to leave everything to chance and fate.

Kimberley reluctantly let go of Jeremy's hand and looked deep into his eyes seemingly engraving his person into her subconscious mind. Not knowing how to express her gratitude for his assistance throughout the day, "thank you" was the only thing she could say that showed a semblance of what she felt at the moment. Jeremy smiled and responded with "anytime". Kimberley only took two steps when she turned around and asked cautiously " would you care to come in?" He also took two steps towards her, took her hands into his and said "I nearly lost you for good today. Frankly speaking, I was so terrified at the turn of events today that I don't want to part with you right now Kim. But I need to let you go in alone" The sound of her name on his lips made Kimberley feel butterflies in her stomach for the very first time. A particular statement took her out of her daze "I can't bear to lose you after waiting for you all these years." Jeremy didn't wait for her to process the statement when he pulled away from her "I'll go in some other day but tonight, you need to be with your family." He had to leave immediately before his body starts acting on its own.

Under the cold breeze of the starry night two lovers, one clueless, another madly in love stood with their thoughts all over the place. They were both feeling reluctant to part and Kimberley felt at that moment that marrying Jeremy Pope wouldn't be a bad idea after all. He will then become a part of her family and they wouldn't need to part anymore. "Let's get married" 

The goodbye message Jeremy prepared to say slipped his mind as his total concentration was on the petite figure proposing marriage before him. How could Kimberley be proposing marriage to him when she was indecisive about it just a few days ago? Jeremy thought to himself "I must be hearing things" 

He looked into Kimberley's eyes fixedly and requested "could you please say that again? I didn't hear you clearly"

Kimberley knew he was acting stupid out of shock but what Jeremy didn't know was that she was also quite shocked by her own words. She was so shy that she didn't know how to repeat her earlier words. The first time was her thinking aloud but this time Kimberley braced herself and with a beautiful blush adorning her pretty face she repeated in a small voice "you didn't hear me wrong the first time Jeremy Pope. Let's get married."

Through the floor-to-ceiling window of the sitting room, Trudy was finally able to see her daughter who was standing with Jeremy Pope for over five minutes but she couldn't believe her eyes when she suddenly saw Jeremy envelop a blushing Kimberley into a tight embrace. Jonathan had to pull his wife away from the window so she allows the youngsters to take all the time they needed. All Trudy could ask herself was "what is going on? This is faster than I expected"

As she stepped into the sitting room, Kimberley thought she had adjusted her emotions well enough but meeting her mother's piercing gaze, she was sure they had an audience the whole time they were outside. She was suddenly caught off guard but recovered quickly "Mom" "Oooh! now you remember your nagging mother. You ingrate. How dare you keep me waiting all day? What was the scene?.."

She tactfully threw herself into her mother's arms saying "I love you too mom" Trudy couldn't be angry with her daughter anymore.

The family of three hugged each other and chatted about the happenings of the day for a long time before Kimberley finally had the chance to lay down for a much-needed rest. Jeremy's words were echoing in her head, like an enchanted fool she slept smiling beautifully.

Price Pharmaceuticals 

Getting to work immediately they alighted the vehicle, Declan's sensor picked a familiar signal which left Lucia wide-eyed and trembling like a criminal on death row. Then came the sudden outburst "Lucia Sanders! Do you care to explain the meaning of this?" Feeling the tension and heightened emotions from Declan Mackenzie, Lucia got a glimpse of the man she never wished to see ever again. She spoke hurriedly, all the while selecting her words carefully as though her life depended on it "Declan Mackenzie, I swear on everything I hold dear, I have no hand in this"