Chapter Fifty-Two

As they arrived at the restaurant, Peter couldn't help but notice how elegant and beautiful the place was. Stella had picked one of the best spots in Abuja, located on a hill with a stunning view of the city lights shining under the night sky. Soft, twinkling lights decorated the entrance, and when they walked in, the romantic atmosphere made the whole place feel warm and inviting.

The host welcomed them with a smile and led them to a private table by the window. Stella had planned every detail. The table had candles that glowed softly, with a simple but lovely flower arrangement in the middle. Gentle blues music played in the background, adding a peaceful feel, and Peter could sense the romance in the air.

Though Stella often declined Peter's invitations to dine out, she had gradually grown used to spending time with him over meals, even before she started working for him at Mars Corporation. Back then, she always saw it as a casual, friendly lunch and didn't think of it as a romantic outing, even though she sensed Peter thought of her as his woman. But tonight was different. This time, Stella had chosen this intimate setting because she wanted to finally let Peter into her heart. She was tired of holding back and wanted to start something special with him.

'Wow,' Peter said, his voice filled with admiration as he pulled out Stella's chair. 'This is incredible, Stella. You're the best.'

Stella smiled, her eyes sparkling under the soft lighting. 'I wanted tonight to be special,' she said, her voice soft yet filled with affection. 'You deserve it, Peter.'

As they sat down, Peter took a moment to truly look at her. Her red gown fit her perfectly, and the way her hair cascaded over her shoulders made her look stunning. But it wasn't just her appearance; there was a warmth and thoughtfulness in everything she did that made his heart swell.

They began their meal with glasses of fine palm wine, toasting to each other and the beautiful evening ahead. The waiter appeared with the first course, tender grilled peppered snails served with delicious, fresh vegetable salad. The flavours were exquisite, and Peter couldn't help but compliment her choice.

'Everything about this is perfect,' Peter said, his hand reaching across the table to take hers. 'I can't believe you did all this for me.'

Stella smiled, squeezing his hand gently. 'You do so much for everyone, Peter. Tonight, I wanted to do something for you. To show you how much I appreciate everything you are and everything you do. I want to tell you that I am tired of hiding a part of me from you. So, I give myself to you from now on.'

Peter was shocked yet pleased to hear that, did anything happen? he thought.

Just then, the waiter brought out the main course, a delicious platter of juicy chicken suya served with fragrant jollof rice and steamed vegetables. As they enjoyed the meal, Stella lightened the mood, sharing funny stories from her childhood.

Stella laughed as she began, 'You won't believe what happened one night when I was a little girl. We had this big mango tree in our yard, and my friends and I loved to play there. One evening, I ate so many mangoes that I felt funny but decided to go to bed without using the toilet. I thought I could hold it.'

Peter leaned in, intrigued.

'Well, that night, I ended up wetting the bed! My mother came in the next morning and called me 'little river' because I made such a mess. Soon, all my friends found out, and they made up a song, singing, 'Stella the Water Girl!' I was so embarrassed! But now, it makes me laugh just thinking about it.'

Peter chuckled, picturing the scene. 'That's adorable! So, you won the 'little river' award?' he teased with a laugh.

Before Stella could respond, Chijioke's voice chimed in through Peter's smart earpiece, its tone playful. 'Your girlfriend's story is impressive, Peter. Maybe you should tell her about how you used to poo in your pants during nap time in nursery school.'

Peter groaned quietly, murmuring under his breath, 'Chijioke, not now!'

'What was that?' Stella asked.

Peter shook his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips, before letting out a soft laugh. 'Oh, just thinking about how much fun your story must've been for your friends.'

Stella laughed along with him, the memory no longer embarrassing but a shared moment of joy.

Peter noticed something different about Stella. She seemed more relaxed, more open, and he loved seeing this side of her. It was as if all the barriers that had once stood between them had melted away. He wondered what could have been the reason for this. What made her do all this?

'Stella,' he said after they finished their dessert of soft, warm buns dusted with powdered sugar, shared between smiles. 'Can you tell me what is going on?'

She gazed at him, her eyes softening. 'I've been thinking a lot about us, Peter. About how far we've come and how much you mean to me. I wanted tonight to be a night where we could just… be ourselves.'

Peter leaned closer, his heart pounding in his chest. 'You know how much I care about you, Stella. Tonight, more than ever, I realise how lucky I am to have you in my life. But then, I am still confused.'

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she reached into her purse, pulling out a small, wrapped gift. 'I got you something,' she said, her voice tinged with excitement. 'Open it.'

Surprised, Peter took the gift, unwrapping it to reveal a sleek, silver watch. On the back, it was engraved with the words, 'To the man with the dashing back.'

Peter stared at the watch, momentarily speechless. 'Stella… this is beautiful.' He wondered how long she'd been planning this gift. Had she been preparing this moment for a while? Or had something inspired her to want him in her life so suddenly? Whatever the reason, he knew he was the happiest man tonight. And knowing she had been secretly admiring him made him smile.

She smiled, her eyes shimmering with emotion. 'I want you to wear it and remember tonight. And remember that no matter how busy things get, or how chaotic life becomes, we always have moments like this.'

He reached across the table, cupping her face in his hand, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. 'I don't need a watch to remind me of that. Every time I look at you, I remember.' Grateful for her thoughtfulness, he glanced at the watch, knowing it was the thought that truly mattered. Leaning in, he pulled her into a warm, rapturous kiss as the soft glow of the candlelight shone on them. It felt like the world outside had faded, leaving just the two of them to enjoy this special night. The restaurant, the city, everything else disappeared as they shared a kiss.

'Now, tell me what's going on,' Peter murmured between kisses.

'I've been holding back for so many reasons,' she said, taking his hand in hers. 'I wanted to find a job and support you. And when I found out you were the CEO of Mars Corporation, I was both shocked and thrilled. I knew that if you hadn't told me about your position, you must have had your reasons. But still, I was a bit mad—you could've trusted me. But after speaking with Mr. Chinedu, I understood you more.' She paused and continued, 'I accepted lunch dates with you because it was casual, and I let you drive me home only when no one was watching after work… At first, I valued our friendship above everything else, Peter. I didn't want to risk losing it, so I tried my best not to do anything that would make me lose you… I wanted to be sure of my feelings before saying yes to you…'

'What about the kisses we shared? Didn't you feel anything?' Peter asked.

'I felt so much, Peter. But I still tried to hold back. But now… I want us to start building our own family. I don't want to wait anymore. After the launch, let's get married.'

'I still need to propose to you,' he replied with a smile.

'I don't care about all that. I just want to marry you and start a family. We're too old to wait. Let's start tonight. Let's go home,' she whispered, her voice filled with affection. 'We need to continue this romantic moment in your bedroom.'

Hearing her words, and understanding what she meant, Peter texted his chief butler to prepare his bedroom, making it the most romantic room possible. He was thrilled, overwhelmed with happiness he couldn't quite describe, knowing tonight was theirs to share.