Classless

Chapter 89: The Proposal

Chapter 89: The Proposal

*Fedor’s POV*

I ignored him for the rest of the night, we even slept at opposite sides of the bed, this was not what I had in mind. I had to wonder if I was being overly stubborn, I mean it is his invention, maybe I overstepped but I knew what Martha meant to him, I could not allow her be in danger because of me, sure I wanted to get married but not at that expense. I groaned at how unbelievably stubborn Chief was being about this, I was seething and calling him all sort of names in my head that I did not notice that his side of the bed was empty or that the sitting room was softly lit with music being played, I don’t know how long that was before I noticed. I followed the light when I noticed, the pathway was filled with white beautiful flowers, if I were more refined, I’d have known the name of the flower. If this was a ploy to get me to stop being angry, it was working. I was wrong about the light being from the sitting room, the trail led me outside instead, I shivered at the cold wind, I was in shorts and oversized shirt; I looked around for Chief but could not find him. Then I felt a warm jacket on my shoulder, I looked back to see him smiling softly behind me as he wrapped a thick jacket around me.

I was wordless and allowed him lead me to a small table that had only wine and a green box on it, he drew me a chair before sitting down as well. I opened the box, it was my parents rings but they had been upgraded to have diamonds around the emerald and also resized, they were beautiful and ths was not a word I used regularly, the rings were perfect. I looked up to see him on one knee, “Marry me Fedor.”

“Usually people apologize …”

“I am not apologizing, this is a proposal. You told me to ask when I was ready; I have always been ready for you; I was only waiting for you to catch up. Please, marry me.”

I sniffled before answering,  “Of course I will, you only had to ask.”

He chuckled and put the ring on me while he wore the other one, “They are beautiful.”

“I am glad you love them, I did it; I was so nervous all through the day. Also, I will never be sorry for doing what I think is right for us but I am sorry that I made you feel like your opinions do not matter because they do, you make it difficult sometimes to…”

“I know, I just don’t want you to lose out or anything because of me, I already feel bad about your change of trajectory, I also wanted to say when we do get married, I don’t mind living on the seas with you, you are my home. On the seas and on the land, it does not matter where; I want to be with you.”

Song looked at me like I was the single most precious person in the world, my heart was full and I felt giddy on the inside, he answered as he poured me a glass of wine, “That is unacceptable since I have decided to stay on land and be with you.”

It was not what he said but how he said it, not resigned or like a compromise but as what he would rather do, “What?”

“The last trip without you was hell for me, the seas no longer have the same appeal it used to have on me, at first I thought I was only missing you but then I discovered why I had been so restless all these while, I was looking for you, what you do to me Fedor, you settle me. The seas did that to me but now my center is you, I love being with you, inside you; in love with you. You are my obsession, my love, my greatest achievement; you are my home too Fedor and I will choose you over anything else on earth and beyond.” Song said as he looked me in the eye, I was so precious, I was loved and more than that I loved as well. I blinked away the tears, he held my chin and kissed me like I was the reason for his existence; it was magic; tonight was magic. “I love you.” He whispered against my lips before he kissed me again.

Rather than question if he knew what he was saying, I simply believed him and trusted him. He made love to me that night, it was not lust and mere satisfaction, it was a declaration; every stroke a proclamation and the climax an affirmation. Turned out I had a little poet in me; I did not want this night to end; I grudgingly prepared for work and spent the entire day reminiscing about the night.

There were lots of curious eyes on the ring but I did not care, it was like I was on top of the world, that quickly crashed when Queen came to pick me up; I forgot about our appointment and gave her a smile I knew was fake when I saw her. She made me want to act proper, and I ensured my thoughts remained properly rated, it was strange to see her without a driver and herself driving, she was also dressed casually which gave me a heart attack; “Are you dying anytime soon?”

She giggled, real time giggling not the half smile or smirks; it made her look younger, she took me to a drive through which was shocking and then drove away from town to a remote area with the most delighting view of the sunset. “Hopefully not, she answered.” She started eating in the car and I followed her and did the same, we watched in silence for a while. I had been sipping my soda when she broke the silence by saying, “I am getting a divorce.”

I spluttered and stared at her, what could anyone say to that; I was not completely sure about the relationship with her husband but I knew that they had been long estranged. “Congratulations?”

She beamed at me, “Thank you. I was inspired by you; I don’t know why I waited so long, expectations? What was I holding on so long for? It feels liberating, sure I might have to let go of some of my inheritance because my dear old man was determined to keep me chained and I thought Carl did not deserve anything from my mother; bless her dead heart.”

“I inspired you?”

“Your bit with the Chief, I heard about the court’s refusal to grant a marriage license, it is not all Jawan’s influence in case you were wondering.”

I sighed, I was no longer shocked by her knowledge of everything that concerns me; “I was not wondering but I don’t get it.”

“It is a ploy to reduce the influence and power of the wealthy, other people are just collateral damage. The government could not care less about the economy as long as their mouths are full and bellies are large, they want to diffuse the power to make it less concentrated, that way; we are easier to control. Temporary solution at best.” She explained and that made more sense to me than the entire classism mumbo jumbo considering that the poor are way more than the rich, what to do when every wealthy person gets married? What then would the poor do? I am too simple minded to grasp the intentions of the government.

“Makes more sense. Does that mean you aren’t so wealthy anymore?”

“Please, I have more wealth on my third finger than the entire Vaslow family.” That was a bold statement considering the Vaslows were known for owning majority of the hotels in Kolanphur. “Would that affect your decision?”

“Seeing how superficial I am, what need would I have of a mother if she is not rich?” I replied drily and she laughed.

“So… What is it?”

“Why do you want to be my mother? I have thought about it and I don’t see what I can do for you. I know I have a great personality but that’s about it; looking at our situation, I need you more than you need me so why?”

Queen took a moment to think about it, “There is no reason other than the fact that I care for you. I don’t know why I do but I do, I want a legitimate reason to be there for you other than your stalker and most of all, I don’t have anyone to leave my business to when I am gone. I don’t trust family and they could not give a damn about me.”

“There is Kurt.” I reminded her and completely ignored the part where she planned to pass her business to me, that was too much to unload so I let it go out the other ear.

She smiled knowingly, “Our relationship is not destroyed yet but it would be if I tried to force him into that path, he is his own path and is building his own life away from his father and I’s shadow. His father would not let him be since he is his pride and joy but if I want to have any chance at a relationship with him, then I have to allow him be my son and nothing else. I know to you, everything is different from your angle, but we all have our burdens and most times, these things that most people pray for, are the same that keep us bound.”

I was not surprised when that flew right over my head and I sighed, “What if I don’t come to care for you as you do me, won’t you feel slight?”

Queen smiled, “So you do care for me, that is enough.”

“How can that be?” I frowned. “Are you sure you’re not dying yet?”

“I will live for a long time, I promise.”

“Just because you care?”

“Just because…”

“That’s …. Okay, Mother.” I was surprised at how easily it was for me to say, “Although am I not too old to be adopted.”

“No age limits regarding that, daughter.” If I thought she was beautiful when she laughed, she was straight up shining at the moment, and I felt clogged up in my chest; must be the flu or something. I told myself, I ignored the pride I felt knowing I was responsible for that smile. “I have something for you” She handed me an envelope.

I eyed her suspiciously and opened, I looked at her and back at the envelope, “A marriage license?!!! How? This is wow, I did not…. What?! Thank you. How??”

“I have my ways.” She grinned, “I thought it would be a perfect gift to commemorate this moment and I also have another envelope.”

I went through the new envelope and narrowed my eyes, “Seriously? You just had the adoption papers ready on the go since beginning of the month?” I read the date on the top of the paper and stared at her in wonder.

“I had to be ready, I am all to familiar with how quickly you change your mind.”

“Still… Paper.”

“We both know they are more reliable than digital prints.”

“Are they though? Or you’re just old.”

“Touche, please fill that out and here is the ink pad to stamp after your signature.” She handed me a pen and a blue pad.

Queen meant business and I did as she asked, she grinned satisfactorily to herself as she collected the papers from me, she looked over the adoption papers while I did the same with the marriage license, “How did you get the marriage license?”

“People owe me favors and since you’re officially my daughter, we are not breaking any laws.”

I remembered the rule of technicality she brought up at the HR’s office, Queen was good at finding loopholes and not for the first time I was glad she was on my side. “So Mother, do you not find it weird that you wanted me to get married to your son?”

“Not in the least bit, I know he has no romantic feelings for you. I taught him strategy and he thought it applied with the marriage business as well, it does but not with you. I am glad you fell in love with the rogue, this is way better than being your mother-in-law.”

“Just like that, you’re my mother?” A moment, a choice and a stamp; here I was, daughter to Queen. Fedor Queen.

“Just like that.”

“Wait, does that mean Carl is my father?” I nearly threw up at the thought. Why do I never think far enough?