The Love Assignment

Chapter 29

Alex's POV

With all that was going around us, stepping out of the house seemed to be completely out of question. My thought process seemed to go numb every time I looked at the Angels edition from Friday. Millions of congratulatory messages thronged the websites, people rooted for our marriage, they called it 'the marriage of the year'. I remember that day we announced our marriage, as if it were just yesterday.

Two days after the confrontation, we were back at the ' The Talk' where it all started for us. It was at this show that we were announced to be together. This show made us lie to the world that we were a couple and now being back there sent my nerves into a frenzy. Kate Whelsh the anchor of the 'The Talk' smiled sweetly at us. She had been our huge fan and waited for any possible opportunity to have us back.

If someone had asked me, if the person sitting next to me was the same Vallerie Walter's who was broken over her love, I would have probably stared at them in shock. After the confrontation Vallerie seemed to have found some closure. She was back to shouting at me for my silly acts, Hell! she even cracked a joke during our interview. 'Happy' was a completely under stated word to describe the current Vallerie. Looking at her this way, made Stacey and Vanessa feel at ease but some where deep down I felt as though a Volcano would erupt any minute. When I told my doubts to Stacey, she quashed it aside stating I was overreacting.

The thundering sounds of applause bought me back to my senses. Blinding lights from the camera's made my eyes water slightly but I continued to smile waving once in a while. The camera's next focused on Kate who started to speak.

"It's been eight months. Eight months since the spectacular journey of these two love birds from a pair who wrote the beautiful article to being the American sweethearts. The fact that you guys are still growing together only proves that true love is not just a fairy tale story but it really exists. And some day that fairy tale could be ours. So tell us guys, what's your secret?"

"Well, for any person to give yourself completely, it requires a huge amount trust. Trust that this person could make me smile, could make me happy, could be with me till the end and even if things are bad that this person could show the light at the end of the tunnel. And I guess we both just happened to find that trust in each other.", Vallerie said happily.

I gawked at her response. She turned towards me planted an awkward peck on my cheek and I blushed slightly at the sudden change in Vallerie's attitude. Usually I was in-charge of all the talking while Vallerie simply smiled along.

"Wow, you guys, I am just jealous of you two. Not only me, but all of us in the studio right now are simply jealous of you both", Kate said, her hands clasped to her chest. Almost every one in the audience nodded along.

Another 5 minutes and our time slot would be done. I looked slightly at my watch cursing as to how slow the hands moved. Kate was about to ask her next question, when someone from the audience shouted, "Marry already!"

Vallerie looked pale suddenly and I on the other hand simply stared at the crowd trying to figure out the person who actually shouted it. And then something clicked. It was something of a risk but I was willing to take that risk. I just hoped it was the right decision.

And so I got up, picked the red rose that was placed in the acrylic vase on the table in front of us and knelt down next to Vallerie. Kate gasped at my sudden change of posture and so did the audience. Vallerie on the other hand stared at the rose, her face showed confusion but that was immediately gone and she started working something out in her head.

The whole room went silent, cameras from all angles focused on us. They were waiting for me to talk and so I spoke.

"Vallerie Walter's, I know that this is sudden and I know that this is stupid. In the history of proposals I might probably be the first person to have actually proposed a girl without even a ring, and you could even say without even proper planning. But like you said Vallerie, we trust each other. And I want you to believe in that trust, believe that I won't let your love go to vain. I am here to fight for you and your love. Whatever it takes I will be there for you, as a friend, as a guide, as your personal support system. With this promise, Vallerie Walter's will you be the bride?"