Going Up!

Chapter Thirty One

Lunch with Caroline went smoothly, her and I chatted our way through our appetizers before she noticed the ring on my finger. Her eyes forming into slits when she finally spotted it. "Um, excuse me ma'am. That's one hell of a rock on your hand. I didn't know you were engaged?" She stared me down, expecting some answers.

I laughed lightly, giving a side eyed glance towards Ben who sat next to me. A blush crept up my cheeks, Caroline had yet to put two and two together that Ben and I were more than business partners. "Yep. I'm officially off the market." I beamed at her.

"Wow that's amazing! Congratulations. Is this new? I think I would have noticed that at one of the cocktail parties we've had over the weekend. Also, I haven't seen you with anyone other than..." her words trailed off, her mouth forming an 'o' as the pieces finally fell into place. "Dude, you bagged him?" Her eyebrows were almost touching her forehead.

Ben coughed beside me trying to contain his laughter and my laughter was uncontrolled as I spoke. "I mean when you put it like that, I guess yeah I did." I reached under the table and laced my fingers with his. Ben glanced down at me and shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"I need something stronger than water for you two together this morning. I'm heading to the bar. Gossip away." He kissed my forehead and walked to the bar across the restaurant all the while Caroline stared at me with her mouth hanging open.

As soon as Ben left the table Caroline's focus was on me, "Spill it."

Smiling, I grinned at her and flagged our waiter, "I need a bottle of Chardonnay, something local please." I ordered from him once he approached, he made quick work of it and returned with two glasses and a bottle of Chardonnay which he poured for me to taste.

I swirled the small amount around my glass before I slowly pulled it into my mouth, letting it wash over my palate, taking in the flavors of pear and apples as it hit my tongue. Nodding to the server I approved the wine and he poured a glass for both of us.

"Well, so yeah, Ben and I are obviously engaged." I laughed.

She snorted. "Yeah, No fucking shit. I've been trying to sleep with that man for three years, how in the fuck did you you manage to get him to sleep with you much less ask you to marry him?" I choked on the wine I was sipping, setting my glass on the table.

"Well, honestly it happened rather fast." I said, smiling. "We didn't plan on this happening obviously but we hit it off and found we have a whole lot more in common that we expected and one thing led to another, and here we are. He proposed last night." She reached for my hand, wanting to see my ring. I extended my left hand to her placing it in hers. She turned my hand and examined it.

"Well, hot damn. Congratulations woman. I, for one, am jealous as fuck." She smiled broadly, nodding proudly at me. "Wear that fucker with pride, that man is no joke, HUNTED by women in this industry, multiple women in film have said they have switched to this firm just to try to be placed with him at a chance to see if there is spark. Protect what's yours girl." Caroline spoke from a genuine place, I could see that by looking at her. She wasn't trying to threaten me, but warn me of what was to come in the future.

I wrapped my hand around hers, enveloping it. "Thank you." I meant it too. I was beginning to consider her a friend. She was indeed someone I wanted on my side. I released her hand and reached for my glass. "To your new role and to me apparently protecting what's mine." I said with a small laugh. She raised her glass clinking it to mine.

Ben had apparently been watching us from the bar and returned to us shortly after our toast, pulling out his chair and sliding into the seat with a quick smile at Caroline.