Chapter 5
My love life with Natasha was the best thing that had happened to me after my daughter. We were everything to each other even if we had just known ourselves for a little while. I went to see her at her hotel in Aspen. She had come for a job and soon she had to go. I felt bad that she did not get to meet my mother. I really wanted the both of them to get to meet.
When she went back to her home to continue modeling, I knew that I had to act fast if I did not want to lose her. The perfect opportunity came when she informed me of a photoshoot and a fashion event that was taking place afterward. I told her that I would make it and I was indeed determined to.
One week later, I was in France, staring at the entrance to the event. She was inside, aware of my presence. I elegantly walked into the gigantic hall with the attached ballroom. We are greeted by colorful brightness from the paintings and decorations on the walls of the interior. Flickering lights from the rears of cameras brightened the hall even more as loud music blasted from invisible speakers intricately placed at different positions in the banquet hall.
Ladies, beautifully dressed in dazzling attires took their positions in front of the flickering lights of the numerous cameras across the floor as each photographer expertly worked their devices, swiftly changing positions and poses intermittently alongside their targets.
My gaze caught Natasha's at once as I smiled towards her direction, cutting her a few winks.
She returned my smiles with an excitement engraved facial expression, trying hard to hide her blush and concentrate on the camera as they kept shuttering and flashing.
I stood tall in my nicely cut to fit tailored suit revealing my nice body frame. With dark hair and blue eyes, I stood distinct for good reasons in the room, catching seductive glances and winks from various corners around the hall. I had not felt this way in a long time since Stacy was alive. I would have fitted nicely into the model studded crowd if they were male models.
In minutes, Natasha was standing enveloped in my arms, in her expensive dark flowing gown with shiny spots dazzling the entire length. I embraced her passionately and placed a gentle kiss against her red painted lips.
"I am glad to see you," she said with a warm smile, as she freed herself from my frame.
"Same here darling," I responded with a smirk and a wink, holding her by the waist as I led her to a vacant space free from the blinding lights emitting from the cameras.
"Gosh! These lights! How do you cope with them? Damn!" I said as we walked side by side.
"Well, I've gotten used to it over the years, you know?" She replied, her smile radiating the scenery as we walked.
"How was the photo shoot though?" I asked, having finally finding a secluded spot for us to speak privately.
"Very well as you can see," she quipped with a wide grin on her face, standing on one foot with arms wide open in a showing off manner.
I gave a quick chuckle scanning her from head to toe, which was Natasha's intent as she elaborately expressed herself.
"Nice dress, by the way," I complimented, with a teasing smile.
"I thought you wouldn't notice," she responded mockingly.
"Well..." I started to speak, drawing an inquisitive look on Natasha's face laden with an adorable smile. My God, she was truly beautiful.
She swung peered into my eye in an eagerly inquiring manner as I built the suspense in the air.
"Can you talk already?" Natasha said impatiently, albeit, with a stroke of excitement.
The air around Natasha went still momentarily from anxiety as she looked intently into my eyes, still maintaining her smile.
"I am getting married..." I said finally with a straight face.
Another round of stillness ensued around us both as neither of us spoke for a while. I held my laughter in check from the look on her face.
The smile on Natasha's face slowly disappeared, leaving a bewildering expression engraved on her features.
"Okay...?" She said finally, trying to maintain her cool. But I could see the confused look radiating in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Natasha... I've been looking for ways to let you know... I mean to ask you... What I'm trying to say is; will you marry me, Natasha? Will you spend the rest of your life with me?" I said as I dropped down to one knee in front of her.
"Jesus!" She gasped and uttered in utter shock and amazement. Her expression again slowly changed from shocking bewilderment to relief and then to joy as a soft smile started to appear on her pink face.
She let out a flow of air from her mouth.
"I think I'm going to need a drink.," she said as she started to step backwards.
A few steps backwards revealed her beauty to the colorful lights once again; indeed, she was such a beauty to behold. Her skin glowed from the reflection of the lights on her body coming from various corners. She had the type of figure any man would kill for; standing at a height of five feet and nine inches, with accentuated curves like that of a princess. She had skin that glowed like glass dipped in sweet vanilla, she was blessed with the kind of body many ladies would kill to have. With a body like hers, it wasn't surprising Natasha stood out this much.