Chapter 83 Don't Let Her Get Away
Byron was in the middle of trying to assess the value of his slowly growing stock portfolio when he was interrupted by the doorbell. He was expecting a courier from the office, but it was his old friend, Nathan.
“Hey, come in,” Byron said crustily.
“You’re being turtle-y again,” Nathan stated, making himself comfortable on the living room couch. “You won’t take my calls, and you barely reply to my texts.”
“Maybe your texts with so-called funny memes can wait while I make life and death business decisions?” Byron said.
“Ouch. Are you saying my texts are not funny?”
“I’m just a little busy.”
“Not too busy to host a whole pack of wild hounds,” Nathan said, patting the two dogs who came over to sniff him.
“I don’t remember the last time I walked my own dogs,” Byron said.
“I know you’re putting your business empire back in order and all that,” Nathan said, pouring himself a drink, “but surely by now you’re back on solid ground?”
“I believe I am,” Byron agreed. “And I’m sorry I haven’t had much time to hang out. I haven’t even seen my closest family members.”
“So what the heck is going on?” his friend exclaimed.
“It has to do with Emily,” Byron admitted.
“You’re not tired of the lovely Emily, are you?” Nathan said, looking completely shocked.
“Quite the opposite.”
“Then what could be the problem?”
“I want to propose to her, but...”
“I knew there was a ‘but’. What could be stopping you from proposing to this lovely, kind-hearted woman who is willing to put up with all your shenanigans?”
Byron poured himself a drink too and perched on the arm of one of the comfy chairs. “That’s just it, she’s so kind-hearted that she merged our two companies to help keep my business afloat. If I propose to her now, she might think I’m just trying to secure my business through marriage.”
“I doubt she could think that,” Nathan said. “Where are these ideas coming from?”
“I don’t know,” Byron exclaimed, “It’s just that every time I try to propose, the timing is all wrong. Now it’s wrong because my finances are not up to par. I wanted to wait until her career was well advanced so she wouldn’t feel like she was giving anything up by marrying me. Now it is well advanced, she’s actually doing better than me. What if she thinks I’m clinging to her for support?”
“She won’t think that,” Nathan said with supreme confidence. “What’s really happening here is you’ve been working too hard, and the stress of the near-bankruptcy has made you paranoid.”
“You’re probably right,” Byron said. “I have been over-doing it. All I wanted was for my company to recover super quickly so that I could be ready to propose.”
“Look, it’s never going to be the perfect time,” Nathan said, “Once your company recovers, something else might happen.”
“It usually does,” Byron remarked.
“So why not just do it? You know you’re ready, and she’s probably ready, so just give her the damn ring.”
“But what if the timing is wrong and she says no?” Byron insisted.
“You’re being way too strategic,” Nathan stated. “It’s not that complicated. Either she wants to marry you or she doesn’t. And since she’s still here after so many months, I’d say it’s likely she does.”
“So I should take the plunge...” Byron mused.
“Just get it over with.”
“Easy for you to say. Have you ever proposed to anyone?” Byron asked.
“Me? I never have and likely never will,” Nathan said. “I’d rather be free to do whatever I like. If I want to go on a road trip across the country tomorrow, I can do it. No need to check with the wife.”
“What if the wife is okay with it?” Byron queried.
“I have yet to meet such a woman. But if you have, don’t let her get away.”
After his friend left, Byron set aside his work for the day. He took the two dogs out for a walk, which helped immensely to clear his head.
Then he decided to take down an old enemy once and for all. It needed to be done if he was to have any hope of a secure future for himself and Emily.
