He might always be in love with her, but never would Julian force himself on a woman who obviously wanted someone else.
Chapter Nineteen
The time had finally come for what would be one of the most important and special moments in Fleur's thirty-three years of existence, and the mere thought had her heart racing like crazy.
For tonight's surprise, she had opted for a gown with a heart-shaped bodice. It was made of gold silk to match the shade of Julian's eyes, and with the way it also bared her back and had thigh-high slits on each side, the gown was as glamorously stunning as it was lavishly impractical for a Wyoming winter.
Heads turned as Fleur walked inside The Bee's Knees, a three-Michelin-star steak restaurant whose every table was currently occupied by professional stage actors in disguise. She had always loved watching flash mob proposals, and thanks to Julian, she finally had a reason to bring a fantasy of hers to life. If she also ended up making him blush in the process, then that would just be icing on the cake.
Julian still found himself unconsciously rising to his feet the moment he saw Fleur walk in. He had always found her beautiful, and tonight wasn't any different, even though he now knew that she only considered him a temporary part of her life.
But even so—-
Julian drew Fleur close as soon as she was within reach and took her mouth in another deep, hard kiss that could've easily been the opening scene for a porn film. When he finally let her go, she once again appeared dazed and breathless, but this time, the sight of it was bittersweet. Everything was now bittersweet, with what he was soon about to do, but even so.
He was tempted, so fucking tempted to make up some excuse to keep Fleur longer in his life. If he had not cornered her like that the other day, if he had not pressured her to speak the truth, then he would still have more days to enjoy her. More days to possibly convince her to choose him—-
But with Stephen and Freddie now joining them in their table, the presence of both lawyers was like a cold hard slap to his face.
Julian might want to be with her longer, but Fleur obviously wanted the opposite, with how she had even arranged to have their legal counsels present before putting an end to their contract.
So be it then.
If she was so fucking keen to leave him, then he would not make it hard for her.
Fleur had barely taken her seat when Julian turned to her with a smile that she still found as mesmerizing as the first time she had seen it.
"Before we have dinner," Julian murmured, "I'd like to say something."
Fleur's jaw dropped. "Wait—-" She saw him start to speak, and Fleur panicked. "Seriously, wait, let me go first—-"
"I know it should be ladies first," Julian said silkily, "but in this case I don't think it matters."
"It does," Fleur said feelingly. "It very much does—-"
"Why should it when we want the same thing?"
Freddie was starting to feel uncomfortable. While Fleur seemed to be in a genuinely good mood, which was as it should be, Julian's mood was a little harder to read. It was almost as if he was playing a role, almost as if he was taunting his own girlfriend, but that couldn't be right. Could it?
"Let me just get the words out," Julian said.
Seeing that Julian had already made up his mind, Fleur nervously tucked her hair behind her ears. This was the first of two cues, and she could see everyone around them already anticipating her next cue. If she tucked her hair behind her ears for a second time, then that would be it.
"I'd like our contract contaminated."
How very like Julian, she thought understandingly, to formally do things this way.
"I'll pay the fine for pre-termination, naturally," Julian continued, "and after this we need not ever speak of it again."
"That's a shame," Stephen joked. "I was kind of looking forward to telling everyone about how romantic this whole thing is."
Fleur nodded feelingly in agreement. "It's super romantic, and—-"
"It might be so in your world—-"
Fleur was startled at the way Julian was suddenly talking to her so coolly.
"But I'm afraid having these things discussed will only be awkward for my future bride."
Fleur laughed. "No, trust me, it won't—-"
"And you'd know that, how?" Julian's tone was excessively polite. "Have you met Bridgette in person?"
"Bridgette Swanke?" Fleur laughed again. "Yeah right."
"I met her the other day."
Fleur waited for the punchline to come. She waited even as Julian's expression turned to one of impatience, waited even as she could see the same truth dawn on their lawyers, and oh God, she waited and waited—-
This can't be happening.
She wished she could wait forever, but the helpless expression on Freddie's face told her there wouldn't be any point, and Fleur...no longer knew what to do.