A few minutes later, they arrive at the jewels shop. Linden and Feliz walks in the shop. All eyes on Linden.
"Welcome, dear customers. How I may help you?" ask the shop worker, as she greet both with a smile.
"We're looking for a ring. A marriage ring." Linden stated.
"Oh, then please come here, sir." The worker leads them to other section. All customers in the shop, particularly young ladies stares at Linden as he walks. Indeed he is attractively handsome. However, Linden ignore all of the stares while Feliz appear to be oblivious.
"Here is our finest rings that we had on sell." Indeed the other section displays a beautiful set of rings.
"Anything you find interesting?" the worker ask, anticipation. Unfortunately, both Linden and Feliz are not that type of person, as they only wear a nonchalant and dull expression. They didn't bother to choose. Seeing their expression, the worker start to take initiative.
"Would you like me to recommend?"
Feliz and Linden look up toward the worker.
"Please do." Feliz said. The worker was delighted as she start to take out the good ones from another section.
"If I may say, I recommend this set of ring."
The worker took out a pair of sizzling silver rings. It has delicate shape that look like a dove.
"The creator named it as 'Eternal' as the dove symbolises peace and harmonises the relationship. No hatred, but only understanding and…love. That could guarantee eternal relationship."
Hearing the worker explanation, Linden couldn't help but smirk. It's like telling a fairy tale story. Only children will believe this sort of tale in this cruel adult world. As he turn to look at Feliz to tell her to take a look at other rings, he was shock to see how enthralling she is toward the rings. Even though, she still has the same stoic face, her eyes reveals her true feeling, and he saw it. The bright shining in her eyes. Looking at the price, it didn't even reach to his fortune, but knowing other people view it is indeed expensive.
"Let me see it." Linden said. The worker then take out the ring carefully as she give it to Linden.
"May I?" Linden ask, gesture his hand down. Feliz look at his hand, as if contemplating about it. She slowly put her hand on his, doubtfully. Seeing her reaction, Linden thought; she knows. However, he didn't feel anxious at all. Linden smile, as he hold her hand softly. Indeed, there's no feeling of disgust. Linden feel at ease. He put on the ring through her finger. The ring fit on her.
"It fit."
Both look at the ring. Feliz only nods her head while Linden smile in satisfying. He slowly utter the words;
"Eternal…"
Feliz look at him. He look at her too. Both look at each other for a moment. Feliz then broke their gaze as she took her hand from his hand, as she took off the ring and put it back on the box, carefully.
"Do you like it?" Linden ask.
Feliz was quiet for a while. She shake her head as her eyes stay on the rings. Seeing her like that, Linden feel helpless. Why the need to hide her true feeling, when he can easily granted it. He then decided.
"We'll take it." As Linden took out his card to give the worker.
"Wha…Yes, of course!" The dim face on the worker face suddenly lit up, as she start to take out the pair of rings to wrap it up. While all the customer almost bulged their eyes, as they hear that handsome attractively man will buy that pair of expensive ring from out of the jewels here. Linden then look at Feliz. He could see that she was quite shock. She then slowly return to her expressionless demeanour. Linden found it amusing as he quietly study the woman beside him. Feliz then look toward him.
"We will pay the rings together. Half-half. However, I couldn't pay it now nor in a nearest day. Still I will pay you by monthly." She said. Linden could guess, that she wouldn't argue about the ring, but will renegotiate how to have a fair share. Finally, noted-down her behaviour, Linden starts to explain.
"Feliz, I will pay it. There's no need for you contribute on this. You should know that I'll be marrying you, taking you as my wife not a business partner, where there's the need of benefits. I don't want that kind of relationship. Being privilege to you is my sole duty as your husband to-be. Marrying mean that we'll be one, I'm you, while you me." Linden said. Hearing that, Feliz eyes lash flutters, as if she was stunned. Linden, himself was shock that he could utter out that kind of words to her, as if recite a wedding vow. He cough, to hide his embarrassment. Feliz slowly recovers from that moment, as she nods her head. Agreeing. Seeing that, Linden smile. Almost petting her head, but stop himself from doing that.
"Here you go, sir." said the worker with a happy expression, as she succeeded from selling their best and expensive stuff from their stores. Linden took the card and the ring box. Feliz silently look at him. Linden look at his watch.
"Let's go."
Both then left the store, leaving all the workers and customers astonished. Linden drive his car, as both are quiet.
"Where do you want to eat?" Linden asks.
"Let eat home meal." Feliz suggested. Linden looks at her.
"Home meal?"
"Yes, I'll cook for us." Feliz stated.
"Now? You sure?" He ask, as this is too sudden for him.
"Yes, you already bought that expensive ring for our marriage. I want you taste my cooking so you don't regret marrying me."
Hearing her reason, Linden burst out laughing. He was really amuse by her attic. Linden tries to dies down his laughter, as he notice Feliz puzzle gaze on him.
"I apologize. But you don't have to do that, to prove it to me."
"I want to cook for you. It will happen eventually for you to taste my cook, so why not now?" Feliz said. Hearing this, Linden couldn't refute.
"Where do you want to cook? At yours or mine?" Linden then ask.
"How about yours? We'll able doing two things in 1 day. Eat my cooking and knowing where you stay. We progressing very well." Feliz stated.
Linden smile listening to this. He couldn't help but feel funny about that statement. But still, he agreed.
"Alright then."
"We should stop by at the grocery store first." Feliz suggested. Both then reach at the grocery store. As they peacefully choose the things that they want and prefer.
2 hours later, they arrive at Linden's condo. Feliz open her own door, going out from the car as she looks up toward the condominium. It is indeed a magnificent building. As Linden had inform her, this whole place is his. There's a lot type of his investment instead of his communication company, which is one of the biggest corporation he handles. This condominium is one of his investment. Both then walk in toward the condominium. Linden's condo is on the highest 15'ft floor. It took 20 minute to reach Linden's floor. Both then walks in Linden's condo. It was very wide and the place is outstanding.
"Your place is neat." Feliz stated.
Linden smile hearing it.
"I rarely at home with Colby. While his at the dormitory school, I often slept at my office. Still, every Monday, Thursday and Sunday a housemaid will come to clean this place." Linden explain.
"Then…is the housemaid here?" Feliz asks.
"I think…she is. She's probably at the kitchen." Linden said.
Both then walk toward the kitchen. They saw an old lady carrying a basket of curtain and quilt. The old lady saw them and gasp.
"Oh, Mr Linden. I didn't know you are coming here today. And…with a guest." The old lady said, as she look at Feliz beside Linden.
Seeing the look on his housemaid face, Linden look unfazed. "This is Aunt Burl, my housemaid. And Aunt Burl, this is Feliz, my fiancée." He stoically introduced.
The old lady look shocked by the word 'fiancée'. She never hear anything about her employee being engaged to anyone as he is a single parent. This news is too shocking.
"Nice too meet you, Aunt Burl." Feliz said.
"Same here, Miss Feliz."
"Well then…" Aunt Burl try to maintain her calm façade as she look the groceries that Linden and Feliz holding. "…would you want me to cook for both of you?" Aunt Burl asks.
"No, we can manage it, Aunt Burl. You may go back home." Linden said.
"Alright then, I will take my leave, Mr Linden, Miss Feliz." Aunt Burl said.
As she walks away, she took a glimpse toward the couple. She saw her boss gentle demeanour toward his fiancée, as he took all the groceries from her hand to carry, an expression she never saw from her boss face. From the beginning she work as a housemaid, she rarely saw her boss interact with other, beside his uncle and secretary. He didn't really talk to her, if it doesn't involved her work.
Even toward his own son, he rarely talk to. Moreover, based on his secretary information her boss dislike meeting other people especially women and he seem to hate any physical touch. Therefore he avoid any event that involved meeting people. She once, accidentally touches his hand, when passes him his suit, which cost her almost lose her job if not for his uncle persuasion. From then, she make a mental note to never have a physical contact toward him even it is by accident. She even thought, the possibility of her boss being 'gay' for his close relations toward his secretary. But seeing and hearing just now, it's seem that that wasn't the case. Aunt Burl could only leave, pondering a lot in her mind.