Chapter 236: ~ 236
Chapter 236
~Clinton~
The flashing neon sign of Ruby’s 24-Hour Diner flashed right in front of us. Located miles away from Manhattan, this little spot on the edge of Queens was our sanctuary. There were no paparazzi here.
I parked the car, took a deep breath, and felt the heavy weight of the last weeks finally begin to slide off my shoulders.
Beside me, Annie was already smiling. She looked incredibly beautiful in her casual oversized sweater and fitted jeans, her hair tied up in a messy, effortless bun. The moment I turned off the engine, she reached over, wrapping her small hand securely around mine and squeezing it tightly.
"A diner?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with pure affection in the dim light of the dashboard. "Mr. Santos is taking me out for greasy fries and milkshakes? Should I be worried about your credit card, Clinton?"
I let out a soft laugh. I leaned across the center console, pressing a sweet, lingering kiss to her cheek. "My credit card is perfectly fine, sweetheart. But my brain needed a break. I wanted somewhere where nobody wears a three-piece suit, and where the only major decision we have to make is whether we want chocolate or vanilla."
"Chocolate, obviously," she retorted instantly, opening her door.
We hopped out of the car, the cool evening breeze brushing against us. Instead of heading straight inside, I caught her hand, pulling her gently toward the quiet park viewpoint just across the street.
We walked hand-in-hand along the paved path, the streetlights overhead creating a soft, romantic trail of yellow light. It was peaceful.
As we walked, Annie’s playful expression softened into something more gentle, more observant. She slowed her steps, looking up at me with those warm, perceptive eyes that always seemed to read my soul.
"Hey," she said softly, bumping her shoulder against mine. "How are you really doing? I saw the morning news before I left the studio. With everything going on with Bella... it must be insane."
I stopped walking under the soft glow of a streetlamp. Hearing Bella’s name usually made my posture stiffen, but standing here with Annie, the threat felt completely small and manageable. I briefly laughed it off, shaking my head with a dismissive smile.
"Honestly, Annie? Bella thinks she’s an absolute genius," I said, a confident, relaxed grin touching my lips. "She walked into the building today thinking she had them completely cornered with her fake kidnapping story. But she has no idea what she’s dealing with. Franklin and Octavia already have her trapped. We’re just letting her play her little game for a while until we drop it on her. So don’t worry about it. She’s already running out of time."
Annie let out a soft sigh of relief, leaning her head against my shoulder for a brief moment. "Good. I was worried sick about Octavia. But I should have known better than to doubt you guys."
"Exactly. We’ve got it handled," I murmured. I wrapped my arm securely around her waist, pulling her closer into my side as we resumed our walk. I didn’t want to waste another second of our precious night talking about corporate warfare. "Now, enough about the whole drama. Let’s talk about something infinitely more important. How was your day? Tell me everything."
Annie chuckled, her cheeks flushing beautifully. As we walked toward a wooden bench overlooking the water, she began to open up, her voice filled with a passionate, lively energy that I absolutely adored.
"Well, apart from missing you terribly, it was actually amazing," she said, looking up at me with a sweet, vulnerable smile. "You have no idea how much I longed for you today, Clinton. Ever since I graduated, I thought I’d get used to us both being busy, but today was different. While I was working on my designs, all I could think about was finishing up and seeing you. I was just staring at the clock, counting down the hours until our date."
"Is that so?" I teased, a proud smirk forming on my face. I stopped walking, turning her around so she was trapped between my arms. "The brilliant Annie, slacking off on her projects because she’s daydreaming about her boyfriend? I might have to complain about the distraction."
"Oh, stop it!" she laughed, swatting my chest playfully, though she didn’t try to pull away from my embrace. "It’s your fault for being so unforgettable. But seriously, now that school is finally behind me, everything feels so real. I’m finally pursuing my true passion in art and creative design full-time, and it’s opening up so many ideas."
Her eyes lit up with a brilliant, creative fire as she started talking about her future plans.
"I’ve been thinking a lot about the direction I want to venture into," Annie explained, her hands moving excitedly as she spoke. "I don’t just want to do freelance design forever, Clinton. I’m actually planning to start my own independent art studio. I want a space of my own where I can create raw, contemporary mixed-media pieces and display my own digital illustrations. I looked at a few potential studio spaces today, and I’m terrified of taking the leap, but so incredibly excited."
I listened to her intensely, my heart swelling with an overwhelming sense of pride. Seeing her pursue her dreams, seeing her mind work through the business and creative concepts of building her own brand, made me realize how deeply in love I truly was. My world completely revolved around this girl. She was my peace. She was my home.
"You are going to completely blow everyone away, Annie," I said, my voice rich with absolute certainty. "Your mind is brilliant, and your talent is undeniable. Whatever resources, locations, or materials you need to launch this studio, you just tell me. I’m your biggest supporter, remember?"
Annie’s breath hitched slightly, her eyes softening as a wave of pure happiness washed over her face. "Thank you, Clinton. You always believe in me, even when I’m doubting myself."
"Always," I whispered.
I leaned down, capturing her lips in a sweet, slow kiss beneath the glow of the streetlamp. It was a gentle, reassuring kiss that spoke of promises, safety, and a future far away from the chaos of our daily lives. She melted into me, her hands anchoring around my neck as she kissed me back with equal fervor, showing me just how much she had longed for this exact moment.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing a little heavily, I smiled down at her. "Now, before we go get those chocolate milkshakes, I have a little something for you."
Annie blinked in surprise. "A present? For what occasion?"
"For the occasion of you being the most incredible person in my life," I said smoothly. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a small, velvet-lined box. I popped it open, revealing a stunning, delicate silver chain bracelet. Dangling from the center was a tiny, beautifully detailed charm shaped like an artist’s paint palette, with a miniature diamond catching the light.
Annie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Clinton... it’s beautiful. The palette charm..."
"To remind you that I’m always right there supporting you baby," I whispered. I took her delicate wrist, carefully fastening the silver bracelet around it. It fit her perfectly, shining against her skin under the streetlights.
She looked at the bracelet, then threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. "I love it so much. I love you so much, Clinton."
"I love you too, sweetheart," I murmured into her hair, holding her close against my chest. Tonight, in this quiet corner of the world, I had everything I ever needed right in my arms.
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