I headed into the restaurant with high hopes. They soared as I took in the intimate interior, the privacy of the high-backed booths, and the muted elegance. It was just the place that Tasha would prefer. It was perfect.
"There you are, darling."
The maitre d' stepped aside to reveal Ellison. She swept into my arms and kissed both cheeks, before giving me another blinding smile.
"What are you doing here?" I asked before I could master myself.
"Did you like the invitation? I thought you could use a little mystery and intrigue after such a day." Ellison took my hand and guided me into the booth.
Champagne was already on ice and a half-dozen gourmet dishes appeared at once. The first course included all of my favorites, but I wasn't hungry. "What is all this, Ellison?" I asked.
"My treat to you. I thought this place was your taste. I want you to feel comfortable. Relax, have a glass of champagne," she said.
I couldn't settle into my seat and fought the urge to jump up again. It was a set-up. This time Ellison had tailored everything to fit my tastes, but it was still obviously a set-up. She sat across from me with an air of expectation tainting her perfect smile.
Ellison expected me to propose.
It took all my restraint to accept a glass of champagne and stay in my seat. I slammed back the expensive vintage and looked my ex-girlfriend straight in the face. "I'm curious, if we hadn't broken up, if getting engaged was even halfway a good idea, what would our marriage be like?" I asked.
Ellison’s certainty slipped, but she recovered quickly. She laced her elegant hands together. "What sort of marriage appeals to you?"
I shook my head. "I asked first."
Her gaze cooled as Ellison settled in for real negotiations. "I imagine our marriage could be fairly open. We are both busy people, and I travel extensively. As long as we kept the appearance up, our marriage could have untraditional caveats."
"You'd let me have mistresses and affairs as long I kept them out of the public eye?" I asked.
Ellison sipped her champagne. "I'm a practical woman, Rainer. If total monogamy is what's stopping you, then I can be reasonable about certain rules."
My mouth tasted like ash and I pushed my plate away from me. "I don't understand you," I told Ellison.
"What's the big mystery?" she asked with an arched eyebrow. "We make a perfect match. Our families will be united and we'll leave behind a legacy that will last for centuries. The little details shouldn't get in the way of that."
"So, you're willing to sacrifice everything for some antiquated idea of legacy?" I asked.
Ellison sat up primly. "What exactly am I sacrificing?"
I couldn't believe she was still in negotiation mode. "What about love? What about finding the perfect person and loving only them for the rest of your life?"
"Please, Rainer. I'm not some little girl full of fairytales." Ellison smoothed back her hair. "This is the real world."
"So, that's it? You don't want anything more?" I asked. My voice was getting too loud, but I couldn't help myself. "You don't want a passionate, undeniable love? Just a marriage contract that focuses on the perfect image. The Ramsey-Maxwell merger."
"Honestly, Rainer. Why are you acting so silly?" Ellison asked. "Is this because we broke up all those years ago? You weren't marriage material then, but you are now. It's that simple."
I stood up. "You know what's simple? My answer. It's no."
Chapter Seventeen
Tasha Then Rainer
"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be descending into San Francisco International Airport soon."
The pilot's announcement tore me from my head-in-the-clouds view. It was still a shock to look around and find myself in first class. I lounged in a white leather seat with an array of menus in front of me. I wiggled my toes in the complimentary slippers and took a sip of champagne.
It felt sinfully wonderful to stretch out after all those years of flying coach.
"See? I knew you'd settle into this lifestyle," Ivy said. She slipped into the wide seat next to me and signaled for a refill on champagne.