“Hello Mr. Reynolds” Mr. Banks greeted Jayson as he stepped into the shop.

“The designer is here?”

“Yes, Mr. Renee is in my office. Please come along”

Jayson nodded and followed him towards his office.

“Hello Mr. Reynolds! My dear friend Russell told you want the perfect ring for your fiancé” the Frenchman said in a thick accent

“Yes, that is correct”

They sat down and Mr. Renee took out a few notepads and an iPad from his briefcase.

“How about we first discuss what you have in mind Mr. Reynolds”

Jayson looked up. He hadn’t heard what he said as he was thinking of the hurt that flashed across Kate’s face when he told her not to wait up. He was feeling like a certified asshole but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want to lash out at her because his emotions were all over the place. A dread clutched his heart just at the thought what could have possibly happened. Even the thought of losing Katherine haunts every cell of his body.

“My apologies” Jayson said he as sat up straighter.

“Mr. Renee was asking about what you have in mind, as any personal touch you would like to add to the ring”

“I want violet colored stones surrounding the main diamond” Jayson said.

“Alright” Mr. Renee said as he tapped away at his iPad.

“How about something along this line” he said as he pushed the iPad towards Jayson. An app was opened which had a layout of ring. The current ring had a centre princess cut diamond with two smaller diamonds on the side.

“We can exchange the side diamonds with violet colored ones. Also we can design the band differently. Have design engraved around the length of the band?”

“Make the centre diamond bigger.” Jayson said.

“Of course Mr. Reynolds, that goes without saying.” Mr. Banks smiled.

“Well this is good then. I will email you two three designs along the lines of this one that we discussed and you can finalize and the ring will be soon on your fiancée's hand. It will be absolutely stunning Monsieur.” The French designer beamed at Jayson.

Mr. Renee enjoyed a good challenge and he would make sure this was the best ring he designed so far.

“Thank you gentlemen” Jayson said as he nodded and left.

Jayson got in the car and massaged his temples. He could feel a headache creeping in. He wanted nothing but to go back home but he wasn’t in the mood to face Kate yet.

“To the office” Jayson said as he closed the door and leaned his head back.

Kate wiped the tears which refused to stop falling. This was the first time Jayson had been so angry at her and refused to even look at her and it was breaking her heart.

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“Kate, you want me to prepare dinner” The housekeeper asked gently.

Kate shook her head and pressed a hand to her chest indicating she would do it.

“Okay dear” The housekeeper gave a small smile and left. Kate got up and decided to make dinner. At least it would keep her occupied. She hoped Jayson would come back in time for dinner.

Kate started working on white sauce pasta. Soon it was ready and Kate looked at the time. It was quarter to nine and Jay was still not home and he hadn’t even messaged her once.

Kate covered the pasta and left it on the stove as she thought she would heat it up when Jayson would come home. She made a side salad and kept that aside as well.

She trudged back to the living room and sat down on the couch. An hour passed but there was still no sign of Jayson.

“Please come home baby” Kate thought. She would apologize to him and make him forgive her. She knew he was fighting his own demons. She had walked away not realizing what that would have put him. She had been selfish, looking for a reason to doubt her too good to be true relationship with Jayson.

Kate sat up and realized she had dozed off on the sofa. She looked at the time and it was midnight.

“I am going to text him.” Kate thought as she reached for her phone.

Just as she swiped open her phone the front door clicked open and Jayson stepped in.

Their eyes met across the living room. Kate took in his appearance. His shirt was no longer tucked in with the tie hanging loose around his neck. He had his suit jacket slung across his shoulder.

“You pathetic jackass. She is waiting up for you.” Jayson cursed himself as he looked at Kate. Her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying.

Jayson sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

Kate got up from the couch and walked out of the living room into the kitchen. Jayson followed her silently. She was heating up dinner. As the pasta simmered on the heat, Kate set up two plates on the counter and put the salad bowl next to them. She looked at Jay but his eyes were lowered as he stood still at the entrance of the kitchen.

Kate went up to him and took his hand and pulled him to the barstool.

Jayson sat down and looked at Kate. She smiled and reached for the pasta as she served both of them. They ate in silence. Jayson kept his fork down and took a sip of water.

“Kate…I know my behavior has been inexcusable today but I don’t know how to put this behind me. That memory still haunts me. The thought that I had to chose, it still kills me. I didn’t want to yell at you but I was and still am to an extent that you let go of such a serious matter. I don’t’ ever want to be in that situation again. I don’t ever want to feel that helpless ever again” Jayson looked up at Kate and saw that she was looking at her plate as she forked around her pasta in her plate.

“Katherine…” Jayson said as he touched her arm. Kate looked up and Jayson saw the tears trailing down her cheeks. He immediately got of his stool and bent down next to hers and took her face in his hands.

“I am holding the most treasured thing of my life between my hands right now. I don’t know what I will do without you by my side. I simply cannot imagine it. It is too painful Kate.” Jayson whispered as he placed his forehead against Kate’s.

A tear escaped from his eye and Kate kissed it away. Soon his lips found hers as he stood up and pulled her up and picked her up as he placed her on the counter top. He deepened the kiss, pouring all his emotions into it. Kate pulled him close, wanting to close any distance between them.

Jayson reluctantly pulled back and looked into her eyes. He caressed her face lovingly and kissed her forehead.

Kate hated the feeling of his lips away from hers. Jayson chuckled at her expression.

“Just following the doctor’s orders” Jayson said as his lips pulled up in a smile and Kate pouted.

“You are going to be the death of me Katherine Anderson” He said in a low voice as he picked her up bridal style and carried her into their bedroom.

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“Jay, I am pregnant…” Kate said. The world slipped from underneath Jayson’s feet.

“But your treatment…”

“I love you Jayson…promise me you will take good care of our baby.” Kate said as she backed away from him.

Jayson stepped forward to reach for her but she was stepping away and out of his reach.

“KATE NOOO! YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME!”

Jayson shot up straight in his bed, his body drenched with sweat. He tried to control his breathing as his hand automatically reached for Kate. He felt her soft curves under his hand and he twisted his torso to look at her peacefully sleeping.

Jayson wiped his forehead with his hand and got out of bed. He went to the washroom to wash his face and then quietly made his way to the kitchen where he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and a glass. He knew he couldn’t fall asleep sober today.

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“What information do you have?” Stella asked the PI that she had hired.

“I have my men following the target.”

“Of course you are that is why I am paying you. “ Stella snapped and then looked around the restaurant making sure that no one she knew was nearby.

“From my sources I learnt that Mr. Reynolds was at the jewelers. He picked out an engagement ring today.”

“Nooo” Stella gasped. Her Jayson was going to propose to that dumb slut? Was she too late?

“I want one person trailing Katherine Anderson, his girlfriend” Stella made a face at the word girlfriend.

“That would be extra charges”

Stella got up and raised her eyebrows.

She pulled out a wad of twenties from her handbag and threw it across the table.

“Just do what I say” she snarled and walked out of the restaurant.