‘I would love to.’ She looked around again. ‘This view really is beautiful.’
‘Nowhere near as beautiful as the view I have in front of me.’ He squeezed her hand.
‘Arrêt!’ She laughed and gave him a playful tap.
‘OK! I need to work on my delivery of corny lines, huh?’ They sat down at a low table at the far end of the terrace, giving them an unbroken view of the garden. ‘Finally. I have been looking forward to this. Some time alone with you.’
‘I was so close to getting on the train to Paris.’ She smiled.
‘That would have been a great shame. You would have missed out on this wonderful meal and I would have had to chase you to France.’ He grinned.
‘I’m glad I didn’t leave.’ She looked at him; their eyes met and he held her gaze. Chantelle felt a shiver of excitement ripple through her. Granger’s phone beeped. He picked it up and looked at it.
‘Ah, great. Janet has booked an appointment for an interview with Lee Devonshire.’
Chantelle looked at him with curiosity.
‘Lee Devonshire is a reporter for Executive People. Have you heard of it?’
She shook her head.
‘It’s a gossip magazine for the corporate world. He’s been wanting to set up an interview for ages. Now seems like the perfect time. I can explain about my past, my family. Clear everything up.’
She bit her lip. ‘Are you sure you want to do that? I don’t want to push you.’
He sat back and stretched. ‘Yeah, it makes sense. I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I am. It’s best to come clean. To make a fresh start.’ Chantelle nodded and looked out at the fountain.
‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked, staring at her over his wine.
‘How lucky I am.’
‘I’m the lucky one.’ He smiled. ‘Until last week the thought of sharing my life with someone made me break out in a cold sweat. I loved my bachelor life. All that mattered to me was my company. Now, in just a few days, that has changed. You’ve changed that for me. You came into my life and enhanced every part of it in ways I never knew possible. I don’t ever want to be without you, ever again. It’s all still important, but as long as I have you by my side to enjoy it.’
‘I have something for you, Chantelle.’ He reached into his pocket, took out the jewellery box and passed it to her.
‘Ah, Granger!’ She took the box and looked at the elegant packaging. She slipped her finger inside, peeled open the paper and opened the box. Two white diamonds sparkled back at her from the box.
‘They are beautiful, Granger, you shouldn’t have.’
‘I should have. I really hope you like them. And, actually, there’s something else. I know it’s far too early for this, Chantelle, but after this past week, I’ve realised something.’ He paused and looked at her; he seemed to be searching for something in her face. ‘Chantelle, do you believe in love at first sight?’
She bit her lip and looked at him. ‘I think I do.’ He stood up and moved around the table and took her hand. ‘Granger?’
His eyes were fixed on her and they were sparkling. He lowered himself down on to his knee. Chantelle gasped. ‘My life is a better place with you in it and I want you to be in it forever. I know this is really too early, but …’ He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a second box. A large, dark blue box. ‘We’ve only known each other for a short while, but nothing has ever felt so right or so important.’ He opened the box. A single diamond flashed in the candlelight. She gasped. He put his hand under her chin, raising her face, so she was looking into his eyes. ‘Ms Moulier, I want you to be my wife.’
‘No,’ she breathed.
‘No?’ Granger repeated. ‘It’s too soon? But, Chantelle, I can wait.’
‘No. I mean yes,’ she gasped. Tears welled in her eyes. ‘It’s beautiful.’
Granger took the ring from its box and slipped it gently on to her finger.
‘It’s magnificent.’
‘It’s a French shape. It’s perfect for you,’ he said, admiring the long thin diamond on her slender hand.
‘Oh, Granger.’ She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. He lifted her and twirled her around, holding her tight as she sobbed into his shoulder.
When he put her down the waiter arrived with a chilled bottle of vintage Champagne. He handed them each a wide glass.
‘To us,’ Granger said, holding his glass to her. She sipped the Champagne.
‘Ah, that’s fantastic,’ she said, as she tasted the wine.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You approve?’
‘Of course! This is the best I’ve tasted.’
‘Only the best for you.’ He grinned.
‘I love it so much,’ she said, looking at the marquis diamond on her finger.
‘I love you, Chantelle,’ Granger said, looking into her eyes. ‘It seems strange to say this, but I do. I can’t help it. You’ve blown me away.’
Epilogue - six months later
Chantelle sat at the dressing table and looked out of the window at the vineyards. They stretched for miles; lush green leaves on the short vines striped the hills in neat rows. It was a beautiful day, and bright golden sunlight filtered into the room.
She smiled at herself in the mirror, hardly able to believe how much had happened over the past months. From the moment Granger proposed her life had just kept getting better. She touched her right hand to the shiny marquis diamond on her ring finger. She still couldn’t get over how stunning it was.
Everything else had just fallen into place. The interview with Richard Croft had gone well – better than she could have hoped. They had hit it off straight away and Richard had offered her the job that day.
‘Are you ready?’ There was a knock on the door and her Aunt Carolyn appeared.
‘I think so.’ Chantelle took a final look in the mirror and adjusted her veil.
‘Uncle Nico is waiting for you downstairs.’
‘OK.’ Chantelle got up and her aunt rushed over to help her with her huge white dress.
‘Thank goodness we’re in a chateau and the doorways are wide enough, or you’d never get through and down the stairs.’ Her aunt fussed. ‘Oh, darling, you look wonderful.’ She arranged the veil, tears forming in her eyes. ‘If only your mother and father were here to see you, they would be so proud.’
‘Don’t cry, you’ll start me off.’ Chantelle put her arm around her aunt. ‘I’m so glad we’re here. It’s so beautiful – you’ve been so kind organising this place.’
‘It was the least we could do. Your Granger has been so generous.’
When she had told her aunt and uncle about the wedding they had insisted on helping with the costs, even though money was tight. Chantelle’s cousin owned a chateau in a vineyard in Vendée, which made the perfect location for the wedding and reception and had rooms for all the guests to stay. And, of course, her aunt and uncle were providing all the wine.
‘We’re so lucky with the weather.’ Aunt Carolyn sighed as she helped her niece down the stairs to where Uncle Nico was waiting.
‘Magnificent,’ he whispered as his niece walked down the grand staircase. He bent forward and pressed a kiss on her cheek. Chantelle looked at him; he didn’t need to say anything. She knew he was so proud of her.
‘Come on, everyone’s waiting,’ he said, taking her arm. They made their way across the lush green lawn towards a huge tent that was pitched in the chateau grounds. All the guests were waiting and music was playing.
‘Just one moment, Uncle Nico,’ Chantelle said at the entrance to the grand tent. She took a deep breath. The sun was hot and she was glad her wedding dress was strapless, leaving her shoulders and arms exposed and cool. She looked down at herself. The bodice was tight, fitted to her chest, exposing her décolleté, then billowed out in a huge white skirt.
He turned when he heard the music change and saw her come in. Their eyes locked. Chantelle stared into his eyes and struggled to look away. It was as if they were strong magnets pulling her to him. It was as if no one else existed and they were the only two people in the marquee, in the world, even. Granger looked fantastic; his charcoal grey suit looked like a military dress uniform. She shuddered with excitement at the thought that this man would soon be her husband.
She reached the end of the aisle and Uncle Nico passed her hand to Granger. He smiled at her and she felt her whole body melt.
‘You look incredible,’ he whispered. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you too,’ Chantelle whispered back.
The Executive Floor Page 22
