The engagement ring

"Ben,"

"Hmm..." I just looked at her while figuring out some design elements.

"Do you think we can finish off the proposal one week before the bidding"

"Yes, dear,"

"Did you see the drafts made by Anthony and the team?"

I asked her to come closer and held her tight while going through the final sketches they had sent me.

"Well, they have tried to mix the modern and historic approach, but they have to find a balance in both," I looked at her for her opinion.

"Hmm, I thought their design had some consistency,"

"Some parts they do but see here and these areas,"

"Yes what you are saying is true, so what can they do to improve this?" she said looking at the design with a lot of concentration. She looked so cute.

We talked to the team in the office and had an online meeting. We discussed how they could improve and what kind of changes I think will be appropriate. I had given them creative freedom but they have to respect the boundaries set by the client brief.

After about three hours and the meeting concluded, Markus came in with lunch for us.

"Thank you. Do you want to talk to me?"

"Yes sir,"

"Sarah, dear, can you go and heat up the food,"

After she left Markus continued to talk.

"Sir, I think it's better if we send Sir Alex's team with him when he goes on the trip,"

"Hmm, may I know why?"

"I got some tip that Liam's team is following him when he goes out of town, maybe they are trying to find a way to harm him or just threaten him,"

"Does he know about this?"

"Yes, his team had informed Sir, but you know how he is," he said with a smile.

Alex could be immature and childish but he is more strict and tough than me. He is a risk taker but sometimes needs a little helping hand.

"BENNNYYYYYYY" here comes the devil himself.

"OH HI Markus," he says, "And you go put on your suit and come with me in five minutes," he says in one breath.

"Hold on, what's going on and where are you taking me?" I asked as his sudden outbursts are the ones you need to be pre-prepared.

"Just go, and get ready,"

"But I promise to have lunch with Sarah,"

"Oh.. hmm... ok... then we all will have lunch and we two go ..."

Markus and I couldn't help laughing at his funny look. Because of him, the peaceful lunch was rushed, and I was dressed and dragged out of my own home with thirty minutes to spare.

"Mr.Thunderstorm, what do you have in mind?" I asked after getting seated in his car. Yes, it's still the Audi our fathers got us.

"I forgot the main thing?"

"What thing?"

"YOu know?"

"HUH!!"

"The ring,"

I looked at him in surprise.

"You silly, you dragged me out of my home to buy an engagement ring?"

"Yes, you have done it once, so you have experience,"

"Ok, but you will have to pay back,"

"OK boss, I will buy the whole snack shop again,"

"SO where are we heading?"

Shopping with this Nutmeg is another story. I mean, he is worse than a girl when picking a suit.

I know this is going to be a bad or rather a worse experience.

The first stop was a well know branded jewelry store,

"Can we please the engagement rings," said Alex as we were escorted to the VIP section.

"Do you have anything in mind?" I asked him before they bought the rings.

"Hmm.. not really, Sarah gave me Meg's ring size,"

They bought out many engagement rings. Alex was having a hard time picking one from many of them. After about half an hour he selected three.

"What do you think?"

"Alex, she's a doctor, she cannot wear huge rings, be practical," I said looking at the rings he choose.

"Hmm... I would love a combination of these two,"

"Can you make a ring combined with these two designs?" I asked the sales assistant.

"We will need about three weeks to make this," she said.

"Alex, you have only 4 days?"

"Oh ok...ok... I will choose one from these three,"

While he went on deciding I went around looking at the new collection they had.

I suddenly saw a few paparazzi larking around and I gave a reminder not to disclose the reason for our visit to the store. As the media will have a field day giving a hard time to Meg.

The dainty designs did remind me of Sarah. The store manager explained to me the concepts behind the new designs. A peak I get as a well-known figure. I asked the manager to let me check two of those designs, one a butterfly collection and the other just a simple design with detailed with aquamarine stones and rose gold.

I loved the aquamarine stone set consisting of a necklace, a ring, and a pair of earrings. I looked around if I can get a matching bracelet for it. The manager thought for a while and bought me a few bracelets that had similar stones mixed with white stones.

After thinking of how she loves simple designs I selected one with a few stones as the bracelet and the set with aquamarine stones and rose gold as a gift for her. After purchasing them I went back to Alex.

"I love this one,"

"Hmm, it's practical and she can wear it anytime," I said looking at what he had selected.

"The luck was on our side they had the same size," he said happily.

It was almost an hour when we got out of the store. Alex insisted on buying some flowers for Sarah like he usually does. As Meg didn't love them, he devoted the flowers to Sarah. A huge bunch of red roses and baby's breath was his choice this time.

"Hi, you pay for this," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I got it for your wife, so you pay,"

I just laughed and paid off while helping him carry two bouquets of flowers and a box filled with sweets for Meg.

I did hear a faint camera click but I didn't worry. As the headlines they make will not make any huge impact but just two guys buying roses. What harm can it be done?