Chapter 12 - THE WINTER GALA AT LE JARDIN NOIR
Two years to the day after the incident with the silver fork, Le Jardin Noir hosted a private winter gala.
The restaurant had been completely renovated, its old velvet drapes replaced by sleek modern glass panels and warm minimalist lighting.
The tables were set with crystal glassware, white roses, and spotless silver cutlery.
Sophie sat at the central table, wearing a stunning floor-length crimson gown that caught the chandelier light.
Around her sat Leo Romanov, Marcus, and several senior executives from Callahan Holdings.
At the head of the table sat Christian, his dark suit impeccably tailored, his gaze never straying far from Sophie.
Antoine, the manager who had once threatened Sophie over a delayed wine order, now stood respectfully by the service station, personally overseeing the champagne service.
As the string quartet played a soft melody in the background, Christian stood up, tapping his champagne glass lightly with a silver spoon.
The ballroom fell quiet.
"Two years ago tonight," Christian began, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the room, "a mistake was made in this room. A fork was dropped. A secret was exposed."
He looked directly at Sophie, a rare, tender smile softening his harsh features.
"Most men in my position would have seen that moment as a threat to be eliminated. But as it turned out... it was the greatest blessing of my life."
He walked around the table, stopping beside Sophie’s chair.
The entire room watched in breathless silence.
Christian reached into his vest pocket, pulled out a small black velvet box, and dropped gracefully to one knee on the polished parquet floor.
Gasps rippled through the tables.
Romanov grinned broadly, raising his champagne glass in silent salute.
Christian opened the box.
Inside sat a ring set with a brilliant, flawless diamond surrounded by a subtle, intricate band of platinum shaped like interlocking silver links—a quiet nod to the tool that had brought them together.
"Sophie Miller," Christian said, his voice dropping into a register meant only for her. "You saved my empire, you captured my mind, and you stole my heart. Will you spend the rest of your life standing beside me?"
Tears shimmered in Sophie’s eyes, but her voice was steady, clear, and filled with absolute certainty.
"Yes, Christian," she whispered. "I will."
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The restaurant erupted into applause and cheers as Christian slid the ring onto her finger and stood up to pull her into a deep, passionate embrace.
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