A New Beginning [POV: Nate]
I stirred awake to the faint rustling of fabric and the scent of Hannah’s perfume lingering in the air. I turned my head, blinking away the sleep, and there she was—standing in front of the mirror, fastening a delicate bracelet around her wrist.
She looked stunning.
Not just because of the way the pencil skirt hugged her curves, or how her dark hair was neatly pulled into a low bun, accentuating the graceful line of her neck.
But because she looked happy.
There was an energy in her movements, a lightness in her expression that I hadn’t seen in a long time.
I pushed myself up on one elbow, my voice husky from sleep. “You’re up early.”
Hannah turned, flashing me a playful grin. “Guess who got a new job that doesn’t involve dancing on poles?”
I sat up fully, surprised. “You serious?”
She climbed onto the bed, straddling my lap, and kissed me—quick, teasing, full of excitement.
“I start today,” she said, pulling back slightly. “It’s a secretarial position at a startup marketing agency. Can you believe it? I just posted my profile on one of those job sites. At first, I was losing hope, but then this agency called me out of nowhere. They’re open to candidates without experience, and when I met the boss, oh my God, Nate, he was such a dear.”
Something in my chest warmed at how excited she sounded. She was really doing it.
She was stepping into a whole new life, and she had done it all on her own.
But then a small, protective part of me kicked in. “And your boss is…?”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Mr. Harrison.”
I raised a brow. “And…?”
She laughed, swatting my chest. “Oh, relax. He’s old, Nate. Like, grandfatherly old. Nothing to be jealous of.”
I grinned, tugging her closer by the waist. “Good, because you belong to me.”
She smirked, leaning in as if she was about to kiss me again, but at the last second, she pulled away. “I do belong to you, but I also belong at my new job, which means I need to go.”
I groaned dramatically, dropping my head against her shoulder. “Five more minutes.”
Hannah laughed, running her fingers through my hair before gently nudging me back. “I really don’t want to be late for my first day.”
I exhaled, watching as she slipped off the bed and grabbed her purse.
“Fine,” I relented, lying back against the pillows. “But promise me one thing?”
She paused at the bedroom door, tilting her head. “What?”
“Be home early. I made a reservation for us tonight—Buvette, 8 o’clock.”
Hannah’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, fancy.”
I smirked. “Only the best for my girl.”
She walked back over and kissed me again, softer this time. “I’ll be there,” she whispered against my lips before pulling away.
I watched as she disappeared out the door, my chest swelling with pride.
Hannah had come so far.
And tonight, I was going to give her another reason to believe in a future.
Once I was sure she was gone, I slid out of bed and walked over to my dresser.
I pulled open the drawer and reached inside, my fingers wrapping around a small velvet box.
I flipped it open, revealing the ring inside.
Simple. Elegant. Timeless. Just like her.
Tonight, I was going to ask Hannah to marry me.
