The Fall of the Prodigal (25 page)

“Let me look at those again?” Michael asked Raoul, the clerk chosen to wait on him. He was seated in a small room designed for clientele with particular tastes and the money to satisfy them. It was Thursday evening and he wanted to get this off his to-do list.

The young man was quick to do his bidding. Michael marveled at Raoul's patience.

He had already chosen Lauren's wedding ring. Correction. She had sent him a picture of what she wanted. Michael found it ostentatious and borderline gaudy, but he was going to grant her every wish. How much was too much for the woman who had borne his children?

“Let's see if any of these earrings appeal to you,” Raoul said, before carefully depositing the tray in front of him.

Michael waved him off. It had been close to an hour but finding the right pair to match Verona's eyes was a challenge. Nope. He did not see anything he liked.

Raoul poked his head in.

“I want you to look at this.” Michael swiped the camera app on his phone and searched for a picture of Verona. They had been at lunch. She had been laughing at something. On impulse, he had snapped the photo. Her eyes sparkled. Michael smiled whenever he pulled it up, which was often. He held up his phone to Raoul to see. “Can you match her eyes?”

“Your fiancée is beautiful,” Raoul observed. Michael did not correct him. Raoul snapped his fingers. “Aha. I have exactly what you're looking for.”

When Raoul returned with his vision, Michael immediately nixed the earrings. In his hand was a tiger-shaped pendant engraved with golden bronze-colored stones. He slanted Raoul an eerie glance before clutching it in his palm. It was as if whoever designed the gem had read his mind and made this as a custom piece for his Tiger. Well, Verona was not his Tiger. That would not stop Michael from buying her this gift. “Wrap it for me. I'll take it.”

“Do you want it delivered by messenger, sir?”

He shook his head. “No, I'll do it myself.”

Raoul gave him a knowing smile before running off to prepare the package.

Why are you marrying Lauren?
The random thought attacked his psyche. Michael shrugged away the question.

He exited the back room and meandered his way through the other customers until he found Raoul. He did not know what possessed him to scan the engagement rings on display. His eyes locked onto an exquisite five-carat yellow diamond solitaire. Like a siren, it beckoned him over to the case. Michael needed to feel it in his hands.

Sensing another sale, Raoul hovered. “Our yellow rose has entranced many but no takers as yet. You want to take a peek?”

Michael gulped then nodded. Yes. He was looking at Tiger's engagement ring. He could visualize it flashing on Verona's hand, getting caught in that wild hair of hers. Someone needed to buy her that ring.

He accepted the ring with slight embarrassment at his emotional connection. Michael knew it sounded sexist, but he thought only women felt that way. Standing there, though, Michael admitted there was no way he could leave it behind. His heart pounded.

“Ring it up, Raoul,” Michael commanded. He massaged his temples. There was no excuse for what he was doing: buying two rings for two different women. He could not live in denial another day. It was obvious who had his heart. Why was he marrying Lauren?

As he drove to his penthouse suite, Michael debated the question. He could not even tell when his feelings for Verona had morphed into love. For years, he had thought Lauren was the one. He had scoured the United States to find her and his children. Now, he had all three and he was undecided. Who did that?

And, what about John and Olivia? Michael wanted to be a full-time father in their lives. No. He had to marry Lauren. It was the right thing to do.

He groaned. But, he could not picture making love to any other woman for the rest of his life but Tiger. He craved her all day long. During the day he could fool himself, but at night his dreams betrayed him. He could not pretend for the rest of his life, could he?

Why couldn't he have two wives? Didn't Adam? No, it wasn't Adam but Abraham. Michael had read about the patriarch in the book of Genesis. Abraham had a killer time managing Sarah and Hagar.

Michael chuckled, picturing Lauren and Verona scratching and mauling each other. There would be no peaceful cohabitation with those two. No, he was not made out for polygamy and neither woman would settle with being a sidepiece. Besides, Michael would land in jail and . . . why was he even entertaining this dumb idea? It was a waste of his brain cells.

The fact was he was already engaged. To Lauren.

He could live with Lauren. He could be the husband she needed. He knew that. But could and want to were not the same. He wanted to be with Tiger. He wanted to be Verona's husband. There was a big difference.

Michael pulled up to the valet in front of his building. His head whipped left and right. There was no press waiting. No cops waiting. In fact, everyone he saw was going about his or her business. He released a deep breath. It would be awhile before he could accept he was a free man.

Michael entered his building with a wide smile on his face. It was good to be home.

“Good to see you, Mr. Ward,” Aisha, the front desk clerk, greeted him.

“It's good to be back,” he said.

In the elevator, Michael saw a text from Verona saying she was in California. She would be back Sunday night. He glanced at his watch. Keith was going to announce his engagement to the church this Saturday. He could fly to California and back within that time. He could ask Verona to marry him and if she said no, he would marry Lauren. Problem solved.

Disgust filled his being. He was bargaining with two women's lives. Gina flashed before him. When would he learn? He had married Gina knowing deep down in his gut something was wrong. He had ignored that feeling. The same one he was having about Lauren. Michael knew he was marrying the wrong woman even if it was for the right reasons.

Not this time.

He would choose love.

Michael decided he would not wait another day. He was going to California to ask Verona to marry him.

“He looks better in person,” Louisa whispered peering through the peephole.

Verona cracked up. “Mom, you're a hoot! It's typical Michael to show up here spur of the moment.” She rushed toward the stairs. “Let him in. I've got to comb my hair and freshen up.”

Her mother turned toward her with wide eyes. “Maybe he's here to ask you to marry him.”

Verona's heart skipped a beat. “We'll never know unless you open the door.” She hurried into her bathroom to make herself presentable.
Don't get your hopes up. He could be here on business.
Too late. Her hopes were up. Way up. Verona's hand had a slight tremble while she brushed her teeth.

She looked in the mirror.
My goodness!
Her eyes were wide open. She felt excitement and terror at the same time.

Michael must have used his private plane. Of course he did. He did not travel any other way. She thought he would have waited until she returned to New York before popping the question.
Wait.
What if he came to meet her parents and ask their permission to marry her? She had better hurry.

Five minutes later, Verona scurried down the stairs to find both her parents and Michael sitting in the family room. Her parents had enraptured expressions. Michael had obviously managed to charm them, which was no surprise.

“Michael.” Her voice sounded breathless.
Calm down. Breathe
.

He had been laughing at something, but whipped around at the mention of his name. “Verona, it's good to see you.”

“You're free.” She mentioned the obvious, twisting her hands.

Louisa gave her a thumbs-up sign before pulling Noel from the room. “We'll leave you two to talk.” Her voice squeaked with excitement.

Verona knew that was her mother's way of telling her Michael was indeed there to propose. Lord, she needed to sit down.

As her bottom hit the cushion, Michael dropped to one knee and took her hand in his. “Verona, you're the most infuriating woman I've ever met. You're stubborn, feisty, but you're loyal. I can't function without you. I value you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I'd be honored—”

“Yes!'

“I'm not finished.” He grinned. “I'd be honored if you would accept—”

“Yes.” She shivered with glee.

Michael gritted his teeth. “Will you shut up and let me finish my proposal?”

Verona nodded.

“Will you be my wife?”

Her eyes watered. She cupped his face in her hands and pulled him until he was seated next to her. “Yes. Yes, I'll marry you. I want that more than anything in this world. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Michael said, snaking her into his arms and kissing her until her toes curled.

It was too soon for her when he ended the kiss. Michael reached into his shirt pocket and took out a small box.

With a slightly embarrassed look on his face, he said, “I'm messing this up big time. Should I get back on my knees?”

Verona gave him a playful pat. “No, I don't care how it's done. You did it and that's what counts.” She whisked away the tears on her face. “I knew you were smart and this proposal confirms it.”

He chuckled at her humor. “Ha-ha. Funny. I can see there'll never be a dull day with you.”

“Open the box!” she commanded, shaking with glee.

Michael opened the box with slow deliberation. When she saw the solitaire, Verona clutched her chest and whispered, “Michael, it's exquisite.”

He slipped the ring on her finger. Verona admired it with silence. All of a sudden, Michael lunged at her, knocking her flat on the couch before lying on top of her. It took a millisecond before his weight crushed her. “Get off!” she croaked. There was only a crack between their bodies.

He would not move.

Verona pushed against him flailing her arms. “Michael!” she screamed, shoving at him. “Get off!”

Her parents must have have been lurking nearby because they both ran into the room.

“What's going on?” Noel asked.

Verona used her strength to turn her head. Seeing the worry on Noel's face made her revolt her imprisonment even more. Not even having her parents in the room made him move.

“I'm never letting you go. This is how you capture a tiger,” Michael boasted before releasing her. She sagged with relief. He lifted her hand to show off the carats twinkling there.

“The oaf could've stifled me to death,” she fumed. When neither of her parents acknowledged her, Verona crossed her arms.

Michael grabbed her chin and planted a kiss on her. In spite of her attitude, Verona responded. Louisa cleared her throat causing Michael to pull away.

“I take it she said yes?” Noel grinned.

Mortified, Verona covered her cheeks. She was appalled at Michael's antics in front of her parents, although they seemed delighted. In fact, her mother beamed.

“She did, sir,” Michael confirmed. “I always knew she was smart, but this confirms it.”

Her eyes bulged. “Hey, you stole my words!”

Michael dismissed her remark and continued to thrill her parents with his open display of affection. He could not keep his hands off her and her parents were eating it all up. It embarrassed but stimulated her at the same time. Verona squirmed. She would have to think of a way to make him pay later.

Verona noticed Michael “accidentally” brushed against her in the most sensitive places. Were her parents' blind or pretending not to see? Purposefully, she stood and put some space between them.

“Michael, can you stay to meet my son?” Verona asked.

“I wish I could but I have to go back to New York tomorrow. I would love to meet Elijah—sorry, Jah—when I come back. Or, I could fly him and your parents up to New York next weekend?” He directed the question to her father. “I can have my secretary arrange a getaway of sorts for the both of you?”

Louisa had stars in her eyes. “I've never been to New York. I've been meaning to go.”

“Son, if you're trying to bribe us, it's working,” her father joked. “We'll come next weekend but we'll pay our way.”

Did her father call him son?

Michael waved his hand. “Nonsense. Everything's on me, Dad. I insist.”

Did Michael call her father Dad? Verona felt sweat line her upper lip. This was real. The men in her lives had taken to each other. She had to wipe another tear.

“Oh, how generous,” her mother exclaimed.

Her father nodded and shook Michael's hand. “Thank you.”

“This is my way of thanking you for giving me a woman like Tiger. She's remarkable and I'm complete with her by my side.”

Verona bit her tongue to keep any sarcastic comment from popping out of her mouth. Michael was a sweet talker. When he looked at her, she rolled her eyes and he smirked. Deep down, she melted at the effort he made on her behalf.

“I love you,” he mouthed.

“I love you too,” she mouthed back.

“Come sit with me,” he mouthed again.

Uh-uh. She wasn't falling for that. She shook her head. Out of nowhere the words burst from her. “I don't want to wait too long to get married.”

His voice dropped. “For once, I agree. Let's get married as soon as possible.”

 

 

In his private plane, gliding at 30,000 feet, Michael studied the clouds while he thought. How was he going to get married as soon as possible when he had another fiancée waiting for him in New York?

He had had the good sense to put his cell phone on silent while he was at Verona's house. But once he had left and turned it on, Michael was bombarded with messages from Lauren. She had inundated his voicemail with updates of the wedding plans and when she received her ring. Michael eyed the picture Lauren sent with the rock on her finger. That ring would be her consolation prize.

Michael rubbed his head. He was going to have one angry woman on his hands once he broke the news he was ending their engagement.

He stiffened his spine. It had to be done and he was not going to dawdle. He was not going to juggle two women. Michael knew the one he wanted and he was going to marry her. Lauren would get over it, though he did not relish the yelling and screaming he was sure would ensue.

If only he knew. He was dead wrong.