Chapter 17 - The Second Proposal
The Franklin Street archive was smaller than Cassidy expected.
No giant vault.
No cinematic rows of gold.
Just a basement room behind a reinforced door.
Metal shelves.
Boxes.
Old ledgers.
Hard drives.
File cabinets.
Dominic entered with federal investigators, independent auditors, attorneys and a camera team documenting every movement.
Cassidy did not go.
She took Emily to school.
Then went to work.
That mattered.
Her life could not freeze every time the Vale family created a crisis.
At 2:06 that afternoon Dominic called.
“We found it.”
Cassidy stepped into the hotel employee hallway.
“What?”
“Everything.”
Her stomach tightened.
“How bad?”
“For Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Very.”
Auditors found original ledgers tying Richard to shell companies, diverted foundation funds, forged authorizations and the account opened under Dominic's name.
Evelyn had documented years of transfers.
She had preserved copies because she suspected her husband had initially participated.
Later records showed Dominic's father attempted to stop the scheme shortly before his death.
Richard continued after him.
Cassidy leaned against the wall.
“So your father…”
“Was involved at first.”
Dominic's voice was quiet.
“Then he tried to undo it.”
“That doesn't erase what he did.”
“No.”
“But it changes the ending.”
“Yes.”
Cassidy knew how much that mattered.
“Your mother knew?”
“She knew some.”
“And she protected the evidence.”
“Yes.”
“What happens now?”
“Investigations. Lawsuits. Probably criminal charges.”
“And the company?”
“Board meeting tomorrow.”
“Are they asking you back?”
“Yes.”
Cassidy waited.
“Will you go?”
“No.”
That surprised her.
“Why?”
“Because I meant what I said.”
“What will you do?”
“I don't know.”
“Dominic Vale doesn't know?”
“Apparently contagious.”
Cassidy smiled.
That evening Dominic came to the apartment.
He didn't bring lawyers.
Or dumplings.
He brought the antique ring.
Cassidy stared at the box.
“No.”
“I'm not proposing.”
“You opened a ring box.”
“I realize the optics.”
She folded her arms.
“Continue.”
Dominic placed the box on the table.
“I want to return this to you.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the last person to wear it.”
“That's not how ownership works.”
“It is how my mother would have decided.”
“You can't know that.”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“But Jerry agrees.”
“Of course he does.”
Cassidy looked at the ring.
“What are you asking?”
“Nothing.”
“That seems suspicious.”
“I want the next decision to be yours.”
He pushed the box slightly closer.
“Keep it. Return it. Lock it away. Wear it.”
Cassidy looked at him.
“We're still legally married.”
“Yes.”
“Are you asking for a divorce?”
“No.”
“An annulment?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Dominic's voice softened.
“I want to start again.”
Cassidy blinked.
“From where?”
“The Bluebird.”
“You want to repeat the worst night of my life?”
“I want to replace the question.”
“What question?”
“You needed a husband.”
Cassidy smiled despite herself.
“Yes.”
“I needed a wife.”
“Yes.”
“We made a transaction.”
“Yes.”
Dominic took a breath.
“I want to know what happens if neither of us needs anything.”
Cassidy's throat tightened.
“Dominic.”
“Come to dinner with me.”
She stared.
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
“We're married.”
“I've been informed.”
“And you want a date?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“The Bluebird.”
Cassidy laughed.
“That is a terrible date.”
“I know.”
“Jerry will insult you.”
“Definitely.”
“Emily will want to come.”
“I already asked Nora to watch her.”
Cassidy raised an eyebrow.
“You planned ahead.”
“I run companies.”
“Not anymore.”
His expression shifted.
“Still adjusting.”
Cassidy closed the ring box.
“All right.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
At 8:30 they sat in the same booth where Dominic had been sitting the night they met.
Jerry placed two menus down.
“You know what's romantic?”
Cassidy groaned.
“Please don't.”
Jerry ignored her.
“Going somewhere that doesn't smell like fryer oil.”
Dominic opened the menu.
“I suggested another restaurant.”
“No, you didn't,” Cassidy said.
“I considered it.”
“That doesn't count.”
Jerry walked away muttering about billionaires.
Dominic looked at Cassidy.
“No emergency.”
“No court.”
“No trust deadline.”
“No contract negotiation.”
“No child custody hearing tomorrow.”
“Hopefully.”
They both touched the table.
“That's progress,” Cassidy said.
Dinner became ordinary.
They talked about things they had never had time to ask.
Favorite movies.
Worst jobs.
Cassidy's childhood.
Dominic's college years.
Her mother's terrible singing.
His mother's postcards.
At 10:12, Jerry brought pie.
“At least one of you better pay this time.”
Dominic looked offended.
“I tipped one hundred dollars.”
“You insulted my coffee.”
“It deserved it.”
Cassidy laughed.
Then Dominic became serious.
“Cassidy.”
“No.”
“I haven't asked anything.”
“You have proposal face.”
“What does proposal face look like?”
“Terrifyingly controlled.”
He reached into his coat.
Cassidy pointed.
“There.”
Dominic removed the ring box.
Again.
Jerry saw from across the diner.
He turned off the lights over half the room.
Cassidy yelled, “Jerry!”
“Atmosphere!”
Dominic opened the box.
This time he did not immediately lift the ring.
“The first time this was on the table, I needed something.”
Cassidy's eyes filled.
“So did I.”
“Yes.”
“I don't want either of us to pretend that wasn't real.”
“I don't.”
Dominic continued.
“You saved my mother's work.”
“You helped save Emily.”
“We saved each other very inefficiently.”
Cassidy laughed through tears.
“Extremely.”
He took the ring.
“I am not asking whether you'll marry me.”
“We're already married.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
“I'm asking whether you'll choose the marriage now.”
Cassidy stopped breathing.
“No deadline.”
He held her gaze.
“No trust.”
“No housing bargain.”
“No contract term.”
“No.”
“No reason except…”
Dominic's voice lowered.
“Except I love you.”
Cassidy wiped one cheek.
“You're getting better at saying that.”
“Practice.”
She held out her hand.
Dominic stopped.
“Is that yes?”
“It's yes.”
He slid his mother's ring onto her finger for the second time.
The first time, Cassidy's hand had shaken because she was terrified.
This time it shook because she was crying.
Jerry applauded.
Cassidy glared at him.
He shrugged.
“I've been waiting two weeks.”
Dominic leaned across the table.
Cassidy kissed him.
Outside, rain began tapping against the windows.
Almost exactly like the night they met.
But this time Cassidy's coffee was warm.
May you like
And neither of them was asking the other to save them.
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