457 Best Decision

Just before Katherine reached the lobby, Damien was on the phone with someone from The Platinum Club. While she was away on the trip, he tried to contact people from the club to find out any information about Deborah Young's application. Because the club regarded details about applications or the member's information's privacy with utmost importance, it was quite difficult for him to get answers.

He thought about contacting Wallace, however, apart from the fact that he didn't want to be associated with him again, the Whites weren't part of the council who handles the application, so he doubted he was of any help. It was a laborious process, but today, he was expecting some positive feedback. And he was finally getting one.

"I see. In that case, I will see you—"

"Damien Maverick Park!!!"

The familiar voice that called him oh so loud interrupted his phone call. Snapping his head to the side, he was surprised to see her run towards him. She looked so overjoyed that he couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. Damien chuckled as he caught her in his arms. And when she pressed her lips to his, he forgot what he was about to say.

He forgot where he was.

He forgot that hotel guests were around them.

He forgot that his employees were present.

He forgot that some of the media—who covered the bidding—were just several meters away.

But he didn't forget to kiss her back—a long and affectionate kiss.

His hand slid through her hair and cradled the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. Flashes from the cameras of the people around them did nothing to their supposedly private moment. The legendary Resort King and the heiress of the Young family just made their relationship public—very soon after the awarding was announced. They would definitely see themselves on the headlines.

The sound of clapping and howling were ignored until a minute later when they finally broke their kiss. With their foreheads pressed, the two laughed at themselves.

"What was that for?" he asked, his hands holding the sides of her face.

Bringing her hands to his wrists, she answered, "I… I just wanted to."

"You do know where we are, right?" 

Katherine nodded and slightly leaned back, raising her gaze to meet his. His cheeks became a bit rosy and she could feel that hers were flushed too. With a smile on her face and confidence in her eyes, she told him, "I don't care anymore, Damien. I'm done hiding. I love you… And I want the whole world to know that."

Gently sweeping her hair back, a gorgeous smile painted his face as he looked back at her. He could sense how happy she was and it was infectious. He had not seen her this happy before. And hearing what she just said caused his heart to ram against his chest. Only Katherine could make him feel like this.

Ignoring the calls of the media behind them, Damien and Katherine held hands as they walked through the connecting door—that was for staff only—of the hotel and CRG's main office building. 

The result of the bidding and the footage of the awarding earlier played through the screens on the walls of the lobby. It was a working Saturday for the main office, so there were employees in the area. And when they spotted their Chairman, they bowed to greet him politely until they noticed him holding Katherine's hand. Their fingers were interlaced together, showing an obvious, mutual action. A lot of them were surprised and some who were friends with Katherine felt giddy when they saw the sight before them. 

…

As soon as the door to the Chairman and CEO's office closed, Damien turned around and was about to go in for another kiss when Katherine chuckled and placed a hand on his chest. "You have to let me speak first. I'm going crazy and my chest will explode."

He laughed with her and leaned his bottom against the back of the sofa. He spread his hands in front of him as he told her, "Okay, I'll listen."

She stepped forward, placing herself in between his knees and she brushed the stray strand of his hair away from his face. "I am so bad at this. You make it so hard for me to say what I want to say."

"Why do you say that? You clearly killed it out there earlier."

"Because… You're… you… You're Damien friggin' Park. You make me nervous…"

"I make you nervous?" He smirked.

"You make my knees buckle…"

He pulled her by the waist and his hand traveled south. "Really? Do I make your knees buckle now?"

Katherine playfully slapped the back of his hand and brought it back to her waist. "Be serious!"

"Okay, okay. I'll be a good boy now." The grin on his face was so wide that she couldn't trust what he just said. This sly man was too charming.

"I'm not kidding, Damien…" She sighed. "You're everything… Everything that I could ever ask for and more. I didn't even know I was looking for you until I found you…" Her chest felt full and her throat got thicker by the second, it was getting harder for her to speak.

Seeing her eyes getting moist, he squeezed her waist as if to give her courage. He didn't speak. He only looked at her and allowed her to voice out what she had been wanting to tell him.

Her lips and chin trembled when she pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile. And despite trying to control herself, a tear escaped out of the corner of her eye. "Ever since the night I first met you… when you helped me out of the house to save me… And all the years after that—even until now… I have kept on making horrible… horrible mistakes… choosing the wrong decisions… I've become the worst possible version of me."

Damien wiped her tear with his finger, his thumb stroking her cheek ever so gently. She was so vulnerable yet so strong at the same time right now and his heart throbbed seeing her like this.

Katherine cupped his face and he slightly turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand. She smiled at the warmth that he transferred to her, giving her the courage to continue. "But you… You, Damien… You're the best decision I have ever made."

Another tear fell from her eye which was followed by another one right after. She quickly wiped her face with her fingers and then reached inside her purse, taking out a piece of white velvet box. Her hand quivered when she held it, so she clutched it firmly, afraid that she would accidentally let go of it.

Damien followed her gaze and it landed on the box in her shaky hand. He straightened his back as he watched her carefully open it in front of him. His heart rapidly pounded... and she took his breath away when his eyes fell on the platinum ring with a black diamond center.