Chapter 650 - Out of character

Later that day they had to postpone their dinner plans on the mainland because there is a work related almost-emergency at White corp.

Fox and Daniel developed a tool that needs to be deployed next day, and neither of them will be available. That is why Aiden had to join conference call to get necessary information to handle the deployment next day.

Sarah didn't say anything. She knows that things happen, and this is work. She took her laptop and kept busy.

Maybe one evening of doing nothing is what she needs to unwind. Last two weeks were wonderful, but exhausting. Aiden released his planning-beast-mode without any restrictions, and almost every minute of the day was planned. One evening without plans will actually be a pleasant change.

Sarah was on the side, out of the camera view working on her laptop while Aiden joined the conference call with Fox and Daniel. Her attention got pulled toward the ongoing chat when they finished discussing deployment, and Daniel started asking questions about Aiden's whereabouts.

"I see an unknown room behind you... something new..." Daniel noted. He was always the nosy one. "Did you get a new place? Or are you somewhere exotic?"

Aiden paused for a second before responding. "Vacation."

"Nice, nice. Alone, or you have some company?" Daniel never had problems asking personal questions, even to his boss.

"How is that any of your business?" Aiden had difficulty suppressing his irritation. If Daniel is not so good at what he does, Aiden would probably fire him, or at least place him in a different team.

"Come on, Boss. We are stuck here, share some sweetness with us!"

"Speak for yourself!", Fox told Daniel. He was not comfortable with Daniel's gossipy behavior.

"So, are you… Oh! Oh!" Daniel exclaimed and paused when he saw Sarah come into the view.

She stood behind Aiden, waved as a greeting and put her hands around Aiden's neck. "Does this answer some of your questions?" She leaned lower so that her head is close to Aiden's.

"I see… so you two are serious!" Daniel's eyes sparkled like he discovered something big.

"Of course!" Sarah flashed a smile and placed her left hand closer to the camera, so that engagement ring is front and center. "We are engaged."

Both Fox and Daniel stared at the ring on the screen. They were not so much into the ring how much they were surprised by the news that Aiden and Sarah are engaged.

Daniel and Fox were not the only ones stunned. Aiden was also surprised that Sarah spoke about it so openly.

It took some time for Daniel to snap out of it. "Engaged? Congratulations! When is the wedding?"

Sarah rubbed her cheek against Aiden's and responded: "As soon as this hunk here decides to tie the knot. I'm ready anytime."

Sarah flashed another smile and walked away.

Aiden logged off from the chat within seconds and looked at Sarah. "What was that?"

"What?"

"You, stepping in to talk, flashing the ring and… saying that you are ready to get married anytime." Aiden does not mind, and he would be ecstatic about it if not for the fact that what Sarah did is totally out of character. In his opinion, if this is two weeks ago, Sarah would never show herself and confirm that two of them are together on a vacation… and forget about talking about engagement and marriage with someone like Fox and Daniel!

Based on Aiden's behavior, Sarah thought that she stepped out of the line. That was a work call, and she barged in with personal topics.

"I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I thought that you finished work-talk and were wrapping up with some casual chat. Also, we are engaged, and I just said what's on my mind. If it's a problem, I will not do it again. I didn't realize it will bother you. I hope you are not upset…"

Aiden realized that she misunderstood. "No, no, no… I'm surprised, that's all. You are aware that until recently at work you wanted to keep our relationship a secret. Right?"

Sarah exhaled in relief when she heard Aiden's words. She decided to clarify further: "Yes, and I said that I'm sorry for that. I was wrong. Life is too short. We might be postponing things for later , and then something happens and that later never comes."

Aiden looked at her with a complex expression. "Just to verify: you are OK with us getting married… anytime?"

"Yes. I admit that I didn't put much thought into what kind of a wedding we should have, but I don't mind us getting married. Anytime. Even if we skip the wedding and just go to register our marriage, I'm fine with that." Sarah observed that Aiden is shocked by her words. "Is that strange?"

"No, no, no… not at all."

Aiden thought he is about to hyperventilate. Can it really be so easy for two of them to get married? He felt like dragging her to the court (or to whatever place they can register their marriage) right now and getting the paperwork done, before she changes her mind.

But then he thought: what if all this is only because she does not remember her meltdown and what caused it? What if they go through it and she remembers everything and asks for a divorce? Ah! This is too much!

He stood up and walked to the balcony, hoping that fresh sea breeze will help him calm down and think about the situation properly.

Aiden felt Sarah's body press on his back and her arms wrapped around his chest.

"Is it troublesome, what I said?", she asked in a quiet voice.

"What?"

"That I don't care about the wedding? The important part is that we get married, right? How I see it, the wedding itself, big or small or anything in between, is optional."

He turned around to face her. "I'm just worried that… you will regret it."

Sarah looked at him with surprise all over her face. "Regret? Why would I regret it? I already said that I will marry you when you proposed. Since then I had plenty of time to think about it. And I did. And I don't see any reason why I would regret having you as my husband."

Realization hit him: Sarah said that she will marry him when he proposed, and that was before her meltdown and before her nightmares… That can only mean that her nightmares don't impact her decision to be his wife! He took a mental note to get in touch with Felix and discuss wedding band ideas as soon as Sarah is out of the earshot.

A wide grin creeped on his face, and he was not able to suppress it. "Let's go to the mainland for dinner."

Sarah checked time. "Aren't we running late?"

"If that restaurant dropped our reservation because we are late, we can eat somewhere else. Location of the meal is not important, there are many good restaurants in the area. After dinner is promenade.", Aiden winked.

Sarah inhaled. "Promenade… you remember…"

"Of course, I do. I remember every little thing about you." Aiden kissed her forehead and two of them walked outside toward the berth where their powerboat waited.

Sarah melted from the fuzzy feeling which was oozing out of her. He remembered the promenade… Strolling while holding hands with Aiden next to the sea. Heaven.

Suddenly Sarah didn't mind Aiden's planning-beast-mode.