Page 31 of The Marriage Clause

He shifts, arms crossing over his chest. Checks his Rolex. His jaw works in that particular way it does when he's restraining himself from saying something he'll regret. He's fine with billion-dollar acquisitions, but wedding planning is making him want to crawl out of his skin.

I nearly feel sorry for him.

Almost.

Then Jeremy opens the penthouse door—still not looking up from his phone—and two armed guards walk in.

They're flanking a smaller man. Glasses. Impeccable suit. Briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.

Handcuffed.

To his wrist.

Everett straightens. "Thank you for coming on short notice."

The man waves him off with a practiced smile. "More than happy to provide the engagement ring for the new Mrs. Kauffman."

I turn to Everly. "What's happening?"

She grins. "Wellington is the family jeweler. Everett must have called him to pick out your ring. Good boy... finally he's getting with the program."

"And the guards?" I whisper.

"Security. He has at least a hundred million in diamonds in that briefcase. He'd be the perfect mark to mug outside of these walls."

I swallow hard to stop myself from choking on my own saliva.

The jeweler sets the briefcase on the dining table with care you'd give a newborn. He unlocks it—keeping the handcuff on.

A hundred million.

The case opens.

Rows of rings under black velvet. Light fractures across the ceiling like someone shattered a prism. I've never seen anything this beautiful and this terrifying at the same time.

Everett walks up to the case, glancing over everything. His expression shifts into something I recognize from six months of watching him in meeting, quietly assessing the items in front of him. It’s the look of a man about to make a decision he won't second-guess.

"That one," he says, pointing to the largest diamond in the grouping.

The jeweler leans forward and compliments his eye. "Impeccable taste, Mr. Kauffman. As expected."

Everett pulls the ring from the case and holds it up to the light, turning it once. The diamond catches and throws sparks across the room's ceiling.

"It has the highest cut, clarity, and color. It's also the largest diamond I brought today."

Everly leans closer to me. "And it's cushion cut. As your future sister-in-law, I approve." She winks at me, and then I feel my stomach drop. The idea of being responsible for something that costs that much is terrifying.

Then Everett glances up in my direction and our eyes meet.

"Aria. Come here, please. Try this on."

Do not stare at his hands. Do not.

My legs carry me forward before my brain gives permission.

He takes my hand. His fingers are steady and warm. The complete opposite of mine, which are shaking in a way I desperately hope he can't feel.

"Get down on one knee, you dope. You're going to regret not doing it the right way one day," Everly calls out, but Everett ignores her.