Chapter 16 - A Private Midnight Toast
By 1:00 AM, the gala had ended, and the grand ballroom was quiet and dark once again.
Ren and Damian walked out onto the private rooftop terrace overlooking the illuminated skyline of downtown Chicago.
The cool winter air was crisp, but Ren didn't shiver; she was wrapped safely inside Damian’s tuxedo jacket, leaning against his chest.
Damian held two crystal glasses of vintage champagne, handing one to her as they looked out over the sparkling city lights.
“Vice President Ashby,” Damian murmured playfully into her hair, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind.
“It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?”
Ren turned around in his arms, resting her hands against the crisp lapels of his tuxedo shirt.
“You didn't ask me before you announced that to five hundred people, Mr. Cole,” Ren teased, her green eyes sparkling.
“I don't like waiting for corporate approvals, Ren,” Damian replied smoothly, echoing his words from months ago. “It’s inefficient.”
Ren laughed, a rich, happy sound that drifted out into the Chicago night air.
She reached up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips softly against his in a sweet, passionate kiss that lasted until the city seemed to disappear around them.
When they parted, Damian looked down into her eyes with a solemn, intense devotion that made her breath catch in her throat.
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“I love you, Ren,” Damian said softly, the three words coming from his heart with absolute, unshakable certainty.
“I love you too, Damian,” Ren whispered back, resting her head against his warm chest.
