The limousine pulled up to the front of the hotel. Rumald was admiring Belle, whose face was glued to the passenger door window, staring in wonder at Central Park, directly across from the hotel. New York was just another city to Rumald. But to Belle, it was full of wonder, and she was giddy with the prospect of discovering it. She had bought herself a tourist guide at the airport, using it for reference, when she spotted something on their journey from the airport to the hotel. Countless times already, he had to verify, whatever she had seen out the window with what was in her book. A few times, he had nudged her, gesturing to his car window, so she could see something from his window. Though, to be honest, some of the things he had pointed out to her, were not in her tourist book, and he had only done it, because he enjoyed her lying across his lap, almost clambering over him, to get to his window.
Rumald's door opened and Rumald turned his head to see the driver, Ray, standing beside the door. Wrapping the flaps of his overcoat closed, Rumald stepped out of the limousine, sweeping his gaze over the entry way to see the usual people. There was a small huddle of Japanese tourists, excitedly chattering to themselves, pointing vicariously in different directions and at the map, they were all holding. An elderly couple were stood near the entry doors, the man appeared bored, while his wife clutched a small dog under her arm, issuing orders to her husband. There were some business people dotted about, waiting for cabs or stood outside having a cigarette, while they were on their phones. Did not matter what day it was, what month it was, or time of year, it was always the same, when Rumald was in New York.
Stepping aside from the door, Rumald turned and offered his hand into the car. "Come on, sweetheart."
"Did you know; Central Park is bigger than Monaco?" She asked, inside of the limo.
"No, I didn't." He said to her, slightly bending at his waist to see her, nose buried inside of her book.
Belle made noise, her interest was perked by something in her book. "Supposedly, they used more gunpowder was used in Central Park, than at the Battle of Gettysburg."
"I'll be using some gunpowder in a minute, to get you out of this limo." Rumald said dryly.
There was a chuckle beside him. Straightening his back, Rumald zeroed his gaze on Ray, who could not hide his amusement, even though he tried his best to look anywhere, but at Rumald. Belle mumbled off another fact, from inside the car, making no attempt to exit it.
"Belle," He crooned, angling himself to see her inside the limo. "Maybe, you'd like to exit the limo? I think Ray's got some other pickups to do."
"Oh, sorry!" Belle jumped into action, bouncing across the backseat to exit on Rumald's side of the car.
Standing up and out of the car, she smiled sweetly at Rumald and then at their driver. As Rumald edged himself round, giving her room, he placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her away from the limousine. Over the top of Belle's head, Rumald caught sight of the smirk on Ray's face. When their gazes met, Ray quickly removed his smirk, pressing his lips into a tight thin line, to hide his amusement from Rumald.
Belle wandered a couple of steps away from Rumald, gushing at the entrance way to the hotel. While he peeled back his overcoat, to retrieve his money clip, from his pocket, Rumald gazed round at the entry way, trying to see what had captured her. To Rumald, the entryway was quite bland. The entryway of the hotel, they had stayed at in Boston, had been much grander than Park Lane's entry. But to Belle, seeing it for the first time, Rumald could only be jealous of her awe, as she gradually turned round, taking in everything around her. He pulled a ten-dollar bill from his money clip and handed it to Ray, thinking how he could not remember being like Belle.
When Rumald and Milah had moved to New York, he could not recall playing tourist with her. Focus on drumming up business, and striving to prove himself, better than his father, Rumald had lost sight for the little pleasures in life. They had been meaningless, unless they had served a purpose or got him closer to his goal.
"Thank you, sir." Ray tipped his head to Rumald, pocketing the tip, Rumald had given to him.
Rumald returned his money clip to his pocket, and took the few steps to re-join Belle. A step away from her, she immediately turned to face him, as though she felt his approach, and grinned at him. He could not help, but smile at her. Putting his arm around her, bringing her into his side, Rumald leaned into her and kissed her head. As they walked to the door, Belle slipped her arm around him, bumping her hip into his as they walked.
A bellhop lingered by the revolving doors, their two bags on the large trolley behind him. Rumald used his arm around Belle, to steer her towards the revolving doors, while he nodded his head at bellhop, who proceeded them into the hotel, taking the normal door instead. She glanced back at Rumald, her excitement glistening in her eyes, as Belle was enveloped into a section of the revolving doors. Rumald took the next section. On the other side of the glass partition, she exited her section into the small foyer, gazing round the white marble entryway. Seconds later, Rumald stepped out of the revolving door, standing close behind Belle, while she looked at the majestic wall lights, hung on the columns in front of them.
The bellhop was waiting close by. Rumald approached him, retrieving a tip from his pocket, and handed it over to the young man. "Thank you, but I'll take the bags."
"No problem, sir." The bellhop took the tip, stuffing it into his pocket. "If you require anything, sir, please don't hesitate to ask for me, Jax."
"I'll bear it in mind." Rumald frowned at the young man's name, as he collected his carryon bag and Belle's suitcase.
Rumald pulled out the handle on Belle's suitcase, while he shouldered the strap for his carryon bag, holding the bag back, to sit more behind him, and dragged Belle's suitcase over to her. She had moved passed the columns, and was admiring the Christmas decorations, the staff had wrapped on the banister of the stairs. It was not anything, which Rumald would have found fascinating, but he would admit, it was festive.
"Come on, sweetheart." He called to her, traipsing through the foyer, heading to the elevators.
Belle turned her head in his direction, flicking her luscious curls over her shoulder, and skipped a couple of steps to catch up with him. Glancing back at her, he gave her a reassuring smile and turned his gaze back, leading her to the hallway with the elevators, that also led to the other entrance for the hotel. After taking the corner, into hallway, Rumald halted and pressed the call button for the elevator, his eyes immediately went to the indicator on the wall, to see elevator B was on its way back down. He moved from elevator A to B, pulling Belle's case behind him. The elevator pinged and the doors open, whilst Rumald adjusted the strap on his shoulder, for his carryon bag. Waving his arm to the elevator, he waited until Belle was inside, clutching the handle of her handbag with both of her hands, huddled into the corner, and stepped in beside her, parking her suitcase in front of him. He pressed the button for forty-sixth floor, and rested his hands on top of the handle, for Belle's suitcase, while they waited for three suits to get into the elevator with them.
One of the three suits eyed Belle, giving her a suggestive smile, while the other two suits discussed something, which involved a guy called Michaels. The doors jumped into action, sliding into place. From the corner of Rumald's eye, he observed the sleaze ball, as he checked out Belle, angling his head, for a better view of her backside. The old Rumald would have shot across the elevators, thrust his hand into the man's neck, choking the life out of him. Instead, he tightened his grip on the handle of Belle's suitcase, imagining it was the Critten's neck.
The elevator gently jolted to a stop, pinged and elevator doors opened. The two, discussing Michaels, exited the elevator. Their friend, leisurely exited the elevator, making the most of his time, to imprint an image of Belle for later. Oblivious to the attention she was getting, Belle rummaged inside of her handbag, cursing to herself, as she had to move the books and other items aside, trying to find her phone. Very away, of the attention she was getting, Rumald repressed the button for their floor, encouraging the doors to close sooner, cutting off the view of her. Once the doors were closed, he relaxed back against the wall of the elevator, letting his gaze drift round to Belle, watching her as she used her phone.
Again, the elevator gently jolted to a stop, pinged and elevator doors opened to their floor. Belle returned her phone to her handbag, smiling when her gaze met with Rumald's. Gesturing with his hand to the open door, Belle led the way out of the elevator and waited outside of it for Rumald.
"This way." Rumald directed Belle to go right, hauling her case behind him. "Room 621."
At the end of the three elevators, Rumald took the turning on the right, glancing back to check Belle was behind him, and at the end of that hallway, turned right for the third time. The hallway was short and they were at the double doors, to his room, in seconds. Parking her suitcase, Rumald slipped his hand into the inside pocket of his overcoat, and procured his key for his room. He slid the key into the lock, pulled it out, and tried the handle. A red light on top of the slot for the key card flashed.
"I hate these things." He grumbled under his breath, trying the key again.
This time, when he pushed the door handle down, the light flashed green, granting them access to the room. Shoving the door open, Rumald dragged her suitcase in behind him, keeping the door open for her. Belle followed him inside and sidestepped by him, her eyes widened at his room.
"This is…" She muttered, losing the ability to speak.
Rumald rolled her case behind him, as he went through into the main part of his suite, leaving her alone in the foyer of his suite. Glancing back, he chuckled at her, taking in the décor of the foyer, and went through into main bedroom of the suite, leaving her suitcase parked between the two doors, leading to either bedroom. He left the case there, because he did not want to presume, that she would want to share the same room as him. The train wrecks of his previous relationships, made him cautious. Rushing things, and giving himself so willingly, had only brought him heartache. Even though, Rumald did not believe, Belle would purposely hurt him, what they had, was too precious to him. The choice had to be hers.
And hopefully, her choice would soothe his insecurities.
He removed the strap of his carryon, and set the bag down on the desk, where he had left his laptop and other paperwork set up. Moving to one of the two armchairs in the room, Rumald shrugged off his overcoat and laid it over the back of the armchair.
"This view is amazing!" Belle exclaimed, from the part of the suite.
At hearing her, Rumald lifted his gaze to look out the window, while he removed his suit jacket, taking his phone from it, and laid it to join his overcoat. It was a spectacular view of Central Park. An ocean of luscious green, broken up by the teasing glimpses of the lakes and the buildings, hidden in the canopy of the trees. His brow raised at the view, struck by the urban setting, that surrounded the large expanse of green. Belle was right. It was amazing, which was sad, as Rumald had been overlooking it, every time he had stayed at the hotel.
"Where have you gone?" She questioned. "This place is too big."
Rumald ambled back to the doorway of the bedroom. "I'm here."
Belle smiled at him, seeing him in the doorway, stood by one of the large windows. "This place is amazing."
"It suits a purpose." He commented, unlocking his phone to look at his emails.
"Rumald," He looked up to meet her gaze again. "Look at this suite, it's exquisite, and this view!" She spun round to the window and gaze out of it. "You can't beat this view!"
A sly smile formed on his face. "I much prefer the view in front of me."
Belle looked at him, uncertain of his meaning, though when she saw his smile, her shoulders slumped with her returning his smile. "Such a charmer."
"I'm not trying to charm you, sweetheart." He was honest with her. "Just telling you the truth."
She made short work, of crossing the large room to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, with his own snaking around her, and kissed him. Leaning back within his embrace, she touched her hand to the side of his face, stroking her thumb over his cheek and beard. They gazed into one another's eyes. Mutually, they both leant their heads forward, about to kiss again, when Rumald's phone shrilled to life in his hand. With a groan, Rumald unwrapped his arm from her, to see it was Marco calling him.
"I need to take this, sweetheart." Rumald told her, though his arm, wrapped around her, clutched her tighter against him, not wanting to let go of her.
"It's okay. I'm not going anywhere." She assured him and kissed him.
He answered, while she had kissed him, and then held the phone to his ear, as he walked back into the main bedroom. "What's the word, Marco?"
"I'm waiting to hear back from a few of them, but the majority have said they will, as long as they have your offer in writing. With it being so close to the Christmas, a lot of them are giving up work or their holiday. So, they want some assurances." Marco explained to him.
"My word isn't good enough?" Rumald asked, thinking how bizarre it was, for people to question his word: He never broke a deal.
"It's not about your word." Marco told him. "It's just times are hard at the minute, for a lot of the guys. They don't want to be turning down work, with the promise of a big pay out, and then they're out of pocket."
Rumald huffed out a breath through his nose, understanding exactly how they felt. "Okay, I'll quickly draw up an agreement and email it to you."
"Thank you, Mr Gold." Marco said.
Ending the call, Rumald pulled out the chair from the desk, turning on his laptop as he sat down at the desk, laying his phone on the desk. While he laptop turned on, Rumald unzipped his carryon bag, to pull out the file on the old picture house and some other paperwork, he had brought with him. One handed, Rumald typed his password into his laptop, as he put the file and paperwork, with the other paperwork already on his desk.
"Rumald, why's my suitcase here?" Belle asked.
Twisting to see her, stood outside of the doorway, looking at her suitcase, finger pointing at her case, Rumald explained. "I thought, you might want your own space, and I didn't want to presume, that you'd be sharing a bed with me."
Her features softened as she looked at him, with her shoulders slumping. Belle grabbed the handle of her suitcase, and dragged it into the main bedroom, taking it across to the king size bed, to put it onto the bed. He had followed her with his gaze, and was smiling stupidly, as she unzipped her suitcase to remove some of her things. Turning to go into the bathroom, Belle's gaze met with Rumald's. She shook her head at him, smiling at him. His smile widened to reveal his crooked teeth, while Belle went into their ensuite bathroom. Rumald turned his head back to his laptop, with his heart gushing at her choosing him.
Scrunching his brow, Rumald spaced out, staring at the screen of his laptop, hating how weak he could be. No matter, how hard, he tried not to be that scrawny, helpless little boy. Rumald could not escape him. Even though, he had come so far, it did not seem to matter. The boy, he had been, loitered in the background, but was very much in the forefront of Rumald's mind. Just wanting to be accepted, welcomed with open arms, instead of having doors slammed in his face. The fear of being alone, had been very real to Rumald, when he had been a child. But, as he grew up, Rumald had found, the only thing he could rely on was himself and his darker side. Embracing it, like a lifelong friend. That was when things had changed for Rumald. People had begun to notice him. The kind, he should never have gotten involved with. Nonetheless, he had made shady deals with them, done things he should not have done, and had started to be noticed by those, that could have taken him down an even darker path. If it had not have been for his aunts, Rumald probably would have ended up in prison, or worse, dead.
Belle cried out. "Ruby!"
"What?" Rumald was jolted from his deep reverie, and snapped his head to look at her, stood at the foot of the bed.
"I can't wear this!" She stepped round, holding up the dress Ruby had packed for her.
Focusing his attention on the bright red dress, Rumald eyed the length of the dress, if that was what it was, sure it would barely cover Belle's modesty. He squinted his gaze at it. The dress was not very Belle. It was more Ruby's style, than Belle's.
Belle shook the dress in her hands. "This is her 'fuck' dress."
"Excuse me?" His eyes widened at her.
"In her words, she's always guarantee a fuck, when we go out and she wears this dress." She informed him, waving the dress around in one of her hands.
Rumald really did not know what to say, and it seemed it did not matter, as Belle carried on, stepping back to gesture at her case. "She hid in the bottom of my case – condoms, lubricant, massage oil, and… toys." Her mouth dropped open, before she turned back to Rumald, to say. "What if security had stopped me and checked my case? How would I…? What would I have said?"
"They've probably seen worse." He could not help the smirk on his face.
"This isn't funny!" Belle threatened him with her finger. "I'm going to kill her!"
"Belle," Rumald shifted on his chair to face her. "It's fine. Let's me write this and email it, and we'll go and buy you dress. We've got plenty of time."
Her brow creased at him. "Are you sure?"
"Course." He told her, showing her half a smile.
Uncaring for the dress in her hand, Belle tossed it onto the bed behind her, and rushed over to Rumald to hug him. She threw herself at him, sitting down onto his lap, burying her face into the side of his neck. Contented, Rumald hid his face into the side of her neck, her hair and her sweet smell surrounding him. He tightly held his arms around her, thankful she was here with him, that she had chosen him.
"I'm going to make a tea. Do you want one?" She asked, leaning back in his arms.
"Coffee, please." Rumald told her, lowering his hands to cup her backside and her thigh.
Belle touched her hand to his face. "I love you."
"I love you too." He smirked.
She smiled, as she leant into him and met his lips with her own. Her fingers carded through his hair, lightly scratching at the base of his head. Digging his fingers into her thigh and backside, Rumald pressed her hip further into him, thoroughly enjoying their sweet, but simple, kiss. Belle titled her head forward, gently resting her forehead against his, her eyes closed, while her fingers continued to play with his hair, teasing him with her nails. Rumald studied her face, unbelieving, this beautiful woman could ever want a man as ugly as he was.
"I'm going to make that drink, before I get distracted with kissing you." Belle apprised him, as she moved her hands to rest on his shoulders, supporting herself, whilst she shifted off of his lap and stood up to leave.
Unable to stop himself from smiling, he followed her out of the room with his eyes, twisting his head to see her go. Once she was gone, Rumald budged himself round to face his desk, and opened a word document on his laptop. His fingers tapped at the keys of his laptop, drawing out the agreement in no time. He paused to think, unconsciously playing with the hair on his chin.
"Here you go." Belle announced, placing a cup of coffee on the desk, safely away from his paperwork.
"Thank you." He said to her, his gaze captured by Belle.
On her way out of the bedroom, she glanced back at him, showing him a quick smile, and disappeared in the main room of the suite. Rereading what he had already written, Rumald picked up his coffee and took a cautious sip from it. He returned his cup to the desk, and rapidly typed out a section of clauses, before he added his signature to the bottom of the agreement. He added a signature line for Marco and another, for whoever Marco employed. Saving it, Rumald picked up his coffee again, drinking it, as he created an email, attached the agreement, and wrote a brief blurb of an email to Marco, stating the signed copies had to be taken to the shop. He clicked 'send' and the email disappeared, revealing his inbox, which had repopulated itself, showing he had more emails.
Squinting at his emails, Rumald sorted through them, deleting and saving the ones, he wanted for later. His eyebrow rose at another important email from Rachel. He clicked to open it, to skim over the contents, and swiftly deleted it. Another email, hoping 'to see you at Jefferson's opening'. If it was not for Jefferson, being so stressed, he would not have been attending.
Though, Jefferson had been anxious, he had been on the ball, making sure everything was how he wanted it, ordering around the shop fitters they had employed. Grace and Rumald had spent, most of the last two days, organising the stock room and picking out an assortment of dresses and suits to be displayed. Course, Jefferson had gone through their selection, throwing out the majority of their choices, to choose his own selection from the stock. Rumald had stood on the side line, taking the chance to check out an online auction, while father and daughter had bickered over the choices. Hopefully, the two had managed to get everything finished, ready for tonight. Rumald was taking it, as a good sign, that he had received no phone calls or messages, from either of them.
"So!" Belle slid her hands down his chest, from his shoulders, stooping over his shoulder to see his face. "Can we go out now?"
Chuckling, Rumald put his coffee cup down, and captured her right hand with his free hand. "Yes."
"I've had a look, a couple of blocks from here, there's a Next store." She informed him.
"Next?" He questioned.
"It's in my price range and it's close." She told him, standing up to edge round into his view.
He pulled a curious face, but it was gone in a flash, covered by his mask. "Okay, whatever you want, sweetheart."
Soon, they had left the suite, and were travelling down in the elevator, hand in hand, stood at the back of the elevator. While Belle was messaging Ruby, threatening to cut up the 'fuck' dress, Rumald gazed at her beside him, smirking at her. It was such a nice feeling, to have her stood next to him, clasping his hand, their fingers laced together. Turning his head to the front of the elevator, he could not remember it being like this Cora. They never held hands. The only affection she had shown him, was in the bedroom or in random places, that had taken her fancy. With Milah, Rumald had held hands with her, but rarely. Mostly, when she did not want to lose him in a crowd, or if it suited her at the time. What was nice, about holding Belle's hand, was he had not initiated the contact. She had taken his hand, threaded her fingers with his, while they had walked away from the suite.
As before, the elevator softly jolted to a stop, pinged, and the doors opened onto the ground floor. Belle lifted her gaze from her phone, and then slipped it into the back pocket of her jeans. They walked out of the elevator, and tried to go in different directions, with Belle turning left, going back to the entrance, they had come through earlier, and Rumald tried to go right.
"This way." Rumald urged, jutting his head in the direction he wanted to go.
She gave him a questioning look, but came back to him, trusting him to lead her the right way. Giving her hand a squeeze, he led the way to the other entrance of the hotel, bringing them out onto fifty-eighth street. They walked to the intersection, where fifty-eighth street met with fifth avenue, and turned towards the Next store, Belle had found a few blocks away. Across the street, she pointed out the fashion designer stores – Bergdorf and Goodman, Hublot, Louis Vuitton. Rumald nodded his head at her, admiring the astonishment on her face. Absolutely flabbergasted, her gaze was on the stores, instead of watching where she was going.
"Do you want to go in?" He motioned to the stores, by hooking his thumb in their direction.
"Oh, no, no." Belle forcefully shook her head at him.
Scrunching his brow at her, he tried to urge her. "It's fine to walk around them. We can go and have a look."
"I'd rather not." She told him, slightly pulling a face at his offer. "I wouldn't want to see the prices in there. My monthly salary wouldn't cover it." She breathed out heavily. "Though, my monthly salary doesn't really cover anything."
Rumald halted and pulled Belle to a stop. "If you're having problems, you should've said."
"I'm not having problems. I just have to watch, what I'm doing." She explained to him.
"Well, is there anything I can do to help? I can pay for your lodgings, if that helps?" Rumald offered, gesturing to himself with his free hand.
Belle touched his face. "No." She smiled. "But I really appreciate you asking."
"You only need to tell me, Belle." He urged her to accept his offer.
"I love that you want to take care of me. It's a nice change." She confessed to him, shuffling her feet closer to him, bringing her other hand to cup his face in her hands, and tiptoed up to kiss him.
As she kissed him, Rumald placed his hands on her hips and said to her. "I'm serious."
"I know." Belle stroked her thumb over his cheek and kissed him again.
Nodding her head, in the direction they had been heading, they started off again and Belle retook his hand, lacing their fingers together. Again, he was surprised by the contact, and glanced down to their joined hands, for a split second.
They crossed the intersection and were approaching the next intersection, when the Armani and Dolce & Gabbana stores caught his eye, on the opposite side of the street. Rumald pouted his lips. The impulse to check out their new selection, of suits and shirts, struck him. Spying at Belle beside him, unaware of his thought, as she glanced down the street at the traffic slowing to stop at the intersection. A bout of madness hit him – Dragging Belle by their joined hands, he pulled her out into the street, quickening his step to miss the cars and anyone else, who might spot them for jaywalking. Belle let out a squeak of surprise. Rumald glanced back, smirking, hauling her across the street to the other sidewalk. She skipped a couple of steps, doing her best to keep up with him, clutching at his hand for her life.
They hopped up the kerb together, their pace stayed quick, heading straight into the Armani store. There were a few people watching them, grumbling under their breath at them. Rumald did not care. The goofy smile on Belle's face was worth it.
"You're so naughty." She reprimanded him, swatting her hand into his upper arm.
"That was child's play." Yanking her closer, Rumald caught her, wrapping his arms around her, and said into her ear. "I'll have to show you how naughty I can be."
Belle giggled at him, whilst he tightened his hold around her, kissing her cheek, while they entered the store. This time, Rumald took hold of Belle's hand, claiming her, and led her around the large sculpture, which was also the staircase to the floor below. He looked back at her, to see her pulling a puzzled face at the sculpture/staircase. Stroking his thumb over the back of her hand, her gaze moved from the stairs to Rumald, who encouraged her to come on with a nod of his head. She gave the stairs on last look, and then matched Rumald's pace. They went through to the back of the shop, and headed up the stairs at the rear of the shop, which was another sculpture, and took the stairs to the top floor of the shop.
"Rumald, I said I couldn't afford anything in these stores." Belle reminded him, as they climbed the steps to the second floor.
"I want to have a look." He shared with her, and stopped on the landing for the second floor. "Though, while you're here, why don't you have a look, while I quickly glance around upstairs. I'll only be a couple of minutes."
"I'd rather come with you." She told him, tightening her grip on his hand.
He half grinned at her. His chest puffed with pride, loving every inch of the woman, stood so close to him, he could smell her perfume. Yet, it was so hard to shake his disbelief, that she would ever truly want him. There was a whole world out there for her. Belle could have any man she wanted, though they would never deserve her, never be worthy of her love. Rumald breathed in, enforcing the mask he wore, deciding he would make the most of their time together. Soon, Belle would realise her mistake and leave him, kicking him to the kerb, where he ought to have stayed, all those years ago.
Belle's eyebrows pressed slightly down over her eyes, questioning something, she had seen in Rumald's face. Before she could query what was wrong, Rumald preceded to the next set of stairs, avoiding her gaze, and climbed the steps with Belle a step behind him. Knowing the store, Rumald went directly to where the shirt selection was located, and perused through the selection.
Though, he slid the shirts across on the rail, Rumald was torturing himself, imaging how she would leave him. He doubted, she would want to do it publicly, as Cora had done to him. She would not be a coward, like Milah had been. Leaving without a word, until Rumald had tracked her down to a motel by the airport, cosying up with her new man, planning to jet off the next day. Belle would… Do it to his face, unafraid to lay the truth before him. She would be strong, confident, as she told him, she could not love him. Never had loved him. He was just her excuse to get away from Gaston. And his heart would break into a million pieces, watching her walk out of the door, strutting away with no care.
Rumald dipped his head, closing his eyes, begging the pain in his chest to go away. 'Who am I kidding?', he said to himself. Caution had been thrown to the wind a long time ago. He had fallen head over heels in love with her, diving straight into a relationship with her, exposing his underbelly to her. What he should have done, was built a wall, strengthened his defences, keeping her out and his heart protected.
"Hey," Belle touched his shoulder, waking him from his thoughts. "You okay?"
He faked a smile for her. "I'm fine, sweetheart."
"You've got a really sad look on your face." She informed him, moving her hand from his shoulder to touch his face.
"Just tired." Rumald glanced round the store, then gestured back to the stairs. "Let's get out of here."
"Okay." She said, though she did not look convinced.
As they were coming out of the store, Rumald's phone shrieked to life, begging for his attention. Slipping his hand into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, Rumald pulled out his phone and answered it, as Belle grabbed his hand. He glanced down at their hands, needing to see the truth with his eyes.
"Marco." Rumald answered.
"I take it, you've got the original blueprints for the building and the blueprints for what you want?" Marco asked, formalities forgotten.
Rumald let Belle lead him, as he replied to Marco. "I've the originals and I'll have the plans drawn up for Monday."
"Okay, can we arrange to do a site walk through? Early Monday morning?" Marco sounded distracted.
"Seven?" Rumald suggested.
"Seven sharp." Marco agreed. "As soon as we're done. The boys are ready to start work. I'll get your contracts signed and deliver them to the shop tonight."
Rumald nodded his head. "Dove's making inquiries into supplies and such. If you have thoughts or questions, contact him."
"Okay, Mr Gold." Marco ended the call.
Holding the flap to his overcoat open, Rumald tucked his phone back into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, as Belle said. "Things are moving quickly."
"They need to." He said, straightening his overcoat. "Otherwise, Regina's exhibition will have to be cancelled."
"It's that bad?" Belle inquired.
Rumald turned his head to look at her, hearing the sad undertone to her short question. Yesterday, promising Regina to help her find a venue, was his own selfish need for redemption. At hearing Belle's tone, it had suddenly become more than that. Now, it was his mission to make this work for Regina, refusing to allow Belle to become disappointed by it. Rumald had thought, Belle was only taking part to help Regina out. Hearing the gloomy undertone, he realised it was more than that to Belle. Not only had she fallen in love with him… He paused at such a foreign thought, crossing his mind.
"That's a beautiful dress." Belle commented, gesturing to the dress in the store window.
Looking to the store display, Rumald saw a mannequin dressed in a short dark blue cady dress, posed with a back handbag hanging on its arm. He slowed his step and came to a stop, taking in the dress, which had caught Belle's eye. Moving closer to him and the window, Belle ran her eyes over the dress and bit her lip at it. Rumald peered out of the corner his eye at Belle. Her eyes were eagerly taking in the ruche detailing, that finished off the hem and sleeves of the dress. He could see, she wanted it.
"Why don't you try it on?" He suggested.
"I couldn't possibly." Belle shook her head, yet she could not take her eyes off of the dress.
Rumald stepped round her, so he was behind her, and whispered into her ear. "Forget your worries about money." He slipped his arms around her, holding her against him. "You don't have to be scared to go after what you want anymore. Not when you're with me."
His own words took him back to the fateful night at his house. Rumald dreaded to think, what would have happened, if his words had not gotten through to her. Seeing them, together, married. He could not bear to think about it. Life would have carried on, like it always did, but the flickers of love in his heart would have died with her saying, 'I do'. Which why, Rumald had to relish her and had to come to terms with his demons.
She angled her head to see his face, though her eyes went straight back to the dress, in the store window. "Should I?"
"Treat yourself." He breathed into her hear.
Glancing back with a smile, Belle took his left hand from her waist and excitedly towed him into the store with her. Rumald grinned at the change in her. Inside the store, she sought out the dress and he obediently followed her into the depths of the store. Navigating through the different displays, Belle found the dress she was after, snatching it down from the rail to look at it, holding it against herself to see it in the mirror.
"Go try it on." He insisted, as he retrieved his phone. "While you do that, I'm going to call Neal."
"Okay." She said excitedly.
Rumald unlocked his phone and called Neal, looking up in time to see Belle disappear into the changing rooms, as he brought his phone up to his ear. Listening to it ring, he promised himself, he would do better. No more doubting. This was it. This was real. Rumald had to believe it. He was not going to wake up and find out it had all been a dream. Belle was here with him. The last few months would not be for nothing. As Belle constantly reminded him, she was not like Milah and Cora, or anyone else, who had abandoned him. He had to push his doubts out of his mind and embrace the truth.
"Hey dad." Neal answered.
Rumald smiled at hearing his son's voice. "Hey, Neal. I've got a little job for you."
