"Emily...where ya headed?" said the voice behind her... Startled by the voice she heard she turned around and there stood Reginald..."just going for a walk..way to much stuff in my head to study, I need to clear my mind...I'll be back in a few.." "Okay, just remember that dinner is at 6 o'clock.." "Oh, yeah sure I'll be back way before then..." Emily replied and with that she opened up the door as she walked through and closed it behind her.
"She ain't just going for that walk..." Reginald said quietly to himself.
"Zander.." Emily said quietly to herself as her heart beat faster...he just took her breath away by looking at him.
"Zander...what are you doing here..?" She said as she ran into his arms. "I came for you..I missed you and I wanted so much to see you." "You shouldn't be here...if anyone found you here, I am sure there would be trouble.." "Emily, I don't care anymore...I don't care what others think, I just want to be with you." "I want the whole world know that I am hopelessly in love with you." "That's what I want to, Zander..but we need to be careful for another week..Sorel's trial starts next week and after that...." He stopped her right there as he put his index finger over her mouth..."Shh..there is no trial next week..." "What do you mean no trial next week, sure there is .. Sorel's .." he stopped her again... "No, I tried to call you on your cell and you didn't answer, so I thought I'd come over and tell you in person.." "What...what happened.." "Alexis got a call from the prosecutor an hour ago...Sorel confessed..to everything...they got it in writing, tape, video..everything..he's being sentenced on Monday." She was so happy she jumped in his arms and with the momentum he started to twirl her around, on an impulse she kissed him. "What was that for..." Zander asked. "For being you...just for being you." She replied After she calmed down a little, he asked.. "Whatcha doin' now..." "Well, I got some studying left to do before tomorrow's exam...why what did you have in mind.." she replied with a flirtatious look in her eye. "I don't know...how bout dinner?..." "Dinner?...with what?..." "Money..ya know the stuff a job pays you with for a hard days work.." She looked puzzled... "I got pay today, sweet heart...where do you wanna go?..." "You got pay?....I thought you were working off your bill with Sonny.." "Yeah I am, but he wanted me to take you out...so he gave me an advance..." "If he keeps giving you advances in pay, it'll be years before you pay him off.." "Well, I'm supposed to have dinner with my folks at 6, but I can sneak away after that.." "How bout we meet at Alexis's and go from there..." "Sounds good to me, I'll see you later say around 8 ish...okay.." "I'll be counting the minutes.." Zander replied as he leaned in for a good bye kiss.
"I'll see you tonight then...." "Okay...around 8..." Emily replied as he turned and started to walk down the path towards the Gate House.
"What are you doing here...I thought you left..." she said as she closed the door behind them. "I thought I'd surprise you..." "Well you certainly did..what if Reginald or worse grandfather would of seen you..." "Don't worry no one saw me....I climbed through the window...what do you think I walked in the front door?...Zander replied with that grin that made her smile. "Zander...." she started as he quickly kissed her...she melted in his arms right then and there.
"Emily..there is one more thing I wanted to tell you before tonight..." "And that is..." "Remember the other night at the studio, I had gotten you that surprise..." "Yes, and you forgot to give it me..." "Now I didn't forget...I wanted to give it to you but ...you were sleeping so peaceful I didn't want to wake you.." "So...." "Well I thought I would give you the surprise tonight at Alexis's.." "Well, now I am certainly intrigued at what the surprise is..can you give me a hint.." "No hints..this is something that I think that will certainly be a surprise to you..and I want it to be special..so no hints." "Okay...I trust you...now you better get outta here before someone comes looking for me..and they find you in my bedroom.." "Alright I'm going..I know when I'm not wanted.." he said with a grin.. "Oh but you are..." she replied with a kiss. "Now go before I change my mind.."she said as he started to crawl out the window..
"Hey....Sonny around..." Zander said to Johnny as the elevator door closed. "Yeah, he's home..would you like to speak to him..." "Yeah I would...if he don't mind.."
"So what can I do for you.." Sonny said as he got up from the sofa... "Well I need some advice...about Emily.." "About Emily....okay well let's sit down...and talk about this.." "What's on your mind Zander.." "Well ya see...a few nights ago I told Emily that am in love with her...and well, we have been seeing each other for about 6 months now and we have really gotten serious..." "How serious..." "Serious enough...and I really do love her..I love her so much..she is the air I breath, she is everything to me ... Sonny" "I can see that..I really do and I see that in her too..she loves you too.." "So my question to you is.." Zander asked as he reached into his pocket of his black jeans... "Do you think she's gonna like it?..." Zander asked as he pulled out a diamond ring that he bought a few weeks ago with the money he had made working for Sonny. "Well, now you know that every woman loves diamonds.." Sonny replied with a grin.. "I really want to do this, Sonny..we have come so far....and we mean so much to each other..." "She is graduating next week, you're still on probation..." "Yeah I know..I know...but we don't have to get married right away....we'll wait..but I want to give this to her as a promise and a commitment from me..." "What about her parents....they are not going to be happy about this.." "Yeah I know...but I'm working, I will take care of my own...we don't need their money..." "I have no doubts that you will take care of her, protect her, and provide a wonderful life for her.." "But....I know there is a but coming.." "No..no buts..if you think the two of you are ready for this...then you're ready...you can't worry about what others think...about you, about what you do, about who you marry...it is up to you how you want to live your life...and if it is with Emily...then...it's with Emily.." "Thanks Sonny ... I knew I came here for a reason..." "You better get your butt across the hall...Alexis has been looking for you all day..." "Great...I wonder what I am in for this time..." "So, how long are you gonna stay with Alexis?.." "I don't really know..why?" "Well if you are going through with this tonight, I just thought you might want to have another surprise for Emily.." "Yeah and what's that.." "Well, I do own the building that is situated next to the coffee warehouse...and it is primarily used for storage..but there is a loft that is still in pretty nice shape and it also has a back entrance for privacy...you interested?" "Yeah sure I'm interested...but what about rent?" "Pay me when you can....and there is no need to thank me..consider it an early wedding present.." "Thank you...a thank you is not enough.." Zander replied as he reached his hand out to shake Sonny's hand.. "So when do you want to move in.." "Move in...?" "Yeah I had figured you wanted to move out sooner or later so when Jason came to visit a few weeks ago, I had him decorate for you...It's all ready to go..." "Like now, like I can move in now.." "Sure can...but I think you are going to need these..." Sonny replied as he handed Zander a set of keys. "What can I say...I am totally speechless..thank you a hundred times over.." "Just take care of Emily... I promised Jason some time ago that I would look after her...and now... I can see that you will look after her..." "I will..I swear to you right now...I will always take care of her..always.."Zander said as he walked towards the door. "Johnny.." Sonny yelled at the door.. "Sir..." "Follow Zander across the hall and when he is ready take him over to the warehouse...he is moving in upstairs in the loft.." "Yes, sir.." "Johnny will take care of everything and anything you need.." "Thank you Sonny..thank you very much.." Sonny just nodded his head in confirmation and Zander walked out the door.
"So where have you been.." Alexis asked as she reached for her glasses and removed them from the top of her head. "Well, I was over at Sonny just now...and it looks like you are going to be losing a roommate." "You're moving out?..do you think that is wise?" "Alexis...I have to..it's time..I have disrupted you life way to long...I think I have overstayed my welcome.." "Nonsense...Ned's getting used to the idea.." "Yeah right..he'd rather see my sorry butt back in jail and away from Emily.." "True .. but he has tried.." "Like I haven't..." "Now I didn't say that..of course you have..we all have" "Well, I am going to pack a few of my things and Johnny is going to take me over to the loft.." "But first I think you should make a phone call.." "To who?" "Emily...she called a few minutes ago.." "Yeah, I guess I should call her.." "Thanks Alexis...for everything..." "Sure..no problem.."
"Hello...." "Emily...it's me.." "Zander..where have you been..I've been calling Alexis every 5 minutes.." "Sorry I was with Sonny..we had a few things to discuss.." "A few things...what's going on.." "It's about your surprise..." "Any hints.." "No hints...now I told you...you are going to be so surprised..especially since it is now two surprises.." "Two?...why two.." "I will tell you all about it when you meet me at Kelly's.." "At Kelly's .... why there.." "Don't ask questions...I'll meet you there in about 20 minutes...okay.." "I'm leaving now.." "Emily..." "Yeah..." "I love you..." "I love you too..see you in a couple of minutes.." "K..bye.." "bye.."
"Lookin' for me.." the voice said from behind her... She turned around and saw Zander standing in front of her... "Yeah.. I was..I figured we would get a bite to eat while we are here..considering Alexis doesn't have anything in her kitchen but popcorn and water." "No need for food...we got places to go..come on.." "Where...Zander where are we going.." "You'll see..it's part one of the surprise..."
"Reginald..it's me, Emily..are my parents home.." "Oh their not..well do you know where they went?" "You don't huh...well could you give them a message for me.." "Could you just tell them that I am staying at Elizabeth's again tonight..she's helping me with those finals tomorrow.. thanks Reginald..bye.."
