A/N: By now, the fourth story in this ongoing saga, you should have some kind of knowledge of the world Adam Banks lives in now. Do yourself a favor and browse through some of my earlier stories before proceeding onto this one. I hope you enjoy because I promise to make this an engaging and epic love story. And don't worry, I'll keep going with "The Sophomore Chronicles (I just came up with the concept of this new story and had to get started on it.)
Adam fidgeted in his chair while glancing around the dining room of Forepaugh's, one of the finest restaurants in Minneapolis. It was a very special occasion and Adam had the right to be nervous, but nonetheless the sheer formality of the huge Victorian mansion made him practically catatonic. The small, black, velvet box he fingered was burning a hole through his pocket.
Adam thought back to the conversation he had with his father, Philip Banks, about a week ago. Adam told his dad what he was planning on doing and Mr. Banks didn't give Adam the most enthusiastic approval that he would have hoped for. 'You're too young' and 'How do you know that she's the right girl?' were among his half-hearted reasons for objection. The father and son stared each other down, both knowing all too well that Adam would go ahead with his plan anyway.
Adam was 23, graduated out of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Finance and holding down a steady job in a Financial Advisory and Law firm in the city. Adam planned on going back to school to eventually get a graduate degree. Personally, he felt like he was ready to make this commitment.
Adam suddenly felt a kick at his leg from under the table.
"Adam!" Thomasin Logan hissed his name, indicating the waiter who looked like he had been standing there for quite awhile.
Adam blushed as he quickly ordered his meal and handed the menu over to the expressionless waiter.
Thomasin, or Tamsin as Adam called her, gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry I had to do that. I couldn't think of any other way to get your attention."
Adam smiled back, gazing at the girl that he had chosen. When they first met, back in their sophomore year of high school, Tamsin was a serious- looking girl with a subdued voice and square, black-rimmed glasses. Now, seven years later, Tamsin was still the same girl, but she was also an elegant beauty who had grown into her once vaguely awkward aquiline nose and tall frame. Dressed in a lovely black cocktail dress with her brown hair pulled back into a classic French twist, Tamsin was heartbreakingly beautiful. Adam nodded his head. He was confident that she was the right one.
He reached across the table and grabbed Tamsin's hands. Now was the time to do it and Adam could not turn back. "I love you—but you know that, right?"
Tamsin sighed with contentment. "Well, here we are, seven years to the day we've been together."
"So, would you say that you're comfortable with how things have been working out—me living in Minneapolis and you in Los Angeles?"
Tamsin attended college at the University of California in Los Angeles, and was currently a student at their famed law school. They visited each other at least one weekend a month and consequently had both logged plenty of Frequent Flyer miles.
Tamsin took a sip of her fine vintage merlot. "It's not the most ideal arrangement, but we can deal with it together."
Adam detached one of his hands and reached into the pocket of his trousers, grabbing hold of the black, velvet box. "What would you say if I said that I could change our arrangement?"
Tamsin ran a soft finger down Adam's arm. "I would say that I'm all ears. What kind of changes would have to be made?"
Adam's grin grew wider and wider as he said, "Well, I worked it out with Luke Kensington and we agreed that next year that I could be transferred to their offices in Los Angeles. I told him that the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with lived there."
Tamsin's expression was stunned. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
As he pulled the box out of his pocket to expose the $30, 000 ring (a gorgeous, Princess-cut diamond set on a platinum band with side stones, for all the ladies), Tamsin gasped. "I'm saying that I want you to marry me."
Tamsin's eyes were wide as she shook her head from side to side. "You're joking with me, aren't you? This has to be a hoax."
Adam was getting slightly alarmed, like he was worried that she was seriously going to say no. "No, it's not a joke. I love you, Thomasin Logan, and I want you to be my wife."
With a hand covering her gaping mouth, tears started running down Tamsin's face. "Oh, my God...YES!" They embraced and Adam placed the ring on Tamsin's finger.
"Really, this ring is too much," Tamsin paused to gaze at the celestial object taking up a huge amount of space on her left ring finger. "Oh, whatever, I love it! And I love you!"
Feeling strangely bold like a drunk man, Adam raised his wine glass with his arm around the woman he loved and announced to the inhabitants in the beautiful dining room. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would just like to say that this young lady and I are getting married!"
An outburst of impromptu applause followed while Adam and Tamsin kissed. It was undoubtedly one of the happiest moments of Adam's life. However, it would all go downhill from there.