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“A proposal? This sounds more like a business deal, not a marriage proposal.”

I displayed the prenup and marriage contract on the table.

“You’d never have to worry about money again, and your mother, too. I’ll pay Doug handsomely for his deli and then some, and he can retire in style. For you…I’ll give youeverythingyou ever dreamed about. Culinary school, a trip to Paris to study with the best pastry chefs, and here in New York, your own restaurant, either in the new lobby of the building or anywhere else you’d like to open one.”

She chewed her cheek and my shoulders dropped; she didn’t look happy.

“So the only reason you want to marry is to get what you want?” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t get me wrong. This is a very real marriage proposal. I’ve never felt about any woman the way I do about you. Chelsea, please.” I fumbled with the black box and took out the ring. Taking her left hand, I slid it on her ring finger. “Make me the happiest man in the world and marry me.”

Her lips trembled, and the tears wouldn’t stop. She looked down at the ring, at her shaking hand held in mine.

She was going to say yes. My victory was in sight.

Slowly, she brought her hand closer to her eyes and fingered the diamond.

She had to say yes. It’s what I wanted. Her, the remodeled building, no trace of the past…I wanted it all.

My hope died, though, watching her remove the ring and put it into my hand. “Don’t you know, Rex? All the money in the world can’t buy you happiness.”

She walked away and took the stairwell down.

“Chelsea, stop,” I yelled. “Stop.” But she didn’t.

When I heard the door slam behind her, I screamed into the night as if every ounce of pain from my past released from my body. A swift breeze blew the papers and plans from the table, scattering them all over.

I stared at the ring in my palm that I paid handsomely for. But Chelsea was right. Money didn’t buy me happiness. I ran to the edge of the rooftop and threw the ring off into the distance.

20

PURE KARMA

REX

I had instructedPearl to leave me alone today, yet she knocked on the door and let herself in, anyway.

“What part of Do Not Disturb do you need translated into smaller words?” I grumbled. I didn’t bother to lift my head off the desk where’d I’d parked it since I arrived.

I should have stayed home, but there, I was reminded constantly of Chelsea’s rejection. At least here at the office, I had that,plusPearl’s interruptions, to see me through the day.

“Okay. First of all, unless you tell me what’s going on, I can’t help you.” Her tone sounded motherly, but I wouldn’t fall for it. “Are you hangry? Need a pastrami?—”

“Fuck no. Get out,” I yelled, my heart lurching in pain at the mere mention of the sandwich I loved…made by a woman I could have one day loved forever if she’d have taken me up on my offer.

Loved?Ouch. More pain in the centered in my chest. When would it stop? I needed a doctor.

“Rex, at some point, whatever this is will pass, and you have responsibilities here.”

“No.”

“But there’s someone here?—“

“No!”

Suddenly, I heard another pair of heels clicking into the room. “My, he really is a grumpy baby, isn’t he? I don’t know how you put up with him.”

My head popped up. “Marlena? What the hell are you doing here?”