Chapter 80: This Particular Gift

Chapter 80: This Particular Gift
Nadine Black's POV:

"Seeing everything today. I just know that this particular gift..." I heard Bryce say as he stretched out his hand toward the open door, where Damian could take it from him. "I do believe this particular gift is fitting for the occasion."

"How so?" Damian asked, his tone questioning as he finally reached out and took the small red velvet box with a black ribbon from Bryce's outstretched hand.

"You'll just have to open it and find out," Bryce said, and I could tell he smirked.

I couldn't help but feel a pull in my chest at the sight of him smirking right then. I wanted so much for Bryce to look at me, but I knew he would not glance a second time, knowing that Damian was sitting right there.

It was at that particular moment that Damian sat straight in his seat, turned to look over at me, and held the box in one hand.

"Open it," Damian said, looking over at me again before looking back down at the box. "Let us see how this gift is fitting."

I couldn't help but swallow. I reached up with one hand and grabbed the end of the black ribbon before lightly pulling it, untying the small bow. Damian helped remove the ribbon as he took off the top red velvet lid from the lower portion of the box.

As the sun set, its light shone on the box, even though we were seated inside the vehicle. When the object inside was revealed, it was bar cold and listened. The sun rose as the red-and-black diamond tennis bracelet shone across the vehicle.

"Oh my..." I said, showing how shocked I was by what I saw.

"Well," Damian spoke up right then. He took that opportunity to look up at Bryce, who had tilted his head slightly to the side. "I would have to say that you are right. This bracelet is fitting to her attire."

"How did you know?" I couldn't help but ask as Damian reached into the small box and removed the tennis bracelet from the two small straps at the ends holding it in place.

"If you don't mind my saying so, sir," Clay spoke up right then. "This is my brother's idea. I just told him as to which colors would fit best."

Damian didn't say anything at that moment as he looked up at Clay before I held up my left wrist across my lap so that Damian could place the bracelet around my wrist. I was absolutely astonished. I did not expect anything like this. Never before had Damian offered me such a gift, something that I would consider precious.

"It is fitting," Damian spoke right then as he pulled his hands back after latching the bracelet around my wrist. "It is appreciated and complementary to my bride. You have my thanks for that."

I reached up with my other hand and lightly turned the bracelet, sliding it across my skin. The cool feel of the slick metal as the sun continued to shine on the darkened red rubies and black diamonds. I was still in shock. Never before have I seen anything like this.

"Now, let us be off," Damian spoke as he glanced over at Andre.

"Very well, sir," Clay spoke as they both took a step back onto the sidewalk at the end of the walkway.

Andre had closed the door back as I sat back in the middle seat, still admiring the bracelet that was draped around my wrist. I couldn't help but wonder in the back of my mind as to why Clay chose this opportunity to walk up with Bryce and therefore bring me this particular gift. This certainly was an unexpected offering.

"Matthew," I heard Damian call out as I looked up to see his man sitting in the driver's seat.

"Yes, boss," Matthew spoke in return.

"To the airport," Damian responded as he turned to look at me. Just as Matthew was about to respond, Damian added. "You're neglecting your seatbelt."

Damian didn't ask me to buckle up, nor did he give me the opportunity to do it myself. Instead, he leaned forward and reached around me, causing me to raise my hands up in the air so that he could fasten the seatbelt himself. However, at that particular moment, I looked up at Matthew. He placed one finger on the side of his ear and spoke.

"Rollout," is all Matthew said at that particular moment.

"What?" I couldn't help but ask. Suddenly, the row of vehicles started to pull away, and we were the second one in line. I then turned to look at Damian when I asked him, "Who is he talking to?"

Damian turned to look away whenever he looked up at Matthew through the rearview mirror when he responded, saying, "I don't want you to have to worry about that. What I would have you be concerned with is having a pleasant time on your honeymoon."

Am I hearing him correctly? Damian actually wants me to be concerned with having a pleasant time on my honeymoon?! That didn't sound like Damian at all. I couldn't help but wonder in the back of my mind what he was up to.

I knew he and my father had probably concocted some low-level place that we were going to travel to. The question is, how am I even going to enjoy myself? Be concerned with having a pleasant time on my honeymoon. Who is he kidding?

No matter what, Matthew pulled out onto the street in front of the place where I had said my vows to marry Damian. It was at that precise moment that something came to the forefront of my mind. The airport. Damian wanted to take us on a plane ride? Where exactly was it that we were going to be flying to?

I couldn't help but wonder. I had only ever been in the States. Never before had I been allowed to leave the country. I knew for a while, but my father had told me that Damian had business to attend to elsewhere. He wouldn't tell me exactly where he had gone nor why he had to leave on such short notice.

I could remember it as if it were yesterday. It was in the middle of the night many years ago when there was a commotion downstairs. I left my room and ran to the top of the banister railing, only to see a large set of luggage at the front entry of our house. My mother was standing there. I will never forget it. She was crying, as her arms were wrapped around Damian.

There were men. Many men hauling the luggage outside. Damian was forced to leave. My father saw to it that he had to leave. As to why... I wasn't quite sure at that point. I'm still not exactly sure as to why he had to leave all those years ago. The point is, as soon as Damian had apparently come back, my father had a dinner and told me that I was going to marry him. Now here we are.