Brielle didn't like police stations. Especially since they locked her up in a tiny prison, without even listening to her protests. Zachary's father was getting medical attention to the dog bite on his arm all the while cursing and yelling expletives at the nurses.

Funny how I'm the one who's in jail, thought Brielle.

"Ma'am you are allowed one phone call." said the Officer as he opened her lock-up. "Hurry up."

"Yes!" said Brielle happily as she rushed out and grabbed the phone.

Now lets see, who to call, who to call, who to call...

oh shit.

All important numbers were saved on my phone, but Zachary stole it. 

I still don't have it back--- ironic how the damn phone was the reason we took a trip to Thailand in the first place--- what do I do now?

"Ma'am are you done yet?" interrupted the Officer tapping her shoulder and then pointing at his watch. "One more minute."

Brielle started to panic. What was she going to do?

"Breathe Brielle, just breathe, you'll be fine, maybe a couple of days in prison, then they'll know you're innocent. They'll set you free. Don't worry, even if Jack, Axky and Paula hate you right now for running away, they'll definitely come to get you...they will, won't they?"

"They say that talking ones own self is more often than not the first sign of madness." said a boyish voice cutting through her thoughts.

Brielle spun around so fast, she almost cricked her neck.

 "Axky!" she exclaimed happily as she saw his grinning face. "You're here!"

"Gee Brielle, prison's really changed you. You've never been this happy to see me before." remarked Axky smirking as Brielle slung her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"Was I saying all that out loud?" she whispered against his chest.

"Yup." he said patting her back awkwardly. "I got a couple of lawyers, they're taking care of the paperwork. You'll be free to go in a few minutes. Sorry we were a bit late getting here, we didn't have a clue where you'd disappeared."

"Are you Mr. Leslie Palaqua?" asked the Officer taking out his walkie-talkie. 

Axky winced at the sound of his real name. "Yes Sir, that would be me."

"The Superintendent says that your lawyers have presented evidence on behalf of Miss Dane's claim of innocence of aggravated assault. All charges against her are dropped. Miss Dane may leave as soon as possible."

"Yay!" said Brielle jumping up and down happily kissing Axky on the cheek. "I love you."

"Um, Brielle," said Axky teasingly as he held her arm and led her out of the police station and onto the busy pavement. "You're hitting on an engaged man right now. Sorry love, but this ship has sailed."

"Shut up Leslie." said Brielle rolling her eyes. "I'm just really glad you're here. Anyway you look like a fourth grader, there is no way you and I would work out."

"You're really crossing  a line here Brie." said Axky skipping on his toes like a child. "I look nothing like a child. Girls fall for my manliness everywhere."

Brielle suppressed a snort as he continued "And the name's Axky for all intents and purposes."

"It's such a weird name, " said Brielle laughing and turning solemn once he cast her a dirty look. "But okay. If you say so, Axky it is."

He visibly cheered up as they kept walking through the block in silence. Brielle assumed they were headed back to the hospital.

"They police know the whole story." said Axky as he dug his hands into his pocket. "I submitted the video and audio recordings and a hell of a lot of dirt I dug up on the Kormins and Jones after hacking into their personal online accounts. They have a total of 37 charges against them, including attempt to murder and kidnapping. The sentence will be pretty tough on them. As of now, Zachary and the Kormins have been captured and arrested."

"Thank goodness." said Brielle sighing with relief. "It would have been horrible if they escaped."

"Zachary's dad is in custody now as well, thanks to a certain someone called Princess." Axky said with a smile. "Man were we glad when we heard from the Officer how she'd saved you."

"I'm sorry." said Brielle stopping and looking at him apologetically. "I just, I wasn't thinking. I was upset and I thought getting away would help."

Axky sighed as he shook his head. "Its fine, don't apologise. I understand how you felt back then, I thought you were being unreasonable at first, but Paula yelled at me about how insensitive and how much of an idiot I was being. Man you women are complicated."

"Paula scolded you?" asked Brielle giggling. "She's amazing."

"She sure is. All you ladies seem to be programmed to support one another." he said dejectedly. "Anyway, Jack would have freaked if anything happened to you. Hell, he was already freaking out the moment you left. You should have seen how angry he was when he found out that Zachary's dad had cornered you." said Axky scratching his head.

"Jack?" repeated Brielle, a blank look on her face. "Jack was concerned about me?"

"Of course he was." said Axky surprised. "He wanted to run after you, he would have if Paula and I hadn't stopped him. He's rather stupid when it comes to you."

"J-jack still cares?" asked Brielle, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Huh, what do mean if he still cares? Jack's been worried sick. He got into a wheelchair and tried to leave the hospital to come and find you. That is why Paula had to stay back and make sure he doesn't do anything foolish." said Axky looking at her beseechingly.

"Oh." said Brielle. She needed to talk to Jack and let him explain. "I'm really thick headed aren't I, Axky?"

"Such a lovely attitude in acceptance of one's flaws.." commented Axky. "Don't get all gloomy over this. Just talk to him and sort it out."

"Okay." she said looking at her feet as they resumed walking.

***

Jack cleared his throat for the fifth time as he shifted uncomfortably on his wheelchair. The bandages all over his torso and leg made it difficult for him to move.

"Brielle." he said hoarsely, taking her hand in his. "Will you marry me?"

"Not romantic enough." said Paula withdrawing her hand. "You are too direct. Say a poem or something."

"A-a poem?" he repeated sounding aghast. "She thinks I don't love her. I think I've lost her. Where the hell is the poetry going to come from?"

"Ah well. When she arrives talk to her first. Clear things out and make sure she still loves you before you spring the question on her. She might just call you a prick and say no." said Paula setting another fragrant candle on the bedside table.

"Thanks for the encouragement." said Jack slumping down on his chair exhausted. "She's really going to refuse isn't she?"

"Maybe, maybe not." said Paula absently surveying the room they had readied.

"The place looks pretty romantic doesn't it?" asked Jack looking around. Paula had pulled down the blinds on the windows and lit up sweet smelling candles all around. Jack had ordered for several floral bouquets to be delivered and each one had been placed strategically around the room to form the shape of a heart, when viewed from the door.

"Yes. It sure does." said Paula sitting down satisfactorily on the empty hospital bed. "Way better than the way Axky proposed to me---"

"WHAT?" shouted Jack almost falling out of his wheelchair in shock. Paula cursed mentally, she had forgotten that Jack didn't know. "The bastard proposed already? He met you yesterday, didn't he? I can't believe the idiot got engaged before me."

The door opened just then and Axky poked his head in.

"Hi Jackie. Good to know you think so highly of me." he said chuckling. He gestured to Paula. "Lets go, love, and let these two talk things over."

Paula got up immediately and walked over to Axky. Both of them gave him a thumbs up before leaving.

Jack swallowed the lump in his throat as he resisted the urge to bite his fingernails. He had never felt so nervous in his entire life.

***

"I can see him now?" asked Brielle as Puala and Axky finally gave her permission to enter Jack's hospital room.

"Yes!" the said together and pushed her gently towards the door.

She knocked nervously as Jack's warm voice called out, "Come on in."

She shut her eyes and entered all at once, closing the door behind her. She was afraid that if she peeked before entering, she would chicken out after seeing Jack and run off again.

She opened her eyes slowly to see the most beautiful room in the world.

Her favourite flowers adorned every corner of the room, making the shape of a heart, at the centre of sat Jack looking vastly uncomfortable on a wheelchair.

"Hi." said Brielle clenching and unclenching her hands, looking everywhere but at Jack.

"Brielle," said Jack huskily. "Look at me please."

And she did. Her soft brown eyes met his dark ones and in that very instant it seemed as though no time had passed since the first time they'd met. Her heart skipped several beats as she fought the urge to rush up to him and smother him with kisses. He was real, alive and well, and he had eyes only for her.

"Jack." she whispered as she stepped closer to him.

"Brielle I never meant what I said back then. I never could. I didn't have a choice. I had to tell those thugs I didn't care about you so they would minimise security around your cellar. That was the only way Axky could come and rescue you without either of you getting hurt." said Jack in one breath. "I never thought you would hear and believe those words. Brielle I love you more than I can ever let you know---"

Brielle reached him after taking two quick strides, and tilted his face so that he was looking up at her. She bent low and kissed him with as much passion as she could.

It was the first time he'd said it aloud. He said that he loved her. As he got over the initial shock of feeling her lips against his, he kissed her back fervently. 

"Oh Jack." she said when they broke apart for air. She kneeled down in front of his chair. "I love you too. I always have. I'm sorry I was so hurt over nothing,. I just thought that we were too mismatched to ever fall in love. I'm this ordinary girl with no influential relations , and you are this well respected millionaire with aristocratic social circles."

"Billionaire." said Jack non-chalantly.

"Huh?" asked Brielle flabbergasted.

"I'm a billionaire. Not a millionaire." he said smirking as he pulled her in for another kiss. Brielle was glad she was kneeling down because despite being this badly hurt, Jack still kissed like a sex god.

"You are the most extraordinary girl I've ever met Brielle." he said as he kissed her eyes, cheeks and neck. "You don't have to worry about being perfect for me. Just know that you are. I love you."

She responded by kissing his lips again and this time the world seemed to stop for both of them. Hands tangled in each other's hair as they kissed like never before. It seemed like an eternity had passed when they finally pulled away gasping for breath.

"I really wanted to do this properly, " said Jack as he tried to stand up but sat back down wincing in pain. "But I can't, not with these injuries."

"Give me the ring." said Brielle smiling brightly. Jack wanted nothing more than to hold her close and never let go.

"Ring?" he was too surprised to protest as she took it out of his pocket and got down on one knee in front of him.

"Will you, Jack Dixon, marry me?" she asked solemnly.

"I can't believe you're the one proposing." sighed Jack slapping his forehead with his palm. "Ah well."

"Jack you need to answer my question." said Brielle exasperatedly wagging the ring in front of him.

"Do you still have doubts about my answer?" asked Jack laughing as he leaned down and kissed her gently, tracing her rosy cheeks with his thumb. "I will marry you Gabrielle Dane, a thousand times over if I could. I love you so much, you have no idea."

"I love you." she said simply as she slid the ring onto his finger and he slid his own onto hers. "I never thought anyone could love me. But Jack you showered me with it. I want to be with you forever, grow old with you, have kids with you, redecorate you're bachelor pad of a house with more feminine touches. "

"Redecorate with feminine touches?" repeated Jack raising an eyebrow. "You don't mean with pink colours and other sickly girly stuff do you?"

"Maybe." she said laughing.

"You're lucky I love you." he said pulling her onto his lap and kissing her. "I'm never letting go of you again."

This time around Brielle knew he meant it.

A/N : Guys! The proposal finally! What did you think about the way it was done?

It was so much fun to write this chapter. I hope you liked it. 

I'm tearing up thinking that the story is almost over. Only one chapter left.

This book has become such a big part of my life I cannot imagine what I will do once its over. Thank you so much everyone for supporting this story and making me feel so good about myself as a writer.

lots of love,

Andy