Chapter 5 Will you marry me

As the twinkling lights began to illuminate, the three girls found seats at a table near the window, where they could marvel at the stunning ocean sunrise. A sense of curiosity and anticipation filled the air around them.

"Natalia, you seem tense. What's going on?" Emma looked at Natalia with concern.

Natalia tried to maintain her composure, but her eyes betrayed her confusion and nervousness. "Um, there might be a little surprise for you guys tonight," she said, forcing a smile.

"What's that? Are you keeping something from us?" Sarah took Natalia's hand, her eyes full of curiosity.

Natalia sighed, her gaze drifting to the shimmering water outside. "I might be introducing someone very special to you. Someone I... haven't spoken about before."

Emma and Sarah's eyes widened in shock. "Right now?" Emma's voice was filled with surprise.

Sarah quickly added, "And he's special enough for you to bring him here, on an evening like this? Natalia, you have to tell us who it is right now! Can't imagine anyone making you this flustered again."

Natalia chuckled softly, looking into her friends' expectant eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't mention it earlier, but I wanted it to be a surprise. Just be patient, you'll find out soon."

The two friends exchanged looks of curiosity and excitement. Emma tilted her head, smiling, "Well, if it's a surprise from Natalia, it must be worth waiting for."

Sarah nodded in agreement. "Indeed, but I still can't believe Natalia has kept this a secret for so long. Hopefully, this boyfriend is way better than Natalia's last one."

The girls continued to chat and laugh, but deep inside, Natalia was a whirlpool of mixed emotions. She had no idea what the unpredictable billionaire had in store for them next.

As the night sky began its spectacular transformation, a magical event unfolded above the seaside restaurant. From afar, thousands of tiny lights gradually appeared, resembling a constellation of wandering stars moving towards them. These were thousands of drones, programmed with exquisite precision, commencing a breathtaking light show in the sky above.

Natalia, Emma, and Sarah sat in stunned silence, their mouths agape in astonishment at the grand spectacle unfolding before their eyes. The drones, under skillful control, started to paint vivid, colorful images across the night sky. The lights from the drones shone brightly, creating a vast, dynamic canvas.

Suddenly, the drones paused and converged, forming a colossal heart in the sky, within which sparkled the image of a glittering engagement ring and the words "Will you marry me?". At that moment, Christopher also stepped into view before the three girls. He knelt before Natalia, opening the ring box.

"Natalia, will you marry me?"

Silence enveloped the entire restaurant, the three girls gaped at this scene. In that moment, Natalia felt as though time had stopped, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest, each beat echoing calls of love and happiness. Her eyes shimmered, not just from the drone lights but also from tears lingering on her lashes. Even though she knew this was all part of a contract, that Christopher's feelings might not be genuine, Natalia still felt a trace of happiness.

Without a moment's hesitation, Natalia nodded: "Yes, I do."

The moment Natalia accepted the proposal, her two friends, initially frozen in shock and silence, now erupted into joyous laughter and tears.

Emma, always the more expressive of the two, stood up and clapped wildly. "Oh my God, Natalia! This is unbelievable!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy. "This is like something straight out of a fairy tale!"

Sarah, who had been clutching her heart as if to steady its wild beats, stood up to join Emma. She wiped away her tears, a beaming smile spreading across her face. "Natalia, I'm so happy for you!" she said, her voice choked with emotion. "It's so...beautiful. I never expected anything this grand!"

The two friends rushed over to Natalia, enveloping her in a tight, warm hug, forming a small circle of joy and celebration. "You deserve every bit of this happiness," Emma whispered into Natalia's ear.

Sarah stepped back just enough to look Natalia in the eye, adding, "Right, and never doubt that. You have to text us tonight and spill all the details of your romance, okay?"

As Christopher approached the group, the dinner table was beautifully arranged. The four of them took their seats, but there was a slight stiffness in the air.

Emma and Sarah couldn't help but be stunned by Christopher's handsome appearance and his dignified aura. Even amidst their happiness for Natalia, they found themselves momentarily lost in admiration. "Wow, Natalia, you've really hit the jackpot," Emma whispered, her gaze shifting back and forth between Natalia and Christopher, clearly impressed by his charm and elegance.

Sarah nodded in agreement, her eyes wide with amazement. "He's not just good-looking; he has the presence of someone who's in control, yet so caring," she murmured, equally captivated by the man who had just proposed to their friend in such a magnificent manner.

In the twinkling lights and the gentle sound of the sea waves, Natalia was acutely aware of her friends' astonishment. To break the silence and ease the somewhat awkward atmosphere, she feigned a slight cough, pulling the group back to reality.

Emma and Sarah, still seemingly in shock from the spectacular proposal, now began to see Christopher as an individual, not just the man who had proposed to their friend.

"Sorry, we didn't get around to asking your name?" Emma inquired, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of timidity.

Christopher smiled, exuding confidence yet remaining utterly gracious. "I'm Christopher, Christopher Sterling," he responded, his voice calm yet filled with warmth.

Sarah paused, her realization dawning slowly. "Sterling? Isn't that..." her voice trailed off, her eyes widening as she made the connection.

Both Emma and Sarah could hardly conceal their surprise. They were familiar with Sterling Corporation, one of the largest companies in the country, and Christopher's name frequently mentioned in the media. Knowing that the man standing before them was not only handsome and charming but also a billionaire and influential figure, left them both in awe and admiration.

"Oh my God, you really are Christopher Sterling," Emma said, her voice full of respect and admiration.

Sarah added, "This is...amazing, Natalia."

Natalia chuckled softly, at a loss for words because, after all, this was just a contract. "You two have to keep this a secret for me, okay?"

Emma and Sarah exchanged quick, understanding glances before turning back to look at Natalia with excited smiles. "Of course," Emma assured her, her voice a blend of solemnity and anticipation. "Your secret is safe with us."

As the evening waned, and it came time to part ways, Natalia felt a surge of affection for her friends.

"I'm truly lucky to have you both," she confessed as they hugged goodbye.

"Remember, we're just a phone call away if you need anything," Sarah said, squeezing Natalia's hand reassuringly.

"And we expect detailed updates!" Emma added with a wink, eliciting laughter from Natalia.

Christopher had his driver take Emma and Sarah home. As Christopher drove Natalia home, a tense atmosphere enveloped the car.

Suddenly, Christopher shattered the silence with a question that seemed to resonate within the confined space. "Are you content, my fiancé?" he asked, his voice laden with emotion, hinting at his own apprehensions regarding their agreement.

Natalia's fingers instinctively touched the engagement ring on her finger. She turned to look at him for a moment before responding. "Thank you, my fiancé!" she whispered, her voice a blend of gratitude intermingled with complex emotions she couldn't fully express.