Maya by Shayne Ford

17

MAYA

New York

“You must be kidding,”Tara says.

I put her on speaker, so I can brush my hair.

“No.”

“Well…”

She ponders for a moment.

“When are you coming back?”

“We’re flying back in a couple of days.”

“Hmm…”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, no… Don’t be.”

She laughs at the other end, a bit nervous and a bit tense, yet trying to conceal it.

“I can work. It’s just that I’ll be doing it from…”

I put the hairbrush down and smile at my reflection before laughing quietly––only now the significant change in my life hits me.

“From wherever. I don’t know yet.”

“Did he say anything else?”

“No… What do you mean by anything else?” I ask after a moment.

“Any plans for the future.”

I lean back in the chair in front of the vanity, my cheeks crimson in the mirror.

“No. Not yet. But I don’t even want to think about it. I’m stressed out as it is.”

I laugh.

This time she chuckles too.

“He got you good,” she says.

“Look who’s talking.”

A few seconds of silence come from the other end before I hear her again.

“I know…” she says, emotions threading through her voice.

I can’t help but smile.

“Please don’t lose it,” I murmur, amused. “You’re going to be okay.”

She sighs.

“I can’t believe it’s happening,” she says in a more settled voice, although I notice the tears of joy in her tone.

“I can’t believe it either,” I say quietly, revisiting the past.

“Can you imagine that we were talking about our lives a year ago when we realized how twisted everything was…?” I say.

She says quietly while I continue, staring blankly at my reflection.

“We were so fucking lost,” I say, remembering that evening when we talked on the terrace at my old house. “Things do come full circle,” I murmur, astounded at how our lives have turned around, how we found everything we dreamed of. “It’s amazing.”

“Yes, it is,” she says, a bit broken.

“Are you crying?” I ask, smiling.

“No,” she says, laughing.

“You just did.”

“Maybe. A little.”

She clears her voice.

“There will be changes, clearly,” she says in a steadier voice. “Business-wise, for sure. And everything else.”

“We’ll get through it. Don’t worry. Together.”

“Yes… Together. I can’t wait to see you two. How is he?”

“I’ve never seen a happier man. My heart bursts.”

“I know the feeling. He is the real deal.”

“Yes, he is…”

I hear Danielle’s voice in the background.

“Okay, I gotta go. They’re waiting for me. Call me.”

“I will.”

I place my phone on the vanity before changing my mind, push out of my seat, walk into the room and slide it into my bag.

The hotel suite is luxurious with ceiling height windows overlooking Manhattan, a large bed in the bedroom, and hand-carved furniture in the living room.

I pick up a slice of pineapple from a plate on a round table dressed in white linen and start munching on it.

I should get going.

One last glance in the mirror reassures me my blue summer dress does me justice––a fitted top with a round neckline, a back zipper, and a full skirt that hits below my knees.

My eyes sparkle, and my hair is a few shades lighter from the Mediterranean sun, framing my face with lazy waves.

My tan is intact.

I leave the suite and take the elevator down before I reach the lobby.

The concierge clerk greets me, and then the doorman talks to me.

“Do you need a car, Miss?” he asks.

I look around.

The restaurant is not that far. I can walk.

“No. Thank you,” I say, smiling.

He nods, grinning before retreating inside while I look up and down Park Avenue, drinking everything in.

The buildings rise to the sky, cabs zipping down the street, a few pedestrians walking briskly on the sidewalks. The trees drip with sunlight.

I love this place. And it was love at first sight.

My lungs are filled with air and so much optimism.

Finally, I jolt out of my paralysis and start walking.

Minutes later, I locate the restaurant.

Glancing around, I spot him. Tall, wearing a dark suit and a blue shirt, his eyes scanning the faces of the pedestrians.

We lock eyes, his face brightened up with a smile.

I rush the last few steps while he pulls to the side of the entrance to greet me.

Moments later, I fall into his arms, his eyes beaming with joy.

We kiss.

We kiss in front of the building, the people, even a few cops who guard the corner.

“Hey…” I murmur, drinking him in. “How was the meeting?”

“It was good,” he says, taking my hand.

His eyes slide down.

“You look amazing,” he says.

I didn’t even realize our colors match. My dress… His shirt.

I smile, my eyes trained on him.

“How was your morning?” he asks.

“It was great,” I say.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

He walks me in, and moments later, we sit at a table of two, the city offering an animated slideshow of the life outside the windows.

“I’m in love with this city,” I say, perusing the streets throbbing with life.

Well, I’m in love with everything right now, because I love him.

Smiling, he observes me while I’m brimming with good feelings about everything surrounding me.

I love the food, our drinks, the desserts we eat a little later at a French bakery.

The afternoon finds us on Fifth Avenue, browsing the stores.

We have fun. A lot of fun. Together, holding hands, kissing from time to time. Quenching our thirst for each other.

And later, we enter a high-end jewelry store.

I doubt we’re going to buy something here, but I find myself perusing their necklaces.

One, in particular, catches my eye. It’s beautiful, delicate, the pedant exquisitely crafted.

The salesperson is quick to show it to me. It costs a small fortune, and it’s something I could probably do without, but I feel irresistibly attracted to it.

“Put it on,” he says as I hand it to the woman, and she is about to tuck it back in the box.

She stops. I look at him.

He nods.

“Okay,” I murmur.

He fastens it around my neck as we both stand in front of a mirror, his chest behind my back.

Our eyes meet in the mirror.

His gaze goes to my chest while I look at my reflection.

“It’s perfect,” he says.

I can’t argue with him, but it costs too much.

We connect eyes again. As always, he reads them and knows exactly what crosses my mind.

“I’ll get it for you,” he says, breaking our stare and kissing my hair.

Before I can say a word, he moves away from me, heading to the counter.

I linger a little longer, my fingers brushing over the piece of jewelry.

It’s beautiful, indeed, like a little love story.

Like our love story.

He pays for it and wants me to wear it, so I do.

We exit the store, our hands locked, my heart beating faster.

I’m awfully quiet when we stop on the sidewalk, and he looks at me.

“Is everything okay?” he asks, worried for a moment.

I nod, blinking too fast, pushing a few tears back.

His hands come to my face.

“What is it, Maya?”

My jaw locks.

I have to look away and somehow fight the emotions flowing through my body.

“It’s, um… This was a perfect day,” I say, my eyes welling up again with tears of happiness.

I look at him.

His grin fades.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

He pulls me into his chest and holds me in his arms.

“I don’t want this to ever end,” I say.

We look at each other again, his hands on my neck, his fingers on my cheeks.

Slowly, he shakes his head.

“It won’t.”

His eyes glint with so many things. A smile, emotions, unspoken words.

He slides his eyes lower to hide his emotions too, his fingers going down as well. He studies the pendant for a moment.

“I want this day, this moment…” he says quietly.

He lifts his gaze, warmth flowing from his eyes.

“I want this moment to stay with us forever,” he adds, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t plan this to happen today. And I don’t have a ring for you now… But this…” he says, tipping his eyes down, a bright smile lighting up his face, “is the perfect occasion to tell you how much I love you. You’ve surpassed my exceptions in so many ways, and I’ll be honored to spend the rest of my life with you, so…”

I bite my lip to stop my chin from quivering.

Smiling, he looks into my eyes before he lowers his lips to my ear.

“Will you marry me, baby?” he murmurs before a scream of joy shoots from my chest.

He straightens, tears trickling down my cheeks.

“Yes. Yes….” I say a little louder before my arms close around his neck, and he tucks me in his embrace.

The world spins around us while we stay locked for moments on end, swept away by the happiest moments of our lives.

THE END

Thankyou for reading MAYA (A Dark McKenna Story).

Maya’s story ends here.

This story has been written after Dark McKenna’s Trilogy (Shades of Love Series), and Shades of Loves Series that continues McKenna’s story AFTER Maya.

Maya also coincides with Shade and Tara’s story (Golden Heir Trilogy).

Although this story happens before Shades of Love Trilogy, and these stories can be read in any order, I would personally read them in the order in which they were written:

Golden Heir Trilogy (Shade and Tara’s story)

Shades of Love Trilogy (Dark McKenna’s story AFTER Maya)

MAYA (A Dark McKenna Story)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this story.

Reviews/Ratings are always welcome and appreciated.

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Also, if you like Billionaire Romance Stories, check out my other series: Night of the Kings, Night of the Diamonds, Shades of Love, Golden Heir, and Love is War.

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