The Perfect Candidate (24 page)

Michael dressed quickly, while Ashley set about trying to fix her hair.  There wasn
’
t much she could do to straighten it, and she hated that she had no choice but to wear her clothes from the night before.  She followed Michael downstairs to breakfast when he was ready, walking behind him uncertainly, not particularly wanting to meet his housekeeper like this.

If Mrs. Martin thought anything was strange about seeing her employer walk into the kitchen followed by a slightly disheveled young women then she kept all such thoughts to herself.  Breakfast was already laid out on the table- two places were set- Mrs. Martin exchanged a few words with Michael as he and Ashley sat down, and then bustled off into one of the other rooms to clean.

“So, I’
ve be thinking,
”
said Michael, helping himself to a strong cup of coffee.  Ashley looked up from the piece of toast that she was nibbling. 
“
We should go out this morning and buy you your engagement ring.
”

Ashley
’
s eyes almost popped out of her head. 
“
Do you think we should?
”
she asked, setting down her toast.  She really wasn
’
t feeling hungry, but she had thought that she better try something to please Michael.

He nodded. 
“
I don
’
t have anything planned this morning.  I was going to give myself a day off to rest after the campaign, but I want to get a ring on your finger as soon as possible,
”
he said simply. 

Ashley told herself that she was imagining the possessive edge to his voice.  He just needed a visible sign of his intentions toward her to calm the press down.  It wouldn
’
t mean anything
…
not to Michael anyway
…
She had to remember that, because it was all starting to seem so real to her!  Even her mother was fooled!  Well
…
fooled into thinking she was in trouble, which is
was
… just not in the way that everyone imagined.

They stopped off at Ashley
’
s home for a little while before driving on to the jeweler
s
, so that she could change and (on her instance, although Michael assured her that she looked stunning) put on a little makeup.

Michael
’
s chauffeur drove them on to Cartier, and his bodyguards walked them to the door of the store to save them from being mobbed.  Ashley felt horribly self-conscious.   This really
wasn
’
t
how any woman dreamed about getting an engagement ring
.

The shop manager rushed over to help them as soon as he saw them.  Michael smiled at the man and said they were fine just having a browse on their own for the minute. 

“Well?” he turned to Ashley.  He looked awfully pleased with himself.  She couldn’
t work out why. 
“
Do you see anything you like?
”
he asked, looking at the glittering rings in the display cabinets.

She gave her shoulders a helpless shrug; she just wanted to get something and go. 
“
That one
’
s fine,
”
she said, waving her hand in the direction of one of the simplest, most inexpensive rings in the store.

Michael frowned, and wrinkled his nose. 
“
You can hardly even see the stone!
”
he snored. 
“
There
’
s no way my fiancé is going to settle for
that
ring!
”
he declared, steering her towards the more dazzling choices.

“What about that one?” Michael asked, pointing out one diamond encrusted ring that had caught his eye.

Ashley looked to see what he was showing her, and promptly choked in her surprise. 
“
Michael that ring costs-
”
but she couldn
’
t bring herself to say the price out loud. 
“
I really don
’
t need anything so big,
”
she said weakly.

Instead of being pleased by her reluctance to spend his money, Michael looked disappointed. 
“
But I want you to have something nice,
”
he insisted, almost pouting at her.

“All of these rings are nice,” she lied, in truth nothing had jumped out at her as being ‘
quiet right
’
yet, not even any of the more expensive pieces. 
“
There.  That one
’
s fine,
”
she said, picking out another band with a single stone, only slightly bigger that the first one she had chosen.

Michael stared at her incredulously. 
“
Excuse me,
”
he called out, surprising Ashley by beckoning the manager over.  The man appeared almost instantly at Michael
’
s side. 
“
I was wondering if you had a selection of engagement rings that you could show my fiancé.  We seem to be having a difficulty selecting a ring.
”

“Oh yes, of course!” gushed the manager.  “Why don’
t the two of you take a seat other there and I
’
ll bring over a tray of our best rings?
”
he enthused.

“Michael!” Ashley whispered urgently,” I don’
t think-!
”

“That would be wonderful,” Michael said, speaking to the salesman and ignoring Ashley’
s objection completely.  He wrapped an arm around her waist and swept her towards the chairs that the manager had directed them towards.

“What are you doing?” Ashley squeaked.

“Forcing you to chose a half decent ring,” Michael murmured smugly.  Ashley couldn’
t stop herself from glaring at him. 
“
I told you.  I want you to have something nice, besides,
”
he added, almost as an afterthought, but not
quite
. 
“
If you don
’
t have a stunning ring everyone
’
s going to be calling me a cheapskate.
”

“Oh, I see,” Ashley sniffed, hating the crushing weight of disappointment that she felt.  She did determine to pick out the most expensive ring she was offered for her trouble though!

“Now, perhaps the lady would like one of these rings?” said the store manager, coming over and presenting Ashley with a truly dazzling array of choice.  She didn’
t have to fake her gasp of delight; she had just spotted her
perfect
ring!

“Which one?” Michael smiled.  He had been watching closely for her reaction.

Ashley pointed to a platinum ring with a diamond cluster and a jewel encrusted band. 
“
That one,
”
she breathed reverently.

“Oh!  An excellent choice!” gushed the manager.

“Do you want to try it on?” Michael asked, grinning broadly.  Ashley nodded her head eagerly, and the manager helped slip it onto her finger. 

“It fits perfectly!” Ashley gasped, moving her hand from side to side so that she could admire how the diamonds sparkled in the light.

“Must be fate,” Michael chuckled.  He popped a gentle kiss on Ashley’
s lips, catching her by surprise, before turning back the manager. 
“
We
’
ll take it,
”
he nodded.  The other man looked like Michael had just made his day, as he bustled off to get some paper work Ashley whispered to Michael.

“You didn’
t even ask what it cost!
”

“Sweetheart, if you have to ask the price then you can’
t afford it,
”
he winked, leaving Ashley to continue admiring her ring while he got up to sort out payment and insurance with the manager.

Ashley stared down at her left hand.  It felt so strange to be wearing a ring on her forth finger.  She sighed a little sadly, and was forced to confess something deeply troubling to herself
–
she would have been happier with one of the smaller rings if had meant that their engagement was real
.

“You ready to go now, Ash?” Michael asked, reappearing at her side.  “I thought we could go out and grab some lunch if you fancy it?”

“Do you think that’
s a good idea?
”
Ashley asked doubtfully. 
“
Maybe- maybe we should spend some time apart?
”
she suggested.  Michael frowned at her, and Ashley felt a touch guilty.  He
had
just spent a small fortune on her after all
…
although no doubt he would simply return the ring once their shame engagement was over.

“Do you
want
to spend some time apart?
”
he asked slowly. 
“
I mean, is this too much, am I crowding you?
”
he frowned. 

“What?  No!” Ashley said quickly.  “It’
s just-
”

“That being endlessly hounded by photographers and reporters isn’
t all it
’
s cracked up to be?
”
he smiled dryly, finally twigging the problem.

Ashley flushed. 
“
Well, do we really want to give them something else to write about?
”
she asked doubtfully. 
“
Don
’
t you want them to focus on your
politics?
  Not your
…
love life?
”