54 Dating with Marriage in Mind

"So what's our next step?" Julian asked in between bites.

"Hmm?" Gradis muttered, distracted by the fact that he had spoken with food in his mouth. She swallowed her food and continued, "what do you mean?"

Julian paused his chewing and briefly looked up at Gradis, "the next step in our relationship of course."

Gradis hesitated, unsure of what to reply. She hadn't expected such a straightforward question and was certainly not ready to answer it either.

Julian swallowed his food and set down his fork and knife, "...unless you weren't planning to any further than we already have?"

"Ah…" Gradis gasped, then smoothly brushed a strand of her hair behind her ears, "what type of question is that? Of course, I'm thinking of the next step… I was just…"

She looked up at Julian and quickly turned away shyly, "I was just wondering if I was the only one thinking that way..."

Julian stared at her blankly before his lips stretched into a smile. "Silly," he softly scolded, patting Gradis on her head, "of course I was thinking about it too."

Gradis grinned, touching the same spot Julian had ruffled with a blush.

"Date me," Julian announced, reaching for her hands and squeezing them tightly, "date me with the intention of marriage."

"What?!" Gradis asked, her eyes widening in surprise, "m-marriage?!"

"Hmm," Julian continued, "I'm sure we both know that we love each other cuz' I for sure know I am in love with you, so I want you to be mine and mine only."

"I-" Gradis stuttered as her face grew even hotter. 'This was unexpected' she thought to herself, "m-me too… I love you, Julian."

Julian grinned and caressed Gradis' head once again. "I love you too," he reassured and squeezed her hand again, "so please date me and then marry me. I can't stand the thought of you walking around the streets without my ring on your finger."

Gradis hesitated for a moment. "Will your family like me? What if they kick me out?" she asked, hoping for the answer she wanted.

"It doesn't matter," Julian shrugged, "it's my life, my decision, and you're the one I want to call my wife and they can't change that."

Gradis' lips trembled before spreading into a smile, a tear rolling down her face. "Ok...I will! I'll date you and then spend the rest of my life with you!!" she grinned while sobbing

"Really?!" Julian exclaimed happily.

"YES!!" Gradis squealed in reply.

"Thank you!" Julian pulled her closer, and leaned over the table, pressing his lips into hers. He stared into her hazel eyes, the glow in his eyes matching perfectly with hers, "I love you so much!!"

"Me too," Gradis giggled.

"So we'll date for a few months, and then I'll walk you down the aisle, leaving with you in my arms," Julian promised.

"And…" Gradis smiled, intertwining her fingers with his, "I'll happily be yours forever."

Gradis chuckled and pulled away her hand, tapping Julian on the head playfully, "now eat your food dummy, it'll get cold."

"Ah!" Julian turned to his unfinished place of Boeuf Bourguignon and immediately wolfed it down as Gradis instructed.

'Lol...cute' Gradis chuckled to herself.

They ate in silence with calm air.

"About the company…" Julian began looking up from his food reluctantly, "I'm becoming the CEO soon."

Gradis' eyes brightened, "REALLY??!! CONGRATULATIONS HONEY!! Should we get a bottle of champagne to celebrate?!" she lifted her hand up and called the waiter to their table, "one bottle of your finest champagne, please! It's to congratulate my baby!"

"Yes ma'am," the waiter politely replied, running off to complete the task.

Julian stared at Gradis with a slight smile on his face as he appreciated her cuteness. He was on guard at first, but he was really starting to like this one. He stared at her for a few seconds before his smile faded.

"But… I will be incredibly busy and may not even have the chance to pamper you the way you deserve to be pampered because of the new load of work," Julian pouted, "I don't want us to be that business couple that has no time for each other, and end up breaking it off."

"Ah…" Gradis gasped sadly, "it's true… we both have companies to look after and barely any time for ourselves but… I'LL MAKE TIME FOR YOU!"