Garrett and Margie were in the kitchen discussing something in hushed undertones when Cora arrived to deliver the tray that had held Aunt Mable's dinner. The sudden silence that descended upon her arrival made Cora suspect that she was the topic of conversation.

"What are you two whispering about?" Cora asked with narrowed eyes.

"Margie was just confirming a few things. Are you ready to go? Do you have a coat?"

Cora nodded taking off her headscarf and stuffing it into her pocket as she reached for an old wool coat that had seen better days. It, like her wrap dress, was a design that never went out of style so she was still able to wear it.

Garrett took the coat from her and helped her into it before telling Margie that they had a key and not to wait up for them.

"I have to be home before midnight." Cora reminded him as she grabbed her purse and an envelope as he hustled her out the backdoor and into his car.

"Don't worry, I'll have you back Cinderella." He assured her before he closed the car door on her.

She settled back into the plush seat intending to enjoy the drive. It was rare that she got to ride in such a nice car. She wasn't familiar with cars but whatever kind it was it seemed to be the top of the line.

"It's not far." Garrett assured her as he pulled out into traffic.

Cora was surprised when fifteen minutes later they were pulling into an underground parking garage to what appeared to be an apartment building.

"Where are we?"

Garrett smiled as he got out of the car and came around to hold her door open for her. "This is my apartment. I thought we could have a quiet and private meal. What we need to discuss is very personal and you never know who will overhear you if you're in a restaurant."

It seemed plausible to Cora but she still eyed him warily.

"I promise, best behavior." He held up his hand before turning and leading the way to an elevator.

Cora remained silent as the elevator stopped and he led the way down a long corridor towards a door at the very end. She couldn't help her gasp of surprise as he opened the door and led her into the vast and open space. It was a corner unit and two sides of the massive room were nothing but floor to ceiling windows, the kind that had no mullions or breaks. They were just solid panels of glass and the city of Boston was spread out below them.

The floors were a polished marble and the furniture, what little there was of it, was modern and sleek. She took it all in as Garrett helped her off with her coat and threw it, along with his, carelessly across a chair.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked as he watched her walk towards the windows, setting her purse on a chair.

"Whatever you suggest," she said as she looked down on the twinkling lights. "It makes you feel very small, doesn't it?" The lighting was muted so there was very little reflection to block her magnificent view.

"Does it? I have always thought that it is a romantic view."

"Romantic?" She turned to look at him to see how serious he was. Somehow, she didn't think he was a very romantic person.

"I have my moments." He smiled gently at her as he handed her a drink.

Cora quickly looked away from his smile. Now that it was directed at her it felt overwhelming. "What is it?" she asked, looking at the glass.

"It's only sparkling water. We'll have wine with dinner."

Cora nodded as she took a sip of the fizzy liquid, returning her attention back to the view. "How much time do you lose just staring at this view?"

"Not as much as you think. When I first moved in I was fascinated but after a while, as with most things, the newness fades and it becomes part of the room." He joined her, sipping his drink as he took in the view too.

"You must hate living in the house. This is pretty magnificent."

"I like the house fine, I only wish it was a bit warmer."

Cora laughed. "Me too."

"Are you hungry, shall we eat?" He motioned to a table behind him that was already set with a meal.

Cora nodded and allowed herself to be led to the table. It all looked delicious and her mouth watered as he removed the lids from the different dishes. He poured the wine and then took his seat across from her.

"It all looks wonderful." She picked up a fork and cut into the juicy steak. She couldn't remember the last time she had had such a tender piece of meat. It all but melted in her mouth.

Garrett smiled and started to eat as well. They talked about common interests and jumped from topic to topic until Cora felt herself start to relax and even enjoy herself. Garrett was a very entertaining and charming host and he had the ability to make her laugh, and she hadn't laughed in a very long time.

They moved to a table by the window for their dessert and coffee. Eventually, they stopped talking altogether and the silence that descended was very restful, and they were each lost in their own thoughts while they looked at the lights below. Cora suddenly remembered the gift she had for him and she jumped up from her chair and moved across the room to retrieve the envelope in which she had placed it.

She stood next to his chair and handed it to him before she returned quickly to her chair. "Thank you for the pencils." She cleared her throat, nervous as she watched him set down his coffee and open the envelope.

It was a drawing of Roxi. He looked at it with a serious face studying it. "You're very talented Cora, who taught you, did study in school?

"No, I only had a few years of school before my father became ill. I never finished my core classes. I would have loved to have studied art. Everything I have learned has been self-taught. Do you like it?"

He looked at her with a smile, his blue eyes dancing. "I like it very much, thank you."

Cora nodded pleased as she settled back into her chair picking up her coffee. Garrett continued to watch her with a look that could only be described as distracted. He was so handsome, she wanted to push the lock of hair that had fallen out of place off of his forehead. She watched his strong hands as they sat the envelope on the table between them.

"Do you know what I do Cora, for a living I mean?"

"You manage your family's company?"

"Yes, and I buy and sell companies too."

Cora smiled hesitantly and nodded, not understanding where he was going with the conversation. He waited watching her, but when she remained silent he stood up quickly and started to pace.

"I'm good at my job, I'm good at reading people. I take my time and learn their weaknesses and then hit hard to make a deal that will benefit everyone, but myself most of all." He looked at her serious face. "Everyone has a weakness." He sounded cold.

"Even you?" she said it as a joke, she couldn't imagine that Garrett had any weaknesses.

"Even me." He looked pained for a split second but the look was gone so quickly that she thought that she had imagined it. "You too have a weakness as does Aunt Mable."

"What's my weakness?" Cora took a sip of coffee looking away from him and out of the window, wondering which weakness of hers he had picked up on, she had so many of them, the greatest of which was becoming him.

Had he figured her out?

"Your weakness is the house." He leaned against the window with a frown as if he didn't like the fact.

"And Aunt Mable's?" She was in a rush to get the subject off of herself.

"Money." His voice sounded hard as the word was clipped.

"And you?" she asked softly.

He didn't answer for a very long time and Cora had started to think that he wasn't going to, she had just set her cup down preparing to stand when he finally did.

"I'm single."

Cora's mouth fell open in shock. "Most men would think of that as a strength," she said after a moment.

"Yes, but most men aren't trying to take over family run businesses. Men who own family run business like someone who is family oriented to take over, and it can be a challenge for me to make a deal."

Cora shook her head in disbelief. "I don't believe you."

Garrett gave a cold smile. "I have to fight twice as hard as a broker who is married with children, in some instances I have had to pay more than I wanted to because of it. The older I get the harder the purchase is without a wife and family."

"Fine, but why all this talk of weaknesses?" Cora stood and moved to the window uneasy, feeling that he was about to drop a bomb.

"I believe that I can take care of all of our weaknesses with one move."

"And what move would that one move be?" Cora's head had started to hurt and she wasn't following him. She looked towards him and found him staring at her. Her eyes locked with his and she was trapped once again.

After a moment's silence he dropped his bomb.

"Marry me Cora."