The big day was almost here for 29 year old William Cooper and his 25 year old girlfriend, Leah Conner, had been dating for a whole year!! It was the longest relationship he had ever had!

It was not because he was a player but because he was just a quiet guy who works security in the Grand Maxwell hotel, LA. Between training at the gym and working shifts he was surprised he even had a girlfriend let alone one so beautiful his heart would melt every time he looked at her. He ran his hands through his short jet black spiky hair, which is something he did every time he thought about her.

William was a well-built guy with six pack abs. He looked like the kind of guy who was always working out at the gym. Well shaped muscles wrapped tight in his shirt. His toned legs made him move faster with ease even if he was just strolling. He laughed every time he saw Leah jog to catch up with him.

His hazel eyes sparkled as he recalled the first time he met her. It was a little over a year ago. She was waiting to be called for an audition at the Maxwell Hotel when he accidently bumped into her. She was an actress.

"Excuse you!" She said coldly, her long blond hair brushed his face as she swirled around throwing him an angry look. But Will, who was in a hurry, just rushed passed her, only sparing her an apologetic glance. But that glance was enough to fix her face in his mind for the rest of the day, even the angry blue eyes could not change her innocent looking face. She wore a puffy green top with white straight pants holding a white clutch while playing with a long chain that reached her stomach.

He replayed the scene in his head a number of times that day, wishing he stopped to apologize and fantasizing a happier ending to that moment.

To his delight, he found her standing in the same spot the next day. This time she wore a blue dress that fell to her knees with white belt, heals and clutch to match. The blue made her eyes pop.

Deciding he wanted to play out his fantasy right this time, he rushed towards her again. But this time she saw him and stepped back just seconds before he bumped into her. Caught off-guard he went and crashed into a giant vase almost toppling it over, with an embarrassing twirl and a hop he managed to catch the vase and stop it from falling.

Leah covered her mouth with her hand trying to hide her laughter. Red in the face, William straightened up and ran his hand through his hair and took a step backwards only to bump into the hotel manager whose hands were full of loose papers, went flying. His face now a darker shade of red, William helped the manager gather all the papers apologizing profusely.

The manager, who looked angry at first, changed his expression the moment he saw it was William.

"Ah! It's you Cooper. Just the man I needed to see." The manager said as they collected the papers as Leah came forward to help too.

"There is a bit of chaos outside the left wing hall, rejected applicants are making a fuss, troubling the other guests. Could you get the troublemakers out please?" said the manager, wiping a sweat off his brow. He looked tensed, like he had a stressful day.

"What is happening in the left wing hall, sir?" William asked.

"Auditions. " Leah piped up, handing over the papers she picked up.

"Thank you, my dear." said the manager gently, taking the papers from her. "Yes, the auditions for the for the new James bond movie is on for the last two days"

"You must be auditioning for the female lead." William said

"That's right. I've got a call back" She said, blushing proudly.

"No doubt, I can totally see you play a bond girl" William said with a crooked smile and she went completely red, but before she could reply there was a loud noise from the staircase that led to the left wing hall.

The manager sighed and William understood why. Rushing upstairs he found two girls in a cat fight, pulling each other's hair and shouting insults. After a failed attempt to get them to stop fighting he grabbed each of them around their waist, one in each arm and hauled them out of the hotel. Leah watched, clearly impressed.

The next day she was back, but not for the auditions. Not sure how to ask him out, she just hung around the spot she had see him twice before, hoping to run into him again. She wore a black mini skirt and a white blouse with black pumps and matching purse.

She dint have to wait long because he was back and looking better than ever. He must have just come out of the shower, because his hair was wet and he smelled fresh of soap. The moment she saw him, he saw her too. He grinned at her and she grinned back. His hazel eyes made her legs wobble, she even forgot what she planned to tell him. William walked up to her, running his fingers through his hair, still smiling.

"Hey! Dint I see you in that new James Bond movie?" He said as soon as he reached her.

"I haven't got the part yet!" Leah said, giggling like a schoolgirl. Then they began talking, it was not clear who asked who out first but they met for coffee the next day and then could not stop seeing each other.

Few weeks later when the James Bond girl was selected and turned out not to be Leah, she was crushed. "So close" she thought, before dissolving into tears. This was supposed to be her big break, then she would not have to struggle to pay rent or even buy nice things. Lucky William was there for her. He comforted her and even told her to move in with him so that she does not have to worry about rent.

Move in? so soon?.....were they ready for that. What happens if they break up? Would she be left homeless? But William convinced her that he was a gentleman and would never let her suffer, even in the unlikely event of a breakup.

Convinced, she moved in by the end of the month and their life together had begun. Leah dint mind his busy schedule, she too became busy trying out for several auditions to get her mind off the James Bond one.

A year later he decided that if he could make it one year maybe he could commit to more. He started thinking about the future, marriage, children, retirement..........Which is why he went shopping for an engagement ring.

He had been saving up for a while now, Leah had expensive taste and he wanted the ring to be absolutely perfect. This of course was difficult thing to do with the salary of a security guard so he had been pulling extra shifts at the hotel and had taken on several odd jobs to be able to afford the perfect ring.

His mother was more than willing to help. The moment he told her about his intension of proposing to Leah, she sent over the engagement ring that belonged to his grandmother. But he sent it back, partly because he was not sure Leah would like something old and partly because he was determined to prove to his father he was a strong man who could take care of his own affairs.

After a long morning of ring hunting, he stopped in front of a window, he found what he was looking for. Smiling at himself he entered the shop.

********

Hi!!!

If you have read my book "Lost in Pain" you would find it similar. I had some serious writers block so decided to take down that one and start fresh. Hope you like this better!!

Please comment to let me know what you think!!

Vote if you like this chapter! :)