ellaesmeralda:
Delilah had always been a practical woman. She had been raised to be. Everything she did, she analysed. Pros and cons, opportunities and threats. That was just how she lived her life; the safest way she could think of. Safety was something she needed as a business woman, especially when all her competitors were men. She couldn’t take too many risks. It was that kind of mentality what had led her to create Esmeralda - and perhaps it was partly thanks to Esmeralda that she had met Sterling. It was impossible for her to deny her rational half, because it was because of that she was there, standing in front of them, ironically ready to take the biggest risk of her life. They were going to be consequences, obviously. As much power her family had, she couldn’t just waltz into the next fundraiser gala with someone like Sterling besides her. It wouldn’t be long before someone found out about them, and even if they somehow managed to keep the circumstances of their meeting a secret, the fact that they were an american with a last name of no real consequence was enough to cause her reputation to fall.
She couldn’t care less.
That was definitely a thought she wasn’t used to having. She had everything to lose, and she was willing. “You must know one thing. If we do this, if we even manage to pull this off, there’s a solid chance I will lose everything I own. This home, my fortune, my job - everything. I know I sound like a safe bet right now, but you need to realise it’s very likely that by the end of this, I will be the one with nothing to offer you.” How frustrating it was that she had to warn them about this. If she had been a man, it wouldn’t have been a problem. However, Delilah had gotten too used to the unfairness of the world. “But you should also know that I’m very skilled. I have my own money. It’s not a lot, at least not like this, but I can make do. So even if we end up penniless, I will always have your back.”
Perhaps it wasn’t the most romantic thing she could have said, but romance had never fed anyone. There was going to be time for grand gestures and poems. This was about knowing each other, every single bit that they had been hiding before - and this was who she was, practical, and willing to risk everything for love.
“Delilah and Stephen.”, she repeated, fondness clear in her smile. One of her hands moved to her hair, and she undid her hairdo, letting the dark waves fall down her back. Slowly, she stood on her toes and kissed their lips softly; as if this was her first time doing it. In a way it was, she supposed. The kiss was brief, but confident, full of promise. “I love you, Stephen.”
Sterling listened to her with a slight frown on their face, taking in her words with gravity. Their situation was serious, and now knowing more about her actual life made it all seem that much graver to them. But they were both determined, and the truth that they shared was too intense to pass by because of fear of losing something. They didn’t have nearly as much to lose as she did, though. They had lost their chance at an average life long ago, but she had so much to lose, and because of them. She had a fortune, and a business, and a whole life planned out that she would lose all for them. But was a life without the love you knew you could have one day worth it just for success? Wasn’t the risk of losing it all worth the potential for having something that was only talked about in fiction?
It seemed that they both agreed on the answers to those questions.
Their hand moved to her cheek, thumb worrying over her skin seriously. “If you’re willing to take that risk, then I am as well. I don’t want you for your money, or the life you have, the job or home, I want you because of you. I want to build a life with you, build a family with you. And if we have to do that ourselves, from scratch, without any outside support or fortune, just our skills, our own determination, then I will gladly do so,” Sterling said seriously, hoping she knew that they meant every word they said. “You’re not the only one who has their own money, after all. We will not end up penniless because of our love for each other. No matter what happens, we will find a way. Together.”
She was standing there, telling them that she was willing to risk her whole life for them, for the love that they had found together, the truth they had built in each other’s arms. They had never expected such an outcome, although they had dreamt of it time and time again despite themself. And this was it, the promise of a beginning. They were going to try, despite the risk, because it was worth it to have a chance at a love so great.
Hearing her say their names together sent a pleasant chill through their body, and their hand immediately went to her hair as she loosened it. As she pressed a kiss to their lips, soft and gentle, it felt as if the world stood still, and nothing mattered but her. It was like being kissed for the first time, and in a way it was. This was new, this was them both being completely open and honest, no secrets left between them.
“I love you, too, Delilah. More than I ever thought was possible,” they said softly, the grin wide. They were silent for a moment, just looking at her, eyes full of love, of hope, before finally going on. “You should show me around. I want to know every little detail of your life.”















