HOW WE MET Before Samantha arrived at the New York Palace Hotel for her first date with Matt, he had already promised to bring her over to the West Side. He knew he could persuade her to change her running route from the East Side path and start running with him along the Hudson River. It didn't take long. Amidst their busy Manhattan work schedules, their first date at the Palace was just a fleeting 45 minutes - Matt rushed to a work event and Samantha prepped for the final round interview of her soon-to-be new job. Those 45 minutes, though, proved there was something incredibly special between them. The next week, a five-hour dinner ensued and they soon became inseparable. THE PROPOSAL The day before Thanksgiving, Matt convinced Samantha to have drinks with a favorite client and his wife. This was their first time leaving the cozy confines of their apartment in months, as the pandemic was still in full swing. Samantha did her best to put herself together (without changing out of her leggings, of course!) and Matt wore his first button down of 2020. They sauntered east, weaving through the quiet streets of Manhattan. Matt nervously commented on the newest street signs and unearthed at least a dozen restaurants to which he had never been. Samantha hardly noticed his unique commentary until they took a clear detour. Always the first to look up instructions and calculate their exact ETA, Samantha soon realized that Matt was not following the chartered course. Before she had time to piece things together, Matt led her into the gates of the New York Palace Hotel. "Do you know why we are here?" Matt asked her. Samantha's eyes widened with surprise and excitement. They took in the sight of their first meeting - and the most gorgeous Christmas tree they had ever seen. Matt's eyes welled with tears as he got down on one knee, asking Samantha to marry him - the easiest and most wonderful question she has ever had to answer.