Rick Malhotra, an economic analysis manager at Exchange Solutions, decries the glib stereotypes often applied to number crunchers. But when he proposed to Louise Procktor on Sept. 24, 2004, he couldn't resist mixing a little math and a bit of logic into his romantic plans. Friday made an ideal day for proposing, he figured, because he and Ms. Procktor could plan an engagement period of exactly a year and get married on Sept. 24, 2005 -- a Saturday.

Both were employees of Kraft Foods Inc. during August, 2000, he in finance and she in marketing. After four consecutive days of business and social gatherings, they developed a distinctly non-corporate mutual interest. "I kind of thought he liked me because he had been coming around my desk quite a lot," Ms. Procktor, now 31, recalls with a laugh. That Christmas, she invited him to her party; he reciprocated by asking her out. Despite their efforts, the spiralling office romance soon became public, as fellow employees spotted them entwined at the Art Gallery of Ontario and office spring fling.

In the spring of 2002, Ms. Procktor entered the Schulich School of Business MBA program. "It was intense," she says, "and I could call Rick at any hour and he'd talk me through anything.

On their Sept. 24, 2004, outing, he insisted that she close her eyes until at Coronation Park, at Lake Shore and Bathurst. He guided her to a blanket strewn with roses facing the site of their future condo home. He then presented her with a handmade book of poems, the first three transcribed with his comments, and a fourth he had composed titled Four, symbolizing the years they had dated and that pivotal quartet of those August days when they had first met. His poem ended, "I would be forever honoured and blessed if you would accept this," and on turning the page Ms. Procktor found a ring nestled inside.

After he slid the ring on her finger, Mr. Malhotra deliberated a fitful 20 minutes before urging her to use his cellphone to confirm the tentative arrangements he had already made with her insurance company adding the diamond to her policy. Having noted his angst the previous evening, an intuitive Ms. Procktor had manicured her nails and stowed a camera in her bag, which they handed to a passing policeman on horseback to capture the moment.

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