One Night, Six Days & A Date Later

g. She had requested for a bigger grocery bag but the blonde at the counter h

own her ID to the woman, just to see her expressio

more than to take a steamy shower and maybe if Aaron

fucking chore—but then, everything felt like

the code to Aaron’s apartment and stepped in. When the motion sen

rpri

nd fruits, vegetables and steak skittered across the marbled floors, roll

rin

ich she recognized as business partners, the press, a few friends—oh

ched the surface behind the crowd, where the

raising the ring box higher as though shoving

the happiest man in the world?

long for this, for her boyfriend of more than eight years to pop the question. She had dreamt of it being just like this. A surprise party

eed being the happiest woman in the

rom gagging. Marry him? Marry Aaron Maxwell? It shouldn’t be a hard decision to make. It shouldn’t make her sweat so much or feel so sick to say. . .yes—bec

el green eyes—very much like Ivette’s—were the same as always. Cold and calculating. Her fathe

enched her fists as she let her lips curve into a smile. She had done this for ye

t see through it, and had never bee

athed, placing her han

atulations rose in the air, nearly deafening Ivette. She was still in a daze when Aaron pu

ould hear the clicks from the cameras and so she let her hands go up into his hair as the crowd

t on her lower lip. Later, his eyes seemed to say as they dipped to her lips and her answering smirk wasn’t entirely forced. He turne

ling her into a warm hug. “

gaze at Ann who stood behind Riley, observing as always. “You both knew a

how huge the stone on the ring was and how stunning it looked on her finger. Ivette di

her best friend with that single look. Ann didn’t buy it though. She shrugge

erself. Cleaned up after her own mess before her parents could ever find out. She was strong. She was fearless. She didn’t need help. She was Ivet

ette began picking the apples and tomatoes from the floor, shoving them into the bag. At the family residence, there were

e’. She sure as hell would not be spending the night with the paparazzi everywher

ounter. Squaring her shoulders, she sauntered over to where her parents stood, discussing the upc

he middle-aged man, elegance, and grace pronounced in her every move. “I was just tel

livid. The companies were merging? They had not informed her of it and her mother was busy tossing it out for the pres

keep growing and she noted her business partne

, it all

sdamned

e pushed and promised he would propose when he felt like the time was right. She had waited for him and clung to that p

King Corp became competition. Of course, his p

ng him to her engagement party. The useless sham of an engagement party. She should have known. T

n in the world,

to her full chest. Into her forehead. They were always watching. The press. The people. She had had eyes on her the moment it was clear her mother couldn't have any more childr

the diplomatic show of stren

sk of calm drop. Her hands trembled and she tightened her fists

ak to me about this? Not even you, Ron?" Ire sparked in her ey

n. Semantics." He tossed the shot back in his throat and groaned slightly from the burn. Then he had the audacity to crack he

ell of alcohol tickled her nostrils. "I can get to call you mine." He cupped her cheeks and forced her

at she knew was true was wrong, even if she hadn't gotten around to spelling it out. That he'd only p

d every social gathering. There were speculations that he was a hideous old man whose face would make your insides turn

and cut the costs. CG Enterprise was always a step ahead, l

se. What greater way to secure trust between teams than make them family, permanently? Her father had always been the one to t

already given to them? To the company? To her parents? Aaron was the one real thing in her life and he'd gone