Chapter 1: The Proposal

Ivette’s hands wobbled, trying to keep the groceries from spilling out the bag. She had requested for a bigger grocery bag but the blonde at the counter had scowled and dismissed her, attending to the hunk who had stood beside her.

Had she been feeling up to it, Ivette would’ve shown her ID to the woman, just to see her expression when she realized just who she was scowling at.

But it had been a tough day and she wanted nothing more than to take a steamy shower and maybe if Aaron would be kind enough to let her sleep tonight. . .

She shook her head. It shouldn’t feel like a fucking chore—but then, everything felt like that these days. Work, Aaron, people—chores.

Balancing the bag and her work case in one hand, she punched in the code to Aaron’s apartment and stepped in. When the motion sensor lights didn’t come on, she felt for the switch and flipped it.

“Surprise!”

Ivette’s heart lurched and so did she. The bags dropped from her grasp and fruits, vegetables and steak skittered across the marbled floors, rolling over to where Aaron crouched on one knee, holding out a small box and—

A ring?

Her gaze rose from the ring box to the crowd behind him, most of which she recognized as business partners, the press, a few friends—oh there was Riley and Ann—and her mom and dad and Aaron’s parents and—

Ivette couldn’t breathe. Not as her gaze touched the surface behind the crowd, where the question, “Will you marry me?” was projected.

Her gaze locked with Aaron’s and he smiled, raising the ring box higher as though shoving it in her face would make her answer faster.

“Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?” He asked and smiled brightly.

Ivette’s world spun and a black hole suddenly appeared in her peripheral, threatening to take her whole—not literally. She had waited so 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, a gathering—though, she could do without the crowd that was currently overwhelming Aaron’s vast sitting room-- a simple ring and a toast.

Most of all, she had dreamt of indeed being the happiest woman in the world and Aaron, the happiest man.

Now, she felt suffocated. Her breaths came too quickly and her pulse began pounding. The words settled in her stomach like lead and she swallowed to keep from 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—because—because there was no other option. She couldn’t say no. She loved him. Had loved him since they were kids. She loved him and that was all that mattered.

She looked to her mother, seeking comfort and maybe something else. However, her mother’s hazel green eyes—very much like Ivette’s—were the same as always. Cold and calculating. Her father’s was not any better. He only inclined his head in a silent message, “Do not fuck this up.”

She swallowed and took nervous steps up to him. Her hands grew clammy and she clenched her fists as she let her lips curve into a smile. She had done this for years in front of God knows how many cameras. It was easy to slip the happy mask on.

What did hurt was that Aaron didn’t see through it, and had never been able to see through her many masks.

“Yes, Aaron,” She breathed, placing her hand atop his waiting hand.

His smile broadened and as he slipped the ring onto her finger, hoots and shouts of congratulations rose in the air, nearly deafening Ivette. She was still in a daze when Aaron pulled her into his arms and slammed his lips on hers, claiming her mouth in a devouring kiss.

His tongue dove into her mouth forcefully and Ivette’s eyes stung as she kissed him back. She could hear the clicks from the cameras and so she let her hands go up into his hair as the crowd applauded their union. She let go of her worries and agitation, long enough to melt with his heat.

Aaron pulled back and they stared at each other, panting. His brilliant blue eyes gleamed with desire and despite herself, Ivette bit 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 turned, attending to their guests and Ivette made all but two steps towards the groceries still lying on the floor when her friend screamed.

“Ivy!” Riley squealed, pulling her into a warm hug. “You’re engaged! Congrats!”

Ivette squeezed her friend tightly before releasing her and narrowing her gaze at Ann who stood behind Riley, observing as always. “You both knew about this and didn’t think to tell me about it!” She yelled in mock outrage.

“What would be the fun in that?” Riley giggled, grabbing Ivy’s hand and cooing about how huge the stone on the ring was and how stunning it looked on her finger. Ivette didn’t bother telling her it was heavier than the weight of the company on her shoulders.

Ann arched a brow in question but Ivette smiled, conveying her thoughts to her best friend with that single look. Ann didn’t buy it though. She shrugged and made for Aaron’s bar. “If you need to talk, you know where to find me.”

It had been the phrase Ann told her every now and then, but Ivette had never tried to take the helping hand. She had always handled her shit by herself. 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 Ivette King, daughter, and only child of the third largest business tycoon in America. She was heir to King Corp. and she could handle getting married.

As soon as Riley found the men in the party more interesting than the 20-carat emerald cut stunner set on her finger, Ivette began picking the apples and tomatoes from the floor, shoving them into the bag. At the family residence, there were servants for these sorts of things but she had insisted Aaron get an apartment. A private one, far away from prying eyes.

Too bad he had gone and invited the whole world into what used to be ‘their space’. She sure as hell would not be spending the night with the paparazzi everywhere, taking photos of her in his bedroom and in the lingerie she wore just for Aaron.

“Ivette darling, come here,” Her mother called out, just as she dropped the bag on the kitchen counter. Squaring her shoulders, she sauntered over to where her parents stood, discussing the upcoming event with a man she vaguely recalled from one of the many opening events she had attended.

“This is Michael de la Rosa,” Her mother introduced, tipping her wine glass toward the middle-aged man, elegance, and grace pronounced in her every move. “I was just telling Michael that the merge between King Corp and Maxwell Industries will bring new—“

Ivette’s mouth went dry and she stopped hearing the rest. She schooled her expression into neutrality, even if she was livid. The companies were merging? They had not informed her of it and her mother was busy tossing it out for the press to eavesdrop on it. It would no doubt make the 10 pm news, along with her engagement to the heir of Maxwell Industries.

Her gaze shot to Aaron whose smile seemed to keep growing and she noted her business partners flocking about him like bees would to honey.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

The godsdamned proposal.

She had waited for years, asking him when he would. They would always fight about it. He would say he didn’t like to be pushed and promised he would propose when he felt like the time was right. She had waited for him and clung to that promise like her life depended on it. Until she gave up on it. Until she became comfortable with just being his plus one.

Apparently, the time became right the moment King Corp became competition. Of course, his parents had talked him into actually proposing.

Ivette fumed silently, even as she smiled and took the hand of Mr. Michael and shook it, welcoming him to her engagement party. The useless sham of an engagement party. She should have known. The only thing that would make Aaron Maxwell happy, other than a happy flaccid cock was more money.

The happiest man in the world, he'd said. Fucker.

She sucked in a deep breath, reeling her anger back in. It wouldn't help anyone if she confronted him in front of so many. She could feel their stares boring into her back. Into 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 children, leaving her as the sole heir to her father's business. She couldn't mess up. She couldn't make a mistake. It would ruin the reputation she had painstakingly built for years.

So Ivette smiled and kept up the diplomatic show of strength and power alongside Aaron.

Only when the last of the guests departed did Ivette let the mask of calm drop. Her hands trembled and she tightened her fists until her perfectly manicured nails bit into the skin of her palm.

"What is this about the companies merging? Why did no one speak to me about this? Not even you, Ron?" Ire sparked in her eyes as she glared down at Aaron who was nursing a tequila shot.

He peered up at her, bleary-eyed. "I don't see how it should be an issue. You represent your father, and he made the decision. Semantics." He tossed the shot back in his throat and groaned slightly from the burn. Then he had the audacity to crack her one of those panties-melting smiles he had given her the first day they met that had caused her brain to stop functioning.

"We're engaged, Ivy," he said, rising to his feet and peering down at her. His warm breath and the smell of alcohol tickled her nostrils. "I can get to call you mine." He cupped her cheeks and forced her to look into his deep-set eyes. "My fiancee. My wife." He said and his lips grazed hers in a soft kiss.

Ivette knew he was trying to get her mind off things. She knew he was trying to convince her that what she knew was true was wrong, even if she hadn't gotten around to spelling it out. That he'd only proposed because the union would place them at the top, with only Cian MacGregor as their competition.

No one had seen the man. He never appeared in person for events or before the press. His PA, Rosalind Franklin, handled every social gathering. There were speculations that he was a hideous old man whose face would make your insides turn to acid, and to back up these claims, there were photos of a hunched old man walking with Rosalind into CG Enterprise.

It didn't matter how hard Ivette tried to raise the profits and cut the costs. CG Enterprise was always a step ahead, leaving Maxwell Industries and King Corp behind, eating dust.

Merging the companies, however, would multiply the efforts...if not triple them. Ivette knew it was a great idea, business-wise. What greater way to secure trust between teams than make them family, permanently? Her father had always been the one to think ahead. Plot ahead. She took after him, after all. What she didn't like, however, was that she'd had no say in the matter.

They had gone as far as turning the most important moment in her life into a business deal. What had she not already given to them? To the company? To her parents? Aaron was the one real thing in her life and he'd gone behind her back and done this, just for the merger. It was too much. Too much to handle. She needed a breather.