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Chapter 150: An Emotional Situation
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2022-10-26 14:06:26Related chapters
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 151: The Worst Phone Call Ever
"Are you nervous?" Vincent asks as I pace the living room with the phone held in front of me, the screen still black.I stop my circle to frown at him. "Yes, obviously."How much money does this man make? He can't figure out calling my parents and telling them I'm pregnant and getting married is the most terrifying thing I've done. Shit, I have to tell them I'm dating Vincent first. I'd rather sky dive with a semi-working parachute than make this call.My stomach is tight and I clutch the phone hard, the soft plastic case rolling in my hand.He leaves his space by the kitchen island to invade my bubble in the living room. "Do you want me to talk to them?" Vincent reaches for the phone, but I pull it back and out of his reach.Hell no. I haven't forgotten how he told his mother. We can't shout it out to mine in the same fashion. She needs a delicate approach. Time to smooth it over before I drop the bomb on her."No, I'm going to do it," I say, still holding the phone away f
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 152: Big News
"Mom!"There's a pointed silence for only a second, but it's filled with so many unsaid words from years past. "We just talked yesterday, Kens. I'm sorry, sweetie, but your copy assistant job in marketing is not that exciting."Ouch. "I'm not a copy assistant, Mom. I said I make copies sometimes.""Well regardless, I'm sure you didn't call me to wow me with your adventures to the printer, so tell me what's happened."Okay, this is it. I have to tell her now. She's primed for it.Deep breath."You're right. I called because I have big news." I'll start at the bottom of the list and work my way higher. "Vincent and I are dating."My mother gasps. "That's fantastic news. I'm so glad you two finally figured it out. We've been waiting."My mouth falls open. "What?""Oh, Mackenzie, don't be daft. We all saw it. That man is smitten with you."I press the phone to my ear harder so Vincent doesn't hear her. I'll never live it down. From the way the smug smirk on his face gro
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 153: Unplanned Future
On Thursday evening I pull up a pair of Vincent's boxers—my new favorite items to sleep in—and watch him as I crawl into bed, slipping underneath the covers."I'm proud of you," I say tucking the covers around me as Vincent eyes me curiously while he stands next to his dresser.With his sexy steps that draw me into his web, he prowls across the room and stops beside the bed. "Oh really? I'm glad we're both aware of how wonderful I am, but why this particular time?"I laugh. It's such a Vincent reply."You've known about the baby for three full days now and you haven't sent a company email telling everyone." I'm only half joking with him. It has been a valid concern of mine the last few days. Every time I opened my email, I clenched my teeth as I read over the subject lines.Vincent laughs, crawling into bed beside me and getting into my space. He definitely isn't one of those guys who stays on his side of the mattress. We'd told both of our parents about the baby and he was s
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 154: No More Dreams of Florida
A steady beat of rain hits the large glass windows and my gaze strays away from my cubicle. The dark sky heralds the coming cold snowy days of Michigan's winter. It's only the end of September. We won't have any proper snow until December or later, but the flurries can appear at any point from here on out. By Halloween we'll be knee deep in dead leaves, freezing temperatures, and a rainy winter mix.Once the beautiful part of fall ends and the dredges of winter begin, I always curse my misfortune of living in Michigan. Every year at this time, my dream of moving to Florida is revisited. Today as I watch the rain lazily slide down the windows after hitting with such force the thought of my beach escape doesn't come.I would leave too much—Vincent, this job, and the future that's available to us. Florida no longer holds the appeal she has for the most of my life the last ten years. A Michigan winter didn't seem so depressive when I'll have Vincent by my side as we power to through it
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 155: Here's to the Future
"Okay." I catch a glimpse outside to see the rain growing steadier. I would never expect Ashley to do anything to hurt me, but I made a promise to Vincent I wouldn't leave the building unless I had him by my side or Davis. At least until he's able to hire me a bodyguard. If I expect him to keep his promises, I suppose I need to keep mine. But I don't know how I could explain that to Ashley, or if I even want to expend the energy.The time in my life when I share everything with this woman has ended. Now we've come out on the other side, but our friendship will never be the same if we ever have one again. I'm not ready for that now, but the thought of never speaking to her again also hurts."Kens," Ashley says, letting her body fall to the closest chair. "I don't even know how to say I'm sorry. I did a horrible thing to you, and the worst part was that I pretended to be your friend. We were friends. I was just a crappy one. I know you will never forgive me because I would never forg
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 156: Sleep Statistics
I drum my nails on the desk again. The steady click clack keeps me from going insane, or maybe it ushers me along. Either way analyzing marketing reports has to be one of the most boring jobs on the planet. Why hasn't someone invented a computer to do this for humans yet?The numbers run together as my tedious calculations come from muscle memory. I'll be calculating these statistics in my dreams soon. The only thing that keeps me going through the boring days is daydreaming about what the man upstairs is doing. Hopefully not yelling at Amy, his assistant. Although I wouldn't put it past him. She can tolerate Vincent's work demands a hundred times better than I ever did as his assistant.Not being able to see him whenever I want during the day is a drag, though. I'd gotten used to working with him, and now that I find him slightly less annoying, I actually liked a few of the perks of being his assistant. Like getting to stare at him all day. Amy is married and has a new baby with h
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 157: Avoid Eye Contact
She laughs and I follow the action. It's nice to talk to another employee even if we're bonding over jerky Levi. I haven't had much time to get to know the other workers on this floor since we're only together once a week in meetings. I'm still a lowly grunt worker and that's where I'll stay until I can prove myself. But that doesn't mean I can't make friends along the way.I feel better learning Levi is bitchy to everyone, and it isn't something he singled me out for alone. There is nothing special about me and that makes me the happiest I've been this morning."Last one," Melissa says, picking up her giant stack of papers once the final piece lands on top. "I'm off to empty a few highlighters on this beast.""Good luck," I say as I grab another ream of paper from the shelf beside the printer and load it in the bottom so it doesn't run out.Melissa stops at the edge of the printer area and turns back to me. "You never come to lunch with us. You should.""Um…" I look to the f
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 158: Truce?
An entire week later, I wait until ten minutes after five before closing my laptop for the end of the work week. Most of the floor is empty since Friday is the one evening you can guarantee everyone wants to get home on time. Levi's is the only other cubical with movement in it and I consider stopping to talk to him as he works, but dealing with our issues would have to wait.He'd obviously been even more angered by Vincent's email, but there is no longer time in my life to worry what other people think of me. Between Vincent's exes, my screwed-up relationships, and the life I'm growing, I don't have any extra time or patience to find worry for Levi. He'll come around or he won't, but right now the ball is in his court.The emotional week has worn me out and I swipe my keycard against Vincent's special access panel in the elevator and then let my arm drop heavily. The doors open two floors higher and a magnificent man in a suit with his jacket unbuttoned and his tie loosened steps
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
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The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 171: Epilogue
My enormous stomach stretches against the seatbelt in Vincent's expensive car. I'm no longer just showing a small bit as my due date creeps ever closer. The trees have budded along the highway as his car continues to travel north."Vincent, where are we going?"He smiles. "Our weekend place," he gives me what I suspect is the first semi-honest answer he has the entire trip.When we left this morning, I asked if I needed to pack a bag, but he said it was only a day trip. If I am being completely honest, my first thought was he bought the home in Okemos and planned to drive the fifteen miles to get away for the weekend. But we've been driving for over an hour at this point, passing my family home along the highway to continue north."I can't give you any more than that, Mackenzie. It's a surprise." He says turning off the highway.I hold back a sigh. They never do any good, anyway. "And you know how much I hate surprises.""Yes." His hand falls to my knee and squeezes, rubbin
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 170: Doctor's Orders
"I promise you, Mr. Valiant, your wife and baby are perfectly fine. I don't even see signs of a concussion. She's one lucky woman." The doctor's smooth voice does nothing to lessen Vincent's irritation."Can't you check them both again?" he grinds out annoyed he has to ask.The steady beeping of the baby's heart monitor, a large device they've wrapped around my tiny stomach, beeps consistently. "Vincent, I am fine."He looks back at me in the hospital bed and squeezes my hand. "I know, baby. I just want them to check you again."The doctor sighs, smiling at me as if apologizing I have to put up with the man for the rest of my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way."They've looked me over three times. I'm perfectly fine," I run my fingers over his arm, but it doesn't lessen his scowl."Your wife is right, Mr. Valiant. We've run every test. She and the baby are healthy. I'm going to write up her release papers as soon as I leave the room. Go home and get rest. That's the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 169: November Winds
"I'm sorry we can't go on a honeymoon right away,""Vincent, I promise I understand. Really." He's an important CEO of a billion-dollar company. I don't expect him to take off whenever he wants. He can throw together a quick weekend wedding, but we can't drop everything and go on a three-week honeymoon like he's promised without notice. We have plans to make.I wrap the sheets around me tighter, the northern winds of November howling outside the window. We've been newlyweds for exactly twenty-four hours, and after I sneezed four times yesterday, Vincent decided I need to take Monday morning off to lie in bed and stay warm. He's obnoxiously worried about me catching a cold while pregnant. Any other time I would find it annoying, but the baby is involved so I'm listening to his heavy-handedness. This time."I'm sure I'll forgive you for not whisking me away on a honeymoon immediately during the three weeks we're on the boat in the Bahamas over Christmas." He thought of the best way
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 168: Two Weeks Later
Another two weeks laterA gust of wind batters the outside of the car, but the frigid temperatures we're walking into aren't enough to sway Vincent. He allows Davis to open the black limos door and then reaches for my hand when he exits."Is your mom going to kill us?" I ask as I step out into the freezing temperatures of northern Michigan in the late fall and wrap the white fake fur shawl around my shoulders."Probably," Vincent says with a devilish smirk, meaning he doesn't care what his mother will say. I wish I had his self-confidence.At least we'll go down together. "Good because my mother is going to murder me in my sleep."The newest personal protection guard—I'd never get used to that name—steps up to my side. Nicki is tall and her body thin, but she's never once looked at Vincent inappropriately over the last two weeks she'd been protecting me.When Vincent introduced her and brought her into the team, I hadn't argued. Safety isn't something I can take for granted
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 167: Too Early to Tell
Two Fridays laterMy eyes have just begun to close as I settle into the post-work catnap. The doctor said it wasn't a big deal I hadn't experienced any morning sickness or other complications during the pregnancy and I should consider myself lucky. But from the way I dozed off at my desk every couple hours the last few days at work, the exhaustion part of being pregnant is hitting me hard and making up for lost time of the first trimester.I still can't believe I'm pregnant. I've seen the evidence, we have the pictures to prove it, but besides being tired I don't feel different. Even though it is too early, I definitely haven't felt anyone moving around in there. Because I lack so much evidence, it is hard to picture me with a baby. It's even harder to picture my big rigid Vincent as a father. Not that I have any doubt he'll be a great one, I've just never seen him with kids. I rarely even babysat myself. Only once or twice in high school. I spent a couple of nights watching the Wa
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 166: You Can't Hid Glam Wear
Without thinking about, it I place my hand on my desk and the metal in the ring that sits so heavily on my finger hits against it with a clink. It draws my attention back to the fresh addition to my finger and I smile as I stare at the beautiful piece of jewelry.I tried not to wear out of the house this morning. It was Monday and even though Vincent's employees handled his email well, I couldn't imagine it would get the same response as the newspaper article outing his previous wife. I prepared for a full-on tizzy. To my relief the article didn't publish as expected. Vincent answers my text with only a smiley face—so unlike him. I figure it cost him a pretty penny, but he worked his magic.Me walking through one of the company floors wearing a big ass ring on my finger would only add to the clusterfuck I was sure our day would turn into at any moment. Therefore, in the name of less drama I tried to leave the item on my nightstand, but Vincent must have swiped it. He followed me on
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 165: Book Deals and Broken Promises
Vincent moves my feet off the couch and sits in the space. I don't like him being so far away, so I reposition myself until I'm leaning next to his body and getting into his personal bubble.He leans back on the couch wrapping one of his muscular arms over my shoulders. "Today's been shit. Huh?"He'd spent most of Sunday on the phone with his legal team and public relations employees. Everyone in Valiant Industries had quite the weekend. Even though he said he didn't plan to take action against Tiffany, he wants to stop the book from being published. Vincent doesn't elaborate on how he plans to make that happen, but I have faith in him.His legal and PR teams worked for hours and now had a course of action moving forward. Tiffany might strike the first blow with the article about her book, but Vincent wouldn't take it lying down. Tomorrow morning his office would release a statement countering the article and hopefully combatting any speculation. There will still be rumors and ta
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 164: Agreements
By the next morning we still haven't come to an agreement on the house. I want to continue living in the penthouse and Vincent wants to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a weekend place fifteen miles out of the city—a home we won't officially move into until the baby is school age.Something warns me if I don't put up a big fight, Vincent will buy the house and just not tell me about it right away, so I make him promise in the car on the way home he won't do anything without getting my permission first. It's his money, and I feel bad bossing him about his own bank account, but a house is a big damn deal. You can't just buy a house. I'm only half sure making him promise will work, but it's time for me to stretch the trust part of our relationship."You're hiring the chef who made the sandwich and the chocolate cake. Right? I ask biting off another piece of my breakfast bagel."We are hiring and yes."All the meals we tested were delicious, and my core heats remembering the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 163: A Ruined Evening Fixed
The early Saturday morning sun wakes me the rest of the way after Vincent's alarm starts the job by rattling on his bedside nightstand. Who sets an alarm for Saturday?Vincent rolls over and wraps his arm underneath mine cradling a breast in his hand. I snuggle my back to his chest and reposition my head on the pillow, hoping I can fall back to sleep and he can do whatever he incorrectly believes is important enough to wake up early on a weekend."I'm sorry last night was ruined." He kisses the back of my neck sucking lightly."You mean when your wife broke in here and tried to steal what I strongly suspect was an engagement ring?" We'd talked about many things the night before but never got around to that topic.I'd planned to ask him, but after finding out Tiffany's demands for his sperm and then the sex, the thought completely fled my mind. We lay in bed together for another hour as Vincent held me tightly, but eventually he slipped from under the covers.Hours later I fou
