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Why is this like a slap in the face?
I clench my fists and walk over to the vanity mirror, pulling the clips out of my hair until my bob cascades around my face again. I run my hand through it, trying to get it to look anything like normal again, at the same time looking around to try and find my normal clothes. This is humiliating enough without having to get a taxi while being half naked.
“Guess I’ll go, then,” I say, marching bitterly towards the wardrobe. Wrenching open the doors, I’m relieved to see my dress hanging there.
Aiden rushes up to me again, grabbing my wrist as I go to take the hanger. “Please, Candice, wait. I know this is never what you wanted.” He slides his hand down into mine, freeing the engagement ring from my finger.
I bark a bitter laugh as he takes it back. “Looks likeyoudidn’t either. Has this all been a game to you?”
“No!” he says, his eyes suddenly glistening as he runs a hand through his disheveled hair. “Not at all. How can you think that?”
“You have thirty seconds to explain what’s going on before I walk out of here,” I say, wrestling my dress on and dragging the zipper up. At least I have a little of my dignity restored now.
He drops to his knees like he’s begging, but then I realize exactly what he’s doing as he shuffles his weight from knee to knee and holds out the ring, and my hands fly to my mouth. “This isn’t what you wanted, and honestly, me neither. When I imagined marrying you, it was on a warm beach, barefoot at sunset, flowers in your hair and free cocktails all night long.
“I’m so sorry I let everyone talk us into this pantomime. And now we don’t have to do it like this. Let’s do it properly, the way we want to. I love you, and I want you to marry me, Candice — not now, not even soon. All I need is for you to promise you will. Let’s focus on the merger and then have the wedding we want to have.”
There’s no point in trying to hold back the tears, so I let them flow freely down my face, exorcising the last of the negativity I’ve been fostering towards him for so long. I’m tired of the rage. I’m tired of pretending his arms don’t bring me more comfort than I can explain. I’m tired of pretending that seeing his face doesn’t make me happy.
“Okay,” I whisper, sinking down to the floor in front of him. “Yes. I promise. A merger and a marriage. Our way.”
He lets out a watery laugh, and I lean in to kiss him, tasting the salt of his sweat on his lips, relaxing into him as he slips the ring onto my finger then holds me, pulling me in closer. “I love you, Aiden,” I murmur into his ear. “I’m sorry I pretended otherwise.”
Holding me tight, he kisses me again. “I’m truly sorry for not listening. Let’s get out of here.”
“What, and leave everyone waiting?”
He shrugs. “It’ll give them a story, and a better one thanwoman wears enormous expensive dress.”
“So you do agree! It’s horrible!” I can’t help but grin, and Aiden grins back, and then we’re both laughing for no reason, tears still clinging to my face, holding on to each other like it’s a promise to never let go.
“Come on,” he says, getting up and helping me to my feet. “Back to my place?”
I nod. In one swift movement, he lifts me up into his arms like the bride I’m not, and kisses me again. “Let’s go and merge,” he says with a suggestive eyebrow raise.
I giggle and hit his chest gently, but don’t resist. At last, I’m where I’m supposed to be.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER: CANDICE
Tiny waves lap against the shore of the oasis. There isn’t much of a beach here, but that’s what the honeymoon is for — lying in the sun and staring out into gorgeous, clear-blue waves.
Right now, we’re enjoying a moment of calm before the wedding tomorrow. Not that it’s a big thing, but my mother and Aiden’s seem to have become best friends overnight because they’ve spent all day bickering in that way that would seem combative to anyone else but is friendly really. We’ve left them arguing over flower arranging.
I don’t care about the flowers. I don’t care about perfection — because it will be perfect no matter what happens. I have Aiden with me, and our companies are stronger than ever.Ourcompany. I’ve been allowed to have so much say in Fletcher Tech that I’ve started to see it as mine too.
Life is already perfect.
“I wish we never had to leave,” sighs Aiden, twining his fingers between mine.
“What, even to go to a private island so we can have full run of the sun and the sand?”
He makes a face like he’s weighing up a considerable problem. “That does sound good. But it doesn’t have the memories of this place.”
“Yes,” I say, holding in a laugh. “The memories of June forcing us to predict our own futures.”
“Hey, now,” he scolds teasingly. “She’s invited, you know.”
