Chapter 2

The next morning, I walked straight into headquarters and submitted my paperwork.

The HR manager looked down at the form, then up at me, then broke into a grin.

"Oh my God, Aurelia, congratulations! Ten days of wedding leave, approved."

"I knew it. Dominic was just being stubborn in that meeting yesterday. One night with you and he folds like laundry. He'll be on his knees proposing before the week's out."

A couple of coworkers passing by caught the tail end of it, and within thirty minutes the rumor had torn through every floor of the building.

I went into the break room to grab coffee and ran into three senior VPs who'd known us since we first started dating.

"Aurelia, honey, finally! Seven years and you're making an honest man out of him. Better save us seats at the reception."

I just smiled politely. Didn't confirm it. Didn't deny it.

"I still need to wrap a few things up. Let's catch up later."

I headed to the executive floor to drop off my final report.

I hadn't even reached the Chairman's office when I saw something through the crack in Dominic's door that made my lungs lock up.

Tessa was standing right up against his desk in a tight pencil skirt.

Dominic was leaning forward, his hand sliding around to the small of her back.

Her zipper must have been stuck, because he was working it slowly, patiently, his fingers lingering where they didn't need to.

"This skirt is inappropriate. Don't wear it to the office again."

The words were a reprimand. His voice wasn't. I had never heard him sound like that before.

Tessa giggled and shifted closer into him.

"But I wore it for you."

Dominic sighed and flicked her nose.

"I thought I was getting a future executive. Looks like I got a handful instead."

I curled the corner of my mouth into something ugly, then raised my hand and knocked.

They sprang apart. The moment Dominic saw it was me, the warmth drained from his face.

"Aurelia? What are you still doing here? Weren't you supposed to be on a flight to London today?"

He spotted the folder in my hand and let out a long breath.

"You still had reports to drop off? That's grunt work. Tessa could have run down to grab them."

He reached for the folder, but Tessa cut in and snatched it from him first.

"I've got it, Aurelia. Dominic was just telling me how fast I pick things up."

Dominic nodded, approving.

"She's right. Aurelia, she's got real potential."

For a second they looked like the perfect mentor and mentee.

Then the Chairman pushed the door open without knocking.

The old man walked in laughing.

"Dominic, you dog! Her wedding leave form just hit my desk."

"So where are we doing this thing, New York or London? We've got to throw you two the wedding of the century. Our golden couple."

Dominic's hand went rigid on the desk.

He looked up at me, first shocked, then something darker sliding into his eyes.

"Sir, we haven't finalized anything yet. Please don't listen to office gossip."

The Chairman rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, read the room, and excused himself.

The second the door clicked shut, Dominic was on his feet.

"Aurelia. You've got some nerve. You filed wedding leave without saying a word to me?"

"What is this? An ambush? Is this how we're doing things now?"

"You've always said you were a modern woman. Since when do you pressure me into marriage?"

He wasn't holding back in front of her.

Tessa gasped on cue, pressing a hand to her chest.

"Aurelia, I had no idea you submitted wedding leave…"

"But Dominic, you and I were going to tour the new venue sites this afternoon. He won't be able to help you plan anything…"

Dominic shot me a look of pure disgust and swept the coffee mug off his desk.

It was the mug I'd hand-painted for him one rainy weekend in London.

"Tessa, I'm sorry you had to see that. Our afternoon schedule stands. Why don't you step out for a minute?"

Tessa arched an eyebrow and gave me a slow, deliberate smile on her way past.

"No problem. I'll meet you at our usual spot, Dominic."

The door closed behind her.

Dominic loosened his tie and softened his voice.

"Aurelia. Get whatever little games you're playing out of your head."

"I'm in a critical phase of my career. I'm not blowing it up over something this petty."

"Take the leave. Go on a vacation, on me. Spend whatever you want. Relax somewhere nice."

"But if you're dead set on getting married, you'd better start looking for another groom."

I didn't cave the way I usually did. I lifted my chin and looked him dead in the eye.

"Fine. You said it yourself."