Miriam’s POV
I got down from my bed and strode towards the door in quick steps, my body pushing me before my brain could command it to do so.
I jerked the door open, and there he was, standing by my doorway, looking just as handsome as he had five hours ago.
I didn’t know what this feeling was all about, but my stupid weak heart wouldn’t stop fluttering frantically.
I knew this feeling.
This was how it started with Williams.
This was how I fell in love with him.
And now it had started again for Victor.
I hated this so much.
I hated the way I was trying to make it stop, but it wouldn’t budge no matter what I did.
He held my eyes with that intense gaze of his.
“Are you sure you are okay now?” he asked, his voice so smooth and musical that it made my breath catch.
I nodded, unable to form words.
He then raised the packaged bag up to me.
The floral scent coming from the bag snapped me back into my senses immediately.
“These are yours,” he said simply.
I collected the bag and looked through it carefully.
I couldn’t see everything inside, but these were complete new designer dresses- the kind that made headlines at fashion shows.
The price tags on each of them caught my eye.
One dress alone was a thousand dollars.
I wasn’t surprised though.
I was actually expecting the price to be this expensive.
“Aww, thank you. They are so nice,” I said simply, genuinely showing my appreciation.
He nodded and lingered without moving.
I was expecting one of us to turn and leave, but the moment felt so awkward, so charged with something I couldn’t name.
Then it snapped.
“I got a call from collaborators,” I said, trying to break the tension.
His brows furrowed.
“Why would they call a CEO directly? Your secretary or assistant should be the one receiving those calls to inform you.”
“I have none yet,” I reminded him.
“Oh, my bad,” he chuckled, rubbing his forehead.
“I expect Karen to have sent all the pile-up of everything required- deals and all that. She would be your assistant for now until you assign a secretary you want.”
“Alright then. I asked them to forward the email. It’s a new holdings in Europe,” I said.
“Yeah, I think I heard about that. With a new CEO announced, everyone would definitely want to get some wealth from us,” he said with a knowing smile.
I shook my head.
“It must have been so tiring. All of this. Building everything from scratch.”
He chuckled.
“Tiring? Well, it was when I started my own company first. My mum wanted me to try the business world all by myself, but soon I had people, companies. When you have people and connections, things get easy.”
I rested on the doorframe unconsciously, moving closer to him.
The bag of dresses close to my chest.
“People like you don’t need connections. You have it already, Victor,” I said softly.
“That’s what they say. But my mum didn’t want that growing into my head. She said my dad worked for what he left us, and I should work for mine also. A little capital from her got me here,” he said, resting his hands on the wall as well, completely absorbed in our conversation.
“Everyone has one or two things to say,” I replied.
“Exactly. No one would believe me if I told them this,” he said smiling.
“I believe you,” I started, then paused as his eyes made that twinkle that made my heart skip.
What was I saying?
“I mean, someone out there would actually believe you.”
He nodded his head slowly.
I folded my hands, nervous and uncertain.
This was actually going better than I ever expected.
Then he suddenly held my face, lifting it up to his.
Heat rushed to my cheeks in waves.
I folded my hands tightly, my nails digging into my palms.
He held my eyes in place, studying me carefully, analyzing every emotion that crossed my face.
My heart was beating uncontrollably.
I could not help but focus on how he smelled so good, on how close he was, and the only weird word that was coming to my head was- KISS. New chapters come out on g.com first.
What??
Am I actually going crazy right now?
I knew it.
“What… what are you doing?” I stuttered, managing to push out five words out of my mouth.
“I want you to know that you should not carry any burden alone,” he continued, his thumb brushing my cheek gently.
“This new world you just entered can be so stressful. You shouldn’t have to navigate it by yourself.”
I should have been listening to what he was saying, but I was focusing on the way his lips moved as he talked.
What was happening to me?
Why was he looking at me this way?
“I think I should probably move in here,” he said suddenly.
That statement snapped me back to reality immediately.
“What?” My cheeks burned so hot I could feel the heat radiating from my skin.
Where was this sudden heat coming from?
I needed answers.
I needed to breathe.
He laughed.
Genuinely laughed at my reaction.
“I mean I should move to this floor,” he said, gesturing around.
“I think I love this floor already. The balcony would be nice for an evening view. What do you think?”
What did I think?
You damn good-looking god, why do you have to look at me like that?
I screamed internally, wishing to tell him to stop looking at me with those blue eyes of his.
“Are you okay, Miriam?” he asked, raising his hand again to touch my hair.
I quickly stepped away, my heart pounding.
“You can just do whatever you want. I need to get some rest.”
I said it and barged into my room, locking the door immediately behind me.
I rested against the door and closed my eyes.
I could hear my own heartbeat echoing in my ears, loud and uncontrolled.
“Well, my mother’s gala has been shifted to tomorrow,” he called through the door.
“We would be attending and then meet her. I guess that’s okay with you. You can get some rest for tomorrow.”
Few seconds later, I heard his footsteps retreating away.
The sound of the elevator opening and closing followed.
I sat down on the marble floor and ruffled through my hair, trying to ground myself.
“Get a grip, Miriam. You need to focus,” I whispered to myself.
But I guessed I couldn’t anymore.
What I was beginning to feel for him was going to destroy my perfect plan.
This was not part of what I had decided at the beginning.
********************
The Next Day: The Charity Gala
The day I was meeting a new member of the Ashford family.
The day that would change everything.
Thankfully, I had gotten some sleep, thanks to him making me think about him before I drifted off.
And another blessing- I felt lighter that morning.
The morning sickness had decided to put a hold on it this morning.
I touched my stomach gently.
“Thank you for being so nice to me today,” I muttered to my growing baby.
I had found an online reliable hospital, and I was going for my antenatal appointment the following week.
I stared at my reflection, already dressed up beautifully by the stylists.
The dress he had purchased for me was perfection- a stunning midnight blue silk gown that clung to my body like it had been made specifically for me.
The fabric shimmered under the light, creating an almost ethereal effect.
The neckline was elegant, a modest sweetheart design that didn’t reveal too much but hinted at the curves beneath.
The dress flowed from my waist down to my ankles in a graceful train that made me feel like royalty.
The complete set was coordinated flawlessly- heels in matching blue with diamond-encrusted straps, a silver clutch purse, and delicate diamond accessories.
I was wearing a released brand I had read up online, and apparently, he was among the first five people to have purchased this exclusive collection. This chapter was taken from novelping(.)com without permission.
The funny thing was that he somehow knew my exact size.
I wondered how he knew them?
Had he asked Karen?
Had he calculated it from photos?
I spun gently in the dress, watching the fabric move with me like water.
My hair was tied in a high bun, with strands of short hair falling across my face in an intentional, sophisticated way.
This was a second public announcement.
I needed to look confident.
I needed to look like I belonged at his side.
I gave myself a last look in the mirror, nodded at my reflection, and then walked out in my pretty high heels.
I was a master at walking in heels.
The elevator whirred down, and it took only a few seconds.
It dinged softly all of sudden
I was surprised to see him already there, waiting infront of the elevator.
I almost gasped.
He was wearing a matching outfit with mine.
A midnight blue suit jacket with a black dress shirt underneath, tailored to perfection.
His tie was silver to match my clutch, and he had diamond cufflinks that caught the light.
His appearance was immaculate- his dark hair styled perfectly, his sharp jawline accentuated by the cut of his suit, and those blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me.
“Surprise,” he said, spreading his arms as he walked forward to meet me in the elevator.
“Wow, it’s such a surprise. I was not expecting this,” I said, my breath catching.
“Oh,” he flipped his suit jacket, showing me the intricate lining.
“I wanted to coordinate with you. We are a married couple, after all. At least that’s what people believe.”
I tried hard not to stare at him, not after remembering the tension of yesterday evening.
“My mother’s charity gala would be all over the news tomorrow, and we would be the main topic of conversation,” he continued.
“You know how it goes.”
“Newly married couple in matching outfits,” I completed, giggling like an eight-year-old.
He flicked his fingers playfully.
“You get it exactly.”
He paused as his eyes gazed all over me, taking in every detail of my appearance.
“I don’t know what to compliment you on again. You always look good. Every dress looks good on you,” he said softly.
Warmth spread on my cheeks again.
I smiled and looked up at him.
He held my eyes just like that, without breaking contact, without looking away.
“You are just so beautiful,” he said again, slowly and deliberately.
My heart fluttered again at that expression, at that look.
That look was killing me so much.
The elevator pinged softly, and we were welcomed by hostesses who were already stationed ready.
I broke the eye contact and was surprised by what I was seeing.
“What is happening?” I asked, confused by the scene before us.
One of the hostesses came forward and politely requested my purse.
“Welcome to my world, Miriam,” he said, smiling as he guided me forward.
We walked out, and there were four black men in expensive suits waiting outside, positioned like security detail.
Two cars were already running- a Lamborghini and a black limousine van.
I turned at him, still surprised by the grand specialties he had prepared for this Morning.
He opened the door of the Lamborghini and guided me into the front passenger seat.
The leather was soft, luxurious, and clearly expensive.
I guessed he was the one doing the driving.
I felt like a passenger princess as I watched his back view while he talked in indistinct tones to the four men.
The two lady hostesses were already inside the van.
After some minutes, he finally came into the car, pressing a button as the door automatically closed.
The roof panel slowly retracted, the soft-top convertible design opening up to reveal the Morning sky.
He started the car, and the black van at the back of us did the same, ready to follow.
“Shall we move, my lady?” he asked jokingly, his hands on the steering wheel.
I turned at him and smiled, feeling nervous and excited and terrified all at once.
“Yes, Victor Ashford,” I said softly.