An Heir For Alpha Roman

4. Invitation

Eden's POV:

After our breakfast, I eagerly dropped Paige back off at the condo so she could rest. Despite the run, she still looked stressed—her cheeks flushed and her body tense.

“Do you need anything before I leave?" I asked, running my hand through her red flames. She smiled at me and shook her head, "No, I'm going to shower and sleep for a while."

I nodded and headed to my bedroom, disappearing into the bathroom at the back. I showered quickly, brushed my teeth, and put on a simple white-knit sweater with a sweetheart neckline. I paired it with black slacks and nude heels, letting my sandy brown curls hang down my back. I grabbed my purse and yelled back to Paige, "I love you! I'm leaving," but she didn't respond.

Reaching into my purse, I pulled out some lip gloss and waved to my neighbors. I was buzzing with excitement, and the morning traffic didn't even bother me. I then set off to meet Jeremy at his office. It was just a short drive from my place, which felt perfect since Paige and I lived in the heart of Teloma. Everything was so close, and I couldn't help but feel a thrill for the day ahead.

As I deftly maneuvered my car to the front of the grand building housing Jeremy's workplace, I swiftly texted him, letting him know I'd arrived. Over the past year, Jeremy has become a great friend and an invaluable ally in my professional journey. Our paths first crossed when I played a pivotal role in helping Daniel secure him as a personal assistant for a mutual client. Jeremy's reputation in the industry is nothing short of stellar; he has an uncanny ability to secure a spot on the most coveted elite lists. He knows everyone and has a unique way of getting s**t done. I've always admired him and his work ethic. Because of his expertise, I could feel tonight was going to be life-changing in my bones, and for once, I would be able to get him something he wanted as a gift—it's hard shopping for a man who has everything.

I know it’s nearly impossible to land this client, but I’m almost sure that if I could just speak to him, it would be enough for Daniel to secure the interview. I have a way with words and have always been very ‘lucky with people.’ Having Jeremy in my corner gives me the added confidence I need to succeed. He needed to land this client, or I'm afraid Jerry would find another CEO for The Hudson...

Within just a few enchanting minutes, I caught sight of Jeremy striding confidently out of the building. He was clad in a crisp, cream-colored suit that accentuated his rich, caramel-brown skin, which seemed to glow in the sun. His jet-black curls framed his face perfectly, creating an appealing contrast that drew the eye.

"Hey, Eden," he called, crouching beside my open window with a charming and disarming ease. "It's so good to see you," he added, throwing me a playful wink. My cheeks flushed with warmth at his attention. Jeremy possessed an almost otherworldly handsomeness, his features perfectly symmetrical and his dazzling smile capable of making any woman weak at the knees. He was notorious for his flirtatious nature, consistently charming those around him, yet I often disregarded his advances. After all, he seemed to have a new woman on his arm every month, and I had no intention of becoming just another name on his ever-growing list.

Not when I had Daniel in my life.

"It's wonderful to see you too, Jeremy," I replied with a polite smile that betrayed nothing of my internal conflict. He nodded in acknowledgment, then reached into his sleek pocket and pulled out two gleaming badges emblazoned with the word "VIP Guest." They were accompanied by a formal invitation that fluttered slightly in the breeze.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" I exclaimed, barely able to contain my excitement. The urge to hug him bubbled up inside me, but I carefully restrained myself; it felt too intimate, too personal in that moment.

He shrugged nonchalantly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Anything for you, Eden. Just call me when you get there,” he chirped, his voice light and cheerful. I instinctively reached into my purse, intending to retrieve some cash to pay him for the badges, but Jeremy's eyes widened and he shook his head in firm disapproval.

"I’m not taking your money, Eden. This is on me," he insisted, throwing another wink my way—the kind that made my heart flutter. "I'll see you tonight."

"See you," I murmured, caught off guard by his charm. With that, he turned and walked back into the building, leaving no room for me to counter his generous gesture. I found myself smiling as I pulled into the bustling traffic, feeling a rush of excitement... I could hardly contain myself, I wanted to tell Daniel right away so he could share the news with his father!

"Call Daniel," I commanded the voice control system in my car, hoping to focus on the next steps of my day while my thoughts still danced around Jeremy’s captivating presence. How in the hell did he manage to get these invitations? I needed to learn his ways.

“Calling Daniel Hudson,” the voice confirmed. Impatiently tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, I watched as the cars crawled along the road. My gaze drifted to the invitation, where bold black letters declared that the doors would close at exactly 7:30 PM, not a second later.

“Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voicemail.”

“Ugh,” I huffed, calling again. Why wasn’t he answering his phone? I knew he was most likely busy, but I checked his calendar. He didn’t have any events or meetings scheduled. It’s our anniversary, and he promised we’d spend the day together.

This time, it only ran once, before the robotic voice chirped happily, "Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voicemail."

"Rude," I huffed, before taking the exit to the mall... With barely noon on the clock, I decided to run some errands to prepare for tonight's event and to distract myself from calling Daniel some more. I wanted to get my nails done, find something nice for Daniel to wear, and something cute to present the invitations in.

I figured that if he stopped by the office today, it meant his dad had put pressure on him about tonight's events, and he was likely working hard to get on a list to impress his father. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t answering. I soothed myself with the thought that he was probably working overtime, which would make surprising him that much better.

As I got lost in my errands, I suddenly realized it was close to four o'clock. Shit... Daniel still hadn't returned any of my calls, and Jerry had been calling me nonstop, but I hadn’t replied; I didn’t want to be the one to spoil Daniel's news. I quickly threw the bags into the trunk and hopped into my car. I was losing time, and I still had to get across town, tell him about the surprise, and find something decent to wear. I was still in my brunch clothes from meeting Jeremy.

I felt a little overwhelmed, but reminded myself that tonight would be all worth it. I tried to settle on that thought as I drove through the heavy traffic. Miraculously, I arrived at Daniel's house in just 30 minutes. His security, recognizing my car, immediately let me through the gates.

I pulled into his long driveway and parked in front of his house; a frown creased my brow when my gaze landed on a vivid pink sports car gleaming in the driveway. Its sleek curves and polished finish bore an uncanny resemblance to the flashy ride belonging to his assistant, Ivy. A surge of dread washed over me, a chilling thought creeping into my mind like a shadow, but I swiftly banished it, refusing to linger on such unsettling possibilities. Daniel had always been devoted to me, and I was confident he would never break my trust in such a profound way.

As I approached the marble steps, I couldn't help but think of the countless moments we had shared in this beautiful place. And soon, in a few short months, this would be our home. I reached for the door, my heart racing with anticipation, but then I noticed that it stood slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out into the dusky evening.

I entered the house and walked down the foyer; I peeked into the kitchen and saw a bottle of wine left open on the countertop, with two wine glasses next to it. I didn’t miss that one with a deep red lipstick stain on the rim. I continued to walk further down the hall toward his study. I figured that’s where he was, but it was empty when I glanced in.

His car's outside, so I know he’s here. I walked back into the kitchen and pulled out my phone. We had to leave soon if we wanted to make it before the doors closed, and I still needed to find a decent dress to wear. As I began calling him again, I heard the loud clacking of high heels bouncing off the marble floors. Ivy entered the kitchen, and her big baby blue eyes widened when she saw me. She looked shocked, but quickly masked her emotions. Her high-pitched, preppy voice screeched.

“Oh my gosh, hey Eden,” she shouted, even though I was standing right next to her, “what are you doing here?”

I c****d an eyebrow. Why would she question why I was at my fiancé's house? I looked over her appearance. Her pale, porcelain skin was flushed; her well-kept, bleached blonde hair was slightly messy, and her lipstick was somewhat smeared. She wore a very revealing black mini dress, the fabric straining to contain her large plastic breasts that were busting at the seams.

“Where’s Daniel?” I asked, ignoring her question, that icky feeling from earlier was crawling up the back of my neck.

“He’s coming; we were just going through some old files in his office,” she smirked, applying a thin layer of red lipstick, attempting to fix the smudges... I frowned, knowing they weren’t in his office, but I smiled politely anyway. Maybe she meant his study upstairs.

“Hey, baby,” Daniel said, entering the kitchen. He was dressed to impress in a three-piece black suit. His blonde hair was slicked back, and his navy blue eyes sparkled in the light.

"What are you doing here? Why didn't you call me first?" he asked, pulling me in for a hug that felt more like an obligation than affection.

“I've been calling you all day," I snapped, irritation clawing at my heart. My disappointment festered, especially when he didn't wish me a happy anniversary.

"Oh, yeah, that's right," he said quickly, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his tone. "I forgot I had Amelia take my phone so I could focus on Zenguina...

“Hmm,” I frowned, my heart sinking. “You haven't talked to your dad?"

His expression shifted as he looked into the various bags I set on the counter. "No... we're not really on good terms right now. I'm hoping securing this client will get him off my back."

“It won't,” I cut him off sharply, not wanting to waste any more time. “But this will,” I said, holding out the small gift bag containing the invitations.

"Oh? He raised his brows unimpressed. "What's this?" It feels light," he teased,"

“It's a surprise for you; open it,” I chirped. Excitement filled my chest; I knew he would be happy about this invitation.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked, staring up at me with a puzzled look. Of course, he forgot.

“Our anniversary… remember?” My voice was barely above a whisper, pain etched into every word that escaped my lips.

“Oh yes! Of course, I have a gift being sent as we speak,” he shrugged nonchalantly. I could see through the lie—it was code for Ivy to rush something over before I got home tonight. I waved my disappointment away, attempting to keep it hidden behind a veneer of cheerfulness.

“We don't have a lot of time. I was calling earlier to tell you that with the help of a friend, I got us into BlackCreek's grand opening tonight,” I said, handing him the small gift bag, hoping to ignite a spark of joy.

"What?" he gasped, a smile almost involuntarily forming across his face. I had envisioned this moment, with our excitement intertwining, but it now felt overshadowed. I glanced at Ivy, who was glaring at me, but quickly forced a smile as our eyes met.

“You’re the best, Eden; now Ivy and I can finally track down their CEO,” Daniel said, causing me to pause, confusion swirling in my gut.

“Ivy?” I asked, bewildered. I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.

"Yes, Ivy," he said casually. "She’s my assistant, baby, and this is business, so she needs to be there."

“But I got the invitations?” I whispered in disbelief, my heart heavy like a stone sinking into an ocean of disappointment.

“I know, baby, but I told you I want you to focus on the wedding from here on out; let me handle the business."

“But it’s our anniversary-"

“I know!" he shouted, cutting me off, the sharpness in his voice slicing through my heart. "And I swear, Eden, I’ll be back tonight, and we’ll have a nice romantic dinner. Then I’ll give you something extra special for dessert. How does that sound?” He asked, coming around the kitchen island, kissing my lips roughly but without passion, before cupping my cheeks in a gesture that now felt hollow. "Why don’t you stay here and relax? You’ve worked so hard already. I'll be back before you know it.” He rubbed his hands up and down my neck and face, pushing a stray curl behind my ear, but all I could feel was the suffocating emptiness between us.

I felt a deep hurt and disappointment in my heart, but I chose to remain silent. Arguing with him would lead to nothing, especially with Ivy standing there like a barrier between us. I nodded quickly and turned my back, not wanting him to see the tears blurring my vision.

“That’s my girl” he smacked me on my ass and grabbed the bag I got him from off the counter, followed by the invitations and jetted past me with Ivy hot on his trail.