7
1008 Words
Aidan’s POV
The Hartwell Estate was packed with some of the most powerful people in the world.
Luxury cars lined the circular driveway. Politicians, CEOs, investors, and socialites filled the grand ballroom beneath glittering crystal chandeliers. Waiters moved through the crowd carrying trays of champagne while a string quartet played softly in the background.
To everyone else, it probably looked like a celebration. Two powerful families were becoming one through marriage.
But to me, it felt like a business transaction.
Vanessa walked beside me with her hand resting lightly on my arm. She looked exactly the way my grandfather wanted his future granddaughter-in-law to look.
She was elegant.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
The guests greeted her warmly as we made our way through the crowd.
“Vanessa, you look stunning.”
“What a beautiful couple.”
“The future Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell.”
I heard the comments. They kept coming without a pause.
I ignored them and tried to compose myself.
Vanessa, however, looked delighted.
Every compliment made her smile a little wider.
Every approving glance from the guests seemed to feed her confidence.
She belonged in this world.
I never doubted that.
The problem was that I wasn’t sure I wanted what Vanessa wanted. Commitment.
I am not capable of giving her the love and commitment she expects from me and even though I’ve tried to let her know about this, she never seems to get it.
“Smile,” Vanessa whispered beside me when we were seated at a table.
I glanced at her.
“Why?”
“Because half the room is watching us.”
I looked around.
She wasn’t wrong.
The Hartwell name attracted attention.
Tonight was no different.
Especially since everyone seemed to suspect some sort of announcement was coming.
An announcement I had never agreed to.
“Aidan.”
The deep voice made me turn.
My grandfather approached us with several board members trailing behind him.
Even at seventy-five, Richard Hartwell commanded every room he entered.
People moved out of his way instinctively.
Power followed him like a shadow.
“Grandfather.”
He nodded once.
Then his sharp gaze moved to Vanessa.
“You look lovely, dear.”
Vanessa’s smile brightened immediately.
“Thank you, sir.”
He offered his arm.
“Come. It’s almost time.”
My jaw tightened.
Almost time.
I knew exactly what that meant.
The announcement.
The reason everyone had been invited here.
The reason I had been summoned.
The reason Vanessa had spent the entire evening looking like she’d already won.
We followed him toward the center of the ballroom.
Conversations gradually died down.
Guests began turning toward the stage.
The room buzzed with anticipation.
I could practically feel it.
Richard Hartwell climbed onto the stage and accepted a microphone.
Within seconds, the ballroom became completely silent.
He looked over at the crowd. He was calm and composed. Confident like nothing could touch him. “Thank you all for joining us tonight.”
A round of applause followed.
He waited patiently before continuing.
“As many of you know, Hartwell Corporation is entering a new chapter.”
More applause.
More smiles.
More expectations.
I already knew where this was going.
“My grandson, Aidan Hartwell, has spent years preparing to take his rightful place as CEO.”
The crowd erupted.
Camera flashes filled the room.
I kept my expression neutral.
Grandfather raised a hand for silence.
“However, leadership is not built on success alone.”
The room quieted again.
“It is built on stability. Commitment. Family.”
Vanessa’s fingers tightened around my arm.
I felt it.
She knew what was coming too.
A smile spread across my grandfather’s face.
“Which is why I am pleased to officially announce the engagement of my grandson, Aidan Hartwell—”
The ballroom exploded into applause.
“—to Vanessa Sinclair.”
The crowd cheered.
Champagne glasses lifted.
People smiled.
Congratulated Vanessa and I and celebrated the both of us.
Vanessa looked like she’d just been crowned queen.
Her eyes sparkled with victory as she turned toward me.
The photographers surged forward.
Flashes exploded from every direction.
“Congratulations!”
“What a beautiful couple!”
“When is the wedding?”
The noise became overwhelming.
Moments later, grandfather gestured for me to step onto the stage.
I did.
Because refusing wasn’t an option.
Not here.
Not now.
Not in front of hundreds of influential guests.
Vanessa joined me moments later.
The applause continued.
Then a small velvet box appeared in my grandfather’s hand.
My eyes narrowed.
I hadn’t expected that.
Apparently neither had Vanessa.
The smile on her face grew even brighter.
The room immediately understood what was happening.
People gasped.
Some even began recording.
Richard handed me the box.
“Go on, Aidan.”
The entire ballroom held its breath.
Slowly, I opened it.
Inside sat a massive diamond ring.
The Hartwell engagement ring.
The same ring that had been passed down through generations.
The same ring my grandmother once wore.
The same ring everyone expected me to place on Vanessa’s finger.
Now.
Tonight.
In front of everyone.
The crowd watched eagerly, waiting for when I’ll put the ring on her finger.
Vanessa extended her hand.
Waiting and expecting like the rest of the crowd.
I stared at the ring.
Then for some reason, completely against my will, another face flashed through my mind.
Tear-stained cheeks.
A trembling voice. Brown sullen eyes.
“Please, sir. It was an accident.”
My grip tightened around the ring box. I shut the thought out of my head and gently slid the ring onto Vanessa’s finger. The room exploded with cheer and applause immediately I put the ring on her finger.
“Finally!” Vanessa squealed showing off the beautiful diamond ring on her finger to the crowd. The cheer erupted once more, louder and ear deafening.
She hugged me and whispered to my ears. “I love you, Alex.”
I know she expected to hear me say it back, but men like me rarely fall in love.
- Writer
