Marriage First, Love Second

melting me softly

As I stormed into the office, I was greeted by a familiar face - Mr. Edward, my father's younger brother and the current director of the company. He was surrounded by staff and security personnel, but his eyes locked onto mine with a hint of surprise and curiosity.

"Nora, congratulations are in order, I hear," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't know you were getting married, let alone to someone like Gideon Robert."

I felt a surge of anger at his tone, but I kept my cool. "Mr. Edward," I acknowledged him curtly. "I didn't know you were still keeping tabs on me."

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Of course, I am. You're my niece, after all. And my mother's favorite, if I might add."

I felt a pang of discomfort at the mention of my grandmother, who had always favored me over her own son - Mr. Edward. It was no secret that they had a complicated history, and his birth out of wedlock had always been a sore point in the family.

"Well, congratulations again, Nora," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "I'm sure Gideon Robert is a great catch. I mean, who wouldn't want to marry a bankrupt businessman with a questionable reputation?"

I felt my anger boiling over, but I bit my tongue. I wasn't going to let Mr. Edward get under my skin, not today.

. "But at least my child in this family will be direct, unlike some people who are only related by marriage," I added, my eyes locked onto his.

Mr. Edward's face turned red with anger, but he couldn't retort as I gave him a sweet smile and said, "Anyway, I have work to do. I'm the Head of Marketing and Strategy, after all."

I turned and walked away, leaving him seething with frustration. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't look back. I knew I had won this round.

As I made my way to my department, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. I was the Head of Marketing and Strategy, and I had worked hard to get here. I wasn't going to let anyone, especially Mr. Edward, bring me down.

As I walked into my office, I was met with a sudden and loud "Surprise!" My team of workers cheered and clapped, gathering around me with big smiles on their faces. I was taken aback, my eyes wide with shock.

My secretary and junior colleagues presented me with bouquets of flowers, beaming with excitement. I was still in disbelief, my mind racing to catch up with the unexpected celebration.

I played along, smiling and laughing, trying to hide my confusion. "Thank you, guys! This is...wow!"

As the congratulations died down, one of the workers approached me with a stack of files. "Nora, I have the reports you requested."

I took the files, still in a daze. "Thanks...wait, how did you all know about my...ah, marriage?"

My secretary, Rachel, spoke up. "The director announced it on the company forum, Nora. Everyone knows you and Mr. Gideon are married now."

My eyes widened in horror. "What?! Grandma announced it?!"

Rachel nodded, oblivious to my distress. "Yes, she's so excited for you both. She said it's a great union for the company and the family."

I felt my frustration boiling over. "Great union?! This is a disaster! And why did she announce it without my permission?!"

My team looked at me, confused, sensing my distress. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Never mind. Thank you all for the surprise celebration. It's just...a lot to take in."

I sat down at my desk, trying to focus on my work, when my phone rang. I groaned, seeing Gideon's name on the screen. "What do you want now?" I answered curtly.

"Hey, I forgot to ask for your PIN," Gideon said cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes. "It's 3456. Now leave me alone."

"Thanks-" Gideon started to say, but I hung up on him.

I sighed and began to work, but my phone buzzed again. I checked the screen and saw a message from Axel. "10 dollars."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is he buying with 10 dollars?"

But before I could shrug it off, another message came in. "400".

I did a double take, my eyes scanning the screen again. And then I saw it - the extra zeros. 400,000 dollars.

I screamed, my colleagues looking up in shock. "What's wrong?" one of them asked, but I just shook my head, my eyes fixed on the screen.

I quickly rushed to the rooftop, my heart racing. I called Axel, but he wasn't picking up. I was frustrated, my mind racing with questions. What had he done? How could he spend so much money without consulting me?

I paced back and forth on the rooftop, my phone still clutched in my hand. I couldn't believe this was happening. I had to get to the bottom of it.

I recorded a voice note to Gideon, my voice urgent. "Gideon, it's Nora. When you listen to this, call me back immediately. I need to know what's going on."

I rushed back down to my office, my phone clutched in my hand. I checked it every few seconds, but Gideon hadn't returned my call.

As I sat in the canteen, eating my lunch, I couldn't help but check my phone every few minutes. But there were no calls from Gideon, no messages, no signs of life. I felt a growing sense of frustration and anxiety, wondering what was going on.

Meanwhile, the other workers in the canteen were staring at me, their eyes filled with curiosity and gossip. I knew they were talking about my marriage to Gideon, and I couldn't blame them. It was a shocking move, even for a family like ours.

I felt a surge of anger towards my grandmother, who had announced our marriage to the whole company without my permission. I knew she was trying to secure her legacy, but did she have to do it at my expense?

I tried to ignore the stares and whispers, focusing on my food instead. But it was hard to concentrate when I felt like I was under a microscope. I just wanted to get back to work and forget about the whole ordeal.

But the stares and whispers only seemed to get louder and more persistent. I felt like I was trapped in a fishbowl, with everyone watching my every move. I couldn't take it anymore.

Just as I was about to give up, the door opened and Gideon walked in. Here is the continuation of the story:

Just as I was about to give up on my lunch, the door to the canteen swung open and Gideon walked in. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. I felt my heart skip a beat as I took in the sight of him.

Gideon was immaculately dressed in a tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and chiseled physique. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me. He was so handsome that it almost hurt to look at him.

As he walked towards me, his confident stride and commanding presence drew the attention of everyone in the room. They couldn't help but stare at him, mesmerized by his charisma and charm.

I felt a flutter in my chest as he approached me, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. He smiled, and his whole face lit up, making him even more devastatingly handsome. He sat down next to me, his presence commanding attention.

When I tried to speak, Gideon suddenly placed his hand over my lips, his fingers gentle. "Shh, No," he whispered.

And then, in a move that left me dumbfounded, he used his finger to pick up a leftover piece of food from my lips and licked it off his finger. The room around us melted away, and all I could see was Gideon, his eyes burning with intensity.

For a few moments, I was frozen, my mind unable to process what was happening. But as I looked into Axel's eyes, I felt a spark of attraction that I couldn't ignore.

"Gideon," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Nora," he replied, his voice low and husky. "We have a lot to talk about."