A planned engagement

chapter 7

At the company, the boardroom was already full.

Every seat was occupied—directors, shareholders, his stepmother, and his brother. Low murmurs filled the room until the doors suddenly opened.

Nico walked in.

Strong. Calm. Commanding.

The room fell silent. Conversations died instantly as every head turned toward him. Some faces hardened, others looked away. A few looked almost frightened.

He didn’t sit.

Instead, he placed both hands on the long glass table and scanned the room slowly.

“So,” he said evenly, his voice cutting through the silence, “which one of you wants me out as CEO of my company?”

A tense pause followed. Eyes shifted. People exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.

Finally, one of the board members cleared her throat. “Nico… none of us agreed to vote you out. In fact, we believe we need someone like you to continue running this business.”

Before anyone else could speak, his brother leaned forward.

“ Big brotherRelax,” Pete said, casting a sharp look at their mother. “No one is taking anything away from you. You know Mom is just… talking.”

Their mother scoffed and turned her face away, refusing to meet Nico’s eyes.

Nico straightened. “I’ll ask again,” he said calmly. “Does anybody here have a problem with me being the CEO of this company?”

Silence.

“Good,” he said after a moment. “I’ll take that as a no. This meeting is over.”

He turned toward the door. “Pete—my office.”

Without waiting, Nico walked out of the boardroom.

Later, in his office, Nico stood by the desk, reviewing documents when the door opened.

“Hey, brother,” Pete said, walking in and taking a seat.

“So, Pete,” Nico said without looking up, “how are the wedding plans coming along?”

Pete’s face lit up. “Everything’s perfect. I can’t wait to get married. Man, I’m so in love.”

Nico smiled faintly. “Good for you.”

“So,” Pete continued, “did you bring her along?”

“You mean Alexi?”

“Yes.”

“Of course,” Nico replied. “I want Grandma to be happy.”

Pete grinned. “I think she’s the one,” he said. Nico’s smile widened just a little.

Then Pete sighed. “I’m sorry about Mom. I didn’t know what she was planning. She really gets on my nerves sometimes.”

Nico looked up at him. “Don’t worry about it,” he said calmly. “I trust you.”

Alexi woke suddenly and found Nico sitting at the edge of her bed.

For a moment, her heart jumped in shock—then softened when her eyes adjusted and she saw him clearly.

“You’re back,” she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep.

“Yes, my love,” he replied gently.

She pushed herself up, sitting back against the pillows. Nico reached for her hands, his touch warm and familiar, and moved closer until she could feel his breath.

“Where have you been?” she asked quietly. “Are you… drunk?”

“I was with friends,” he said softly. “We had a little to drink. Nothing to worry about.”

She smiled shyly. “Did you miss me?”

He didn’t hesitate. “God, yes.”

At her words, he eased her back onto the bed, hovering over her, his eyes searching hers with tenderness.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked, his voice low and careful.

“Yes… please,” she replied instantly.

He leaned down, brushing his lips over her forehead, her cheeks, lingering at the corner of her mouth before finally kissing her fully—slow, unhurried, filled with longing. The kiss deepened, stealing her breath, making her heart race as she melted into him.

Her hands clutched his shirt, her body responding instinctively to his closeness, to the way he made her feel wanted, cherished, safe. She sighed softly, lost in the moment, lost in him—

And suddenly, her breast popped out of her night gown. His mouth took her n*****s immediately.

She gasped as she sat upright in bed, her heart pounding, the room silent and empty.

It was just a dream.

Alexi lay still after waking, her heart racing.

She couldn’t believe she had dreamed about Nico—how real it felt, how deeply it stirred her. The warmth of the dream clung to her skin, and the longing surprised her with its force.

Lord… why did it feel so real?

She sat up and swung her legs over the bed. “I need some water,” she murmured, pressing a hand to her chest as she left the room.

Downstairs, the house was quiet, wrapped in shadows. She opened the fridge, took a bottle of water, and drank slowly, still shaken. As she turned, she noticed a soft blue glow spilling from a distant room.

She followed it. The room was filled with wine. There were chairs and tables like a bar.

By the wide-open front door, Nico stood near the window, a glass of wine in his hand, the night breeze drifting in behind him. The light traced his silhouette, calm yet powerful.

She stopped.

He sensed her before she spoke. Turning, he caught sight of her shadow—and then her.

“I didn’t know you were back,” she said softly.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he replied, setting the glass aside. His gaze lingered on her, full of quiet wonder. She’s beautiful, he thought.

“Come here,” he said gently. “I want to give you something.”

Her heart thudded as she walked toward him. The memory of her dream rushed back—his closeness, his touch.

Nico reached into his pocket and brought out a small velvet box. When he opened it, a diamond ring shimmered under the light, elegant and timeless.

Her breath caught. “Nico… it’s beautiful.

“ I want you to wear this .” he said “ it's my mother's.”

No I can't, it's your mom's..”

He leaned closer, his voice low and steady. “Shh.”

He took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

“We’ll go see Grandmother tomorrow,” he said.

Then, without a word, he lifted her gently and placed her on the table. Her arms slipped around his neck, instinctive, natural.

“You’re so beautiful, Lexi,” he whispered.

She felt his warmth, his closeness, the way his presence alone made her breath falter. For a moment.

He looked up at her, his hands roaming greedily over her thighs, fingers digging into the soft, warm flesh as he spread her legs wider. She gasped for air, her chest heaving, her hands clutching his head and neck, nails scraping against his skin in desperate need. She stared down at him, completely out of breath, her eyes glazed with raw lust.

Immediately, he captured her lips, devouring every inch of her mouth with hungry, possessive kisses—his tongue thrusting deep, tangling with hers in a wet, sloppy rhythm that made her moan into him. The strap of her gown slipped off her shoulder, exposing the swell of her breast, and he didn't hesitate, trailing his mouth down her neck, sucking hard enough to leave marks, then lower to her shoulders, biting lightly as her body arched toward him.

"Nico," she whispered breathlessly, her voice thick with desire, her hips grinding against him instinctively, seeking friction against the growing hardness pressing between her legs.

He kissed her ears, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine, then licked them slowly with his tongue, teasing the sensitive lobe before nipping it gently. She trembled violently, her core throbbing with need, wetness pooling between her thighs. He kissed her deeply again, harder this time, his hands sliding up to cup her breasts, thumbs circling her hardening n*****s through the thin fabric. "f**k," he growled against her lips, his c**k straining painfully against his pants—he wanted her so badly, wanted to bury himself inside her tight heat right there.

Without breaking the kiss, he scooped her up in his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her upstairs, his erection rubbing teasingly against her soaked center with every step, promising the rough, unrelenting pleasure that awaited them in the bedroom.

Inside her room, Nico fought a battle of his own. She’s not like the others. If I cross this line… am I ready for the consequences?

Slowly, carefully,He laid her gently on her bed, his eyes searching hers, full of desire—and restraint.

“You should get some sleep,” he said quietly. “Tomorrow is a big day.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering just a second longer than necessary, then stepped away.

Alexi couldn’t speak.

She lay there, breathless, watching him leave. When the door closed, she buried her face in the pillow.

“Oh my God… what am I doing?” she whispered.