THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL

Chapter 11 Proving Grounds 3

LIORA

The bar was loud and packed with people. My team had insisted on celebrating after the presentation. They dragged me to some trendy place downtown where the music was too loud and the drinks were too expensive.

"To Liora," Derek shouted over the noise. He raised his glass. "Who proved all of us wrong."

Everyone clinked glasses. I tried not to cry. A week ago these people thought I was just the boss's girlfriend. Now they were treating me like I actually belonged.

"I was wrong about you," Derek said. He was on his third beer and getting sentimental. "You earned your spot. Nobody can say you didn't."

"Thank you," I said. It meant more coming from him than anyone else.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and Everett was there.

"You came," I said.

"Of course I came." He smiled. It was a real smile and not the polite CEO smile he gave to board members. He pulled me into a warm half hug. "You think I'd miss celebrating your win?"

He ordered a drink and actually stayed. Usually at company events he showed up for five minutes and left. But tonight he stayed, talked to my team, laughed at their stories and even made jokes. This was new and everyone was surprised because it was different from the cold CEO that they always knew.

I watched him from across the room. He'd loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves. He wasn't so uptight as usual, instead he looked relaxed and happy like a normal person instead of a billionaire CEO.

"He's different with you," Derek said. He followed my gaze. "I've worked here for five years and I've never seen him like this."

I couldn't keep the smirk off my tone. "Like what?"

"Human." Derek finished his beer. "Usually he's all business. Only his board members have seen him smile. He never comes to team drinks. But look at him now."

Everett caught me staring. He raised his glass and I raised mine back. Something warm spread through my chest that had nothing to do with alcohol.

"So how did you two really meet?" someone asked. A woman from my team named Sarah. She was tipsy and curious. "Come on. Give us the real story."

Everett walked over at that moment and stood next to me. We were close enough that our arms touched. "She proposed to me in the lobby."

"We know that part," Sarah said. "But why? What made you say yes? It's so romantic."

Everett looked at me. "There's something about her…about it that felt so real."

It was a lie…all facades of our fake story. But the way he said it made my heart race.

"I couldn't help myself," I added, playing along. "When you know, you know."

More lies. But they felt less like lies every time we told them.

The team wanted more details. We gave them a prettier version. How Everett thought I was brave. How I thought he was kind.

None of it was true. But some part of me wished it was. I wanted moments like this forever.

The bar started closing around midnight. People called online rides and started clearing their tabs. Derek hugged me again and told me I was alright for a boss's girlfriend.

"Want to walk?" Everett asked. "It's only a few blocks."

"Sure."

We left together. The city was beautiful at night and all lit up, the cacophony of cars around me, the smell of hot street food, the colorful lights and how it was less crowded than during the day. I fell in love with all of it. We walked slowly, neither of us was in a hurry to get home. We both wanted to soak in the sights.

"Tell me something about you," I said. "Something real. Not the stuff you tell reporters."

Everett thought about it. "I wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I loved learning and explaining things to people. My third grade teacher, Mr. Harrison, made everything interesting. Even math." He smiled at the memory. "I thought that's what I'd do, teach high school history or something."

"What changed?"

"My parents' divorce. My dad needed help with the company. I was good with numbers and strategy. It made sense to join him." He shrugged. "Teaching became a nice idea instead of a real plan."

"Do you regret it?"

"Sometimes. When I'm stuck in board meetings arguing about stock prices." He looked at me. "What about you? What did you want to be?"

"A writer. I wanted to write novels. Big dramatic stories about people falling in love and saving the world."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because writing doesn't pay bills. Marketing does." I kicked a rock on the sidewalk. "My mom died when I was sixteen. My dad worked two jobs to keep us afloat. I couldn't waste time on dreams. I needed a real career."

"That's sad."

"That's life."

We walked in silence for a bit. Then Everett said, "What's your most embarrassing moment?"

I laughed. "Why do you want to know that?"

"Because I want to know you. The real you. Not the version you show at work."

"Okay. Eighth grade at my school talent show, I sang 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston." I covered my face. "I was so confident and I thought I sounded amazing. It turns out I was completely tone deaf and yet people still bring it up at reunions."

Everett laughed and I was surprised at how deep and earthy it sounded. "I would have paid to see that."

"Your turn. Most embarrassing moment."

"Duringy college at freshman year, I got drunk at a frat party and told this girl I loved her. It was a very dramatic declaration. I got down on one knee and everything." He cringed. "I'd known her for three days. She was dating someone else. The whole thing ended up on social media."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. My dad called me the next morning. He was not happy." Everett shook his head. "I learned to handle my alcohol better after that."

We reached the building and took the elevator up to the penthouse. Neither of us wanted the night to end but we were running out of excuses to keep talking.

"Want to sit on the balcony for a bit?" I asked.

"Yeah. Okay."

We went outside. The city stretched out below us. All those lights. All those people living their lives.

I took a deep breath. "What are we doing, Everett?"

"What do you mean?"

"This. Us." I gestured between us. "This stopped feeling fake weeks ago. You know it and I know it."

His jaw tightened. "We have a contract."

"I don't care about the contract."

"Liora—"

"I'm falling for you." The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I know I shouldn't. I know it's stupid and complicated and probably a terrible idea. But I can't help it. When I'm with you, I forget this is supposed to be pretend."

Everett stared at me. For a second I thought he might say it back. That he might admit he felt the same way.

But then his face closed off. "We agreed. Three months with no feelings. That was the deal."

It felt like he'd slapped me. "Right. No feelings."

"Liora—"

"I'm tired. I'm going to bed." I turned to leave.

"Wait—"

"Goodnight, Everett."