The Valentine's Proposal

Chapter 1: The Broken Valentine (Violet’s POV) The office smells of coffee and ambition, a mix I usually find comforting. But today, the air feels heavy, like it’s carrying a secret I’m not supposed to know. I clutch the little velvet box in my hand, my heart pounding in a mix of excitement and nerves. This is it. This is the moment I’ve been planning for weeks. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I’m going to propose to Boris. He’s the one who said I’m too cautious, always overthinking everything. So here I am, stepping out of my comfort zone. I even booked a trip to the Maldives for us—a fresh start, away from all the stress. All that’s left is to surprise him with this ring and hope he says yes. As I approach his office, my heels clicking against the polished floor, I hear voices. His voice. And someone else’s. “Boris, you’re so bad,” a woman giggles. My steps falter. My fingers tighten around the box. “Come on, Kara,” Boris says, his voice low and teasing. “You know you drive me crazy.” I freeze. My brain tries to process what I’m hearing, but it’s like my body is on autopilot. I push the door open. What I see feels like a punch to the gut. Boris is leaning over his desk, his lips locked with Kara’s—the assistant I never liked but could never quite explain why. “Violet!” Boris jumps back, his face a mix of shock and guilt. Kara looks smug, like she’s won some game I didn’t even know we were playing. I stare at him, the box in my hand suddenly feeling like it weighs a ton. “What…what is this?” My voice is shaky, and I hate how vulnerable I sound. “It’s not what it looks like,” Boris stammers, straightening his tie. “Oh, really?” I snap, finding some strength in my anger. “Because it looks like you’re kissing your assistant.” Kara smirks, her arms crossed. “We weren’t hiding it that well, were we?” I want to scream, to throw the ring at his face, but instead, I laugh—a bitter, humorless laugh that even surprises me. “You know what? I was about to propose to you, Boris. Can you believe that? I was actually going to ask you to marry me.” His eyes widen, and for a second, I think he might apologize. But then he says, “Violet, don’t be dramatic.” “Dramatic?” I repeat, my voice rising. “You’re cheating on me, and I’m dramatic?” I can’t take it anymore. My hands tremble as I turn and storm out of the office, my vision blurred with tears. The ring is still in my hand, and I don’t even know why I’m holding onto it. As I walk through the lobby, people glance at me, sensing my distress. I don’t care. I need air. I need to get out of this building. Outside, the cool breeze hits my face, and I suck in a shaky breath. I’m standing on the sidewalk, staring at the little velvet box in my hand. The ring inside sparkles, mocking me. “This is so stupid,” I mutter. “Why did I think he was worth it?” In a moment of pure frustration, I turn to the nearest person—some tall, dark-haired man in a sleek suit—and shove the ring onto his finger. “Here. You want to get married? Congratulations. You’re engaged.” The man looks down at the ring, then at me, his gray eyes sharp and amused. “I do,” he says smoothly. For a second, I’m too stunned to respond. Did he just…agree? “What?” I blink at him. He raises an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. “You proposed, didn’t you? I’m saying yes.” “This isn’t funny,” I snap, trying to pull the ring off his finger, but he doesn’t let me. “Violet!” I turn to see Boris running toward us, his tie loose and his face flushed. He stops short when he sees the man next to me. His expression shifts from panic to pure terror. “Boss?” Boris’s voice cracks. I look at the man again, really looking this time. His suit is expensive, his posture confident, and there’s an air of authority about him that makes Boris seem small in comparison. “Boss?” I repeat, my voice laced with disbelief. The man—my accidental fiancé—grins. “That’s right. I’m Silver, Boris’s boss. And apparently, your new fiancé.” Boris’s jaw drops. “This…this isn’t real. Violet, what are you doing?” I cross my arms, my anger flaring again. “What does it look like, Boris? I’ve upgraded.” Silver chuckles, clearly enjoying this. “Nice to meet you, Violet. Should we set a date?” I glare at him. “You’re not helping.” “Oh, but I think I am,” he says, his gray eyes twinkling with mischief. Boris looks between us, his face pale. “This…this is insane.” “No,” I say coldly, stepping closer to Silver. “What’s insane is thinking I’d waste another second on you.” Silver places a hand on my shoulder, and for some reason, the gesture feels reassuring. “Shall we?” he asks, gesturing toward a sleek black car parked by the curb. I don’t know why I agree, but something about the way he looks at Boris—like he’s completely unfazed—makes me want to go along with it. “Sure,” I say, lifting my chin. We walk toward the car, leaving Boris standing on the sidewalk, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. As soon as we’re inside, I turn to Silver. “What the hell was that?” He smirks, adjusting the ring on his finger. “You started it.” “I didn’t think you’d play along!” “Well, I couldn’t let him think he’d won, could I?” I huff, crossing my arms. “This is ridiculous.” “Maybe,” he says, his tone light. “But it was fun.” I glare at him, but a small part of me can’t deny the satisfaction I felt watching Boris squirm. “So, Violet,” Silver says, leaning back in his seat. “What’s the plan now? Are we really engaged, or was that just for show?” I open my mouth to tell him this is over, but the words don’t come out. Instead, I find myself wondering what Boris is thinking right now—and how much more I want to make him regret ever crossing me. “Let’s keep him guessing,” I say finally, surprising even myself. Silver’s smirk widens. “Now this is getting interesting.”