THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL

LIORA Before I could process what just happened, Everett Montague grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the elevator. Flynn tried to follow but the bodyguards blocked his path. "Mr. Montague, please, I can explain,"Flynn called out. Everett didn't even look back. We stepped into the elevator together and the doors closed on Flynn's panicked face. I stood there holding the ring box, my brain trying to catch up with my mouth. What the hell did I just do? "I'm so sorry,"I blurted out. "I don't know what came over me. I just caught my boyfriend cheating and I wasn't thinking straight and I saw you and I just—" "Proposed to a complete stranger in front of fifty witnesses?"Everett's lips twitched like he was holding back a laugh. "Yes."My face burned with embarrassment. "I'm really sorry. You can just forget this happened. I'll tell everyone it was a joke or a prank or—" "Why would I do that?" I blinked at him. "What?" The elevator doors opened on the top floor. Everett led me down a hallway with glass walls overlooking the city. We stopped at a massive conference room. He held the door open and gestured for me to go inside. I hesitated. This man was a billionaire CEO. He could do anything to me right now and nobody would believe my side of the story. But he looked more amused than he would cause me danger, so I entered, my mind going a million thoughts per second. "Sit,"he said. I sat. He took the chair across from me. "You just publicly proposed to me in my own building,"he said. "That takes either courage or insanity." "Insanity,"I said, quickly. "I had no idea it was you. I just wanted Flynn to stop following me." He smiled. "Tell me what happened." I told him about planning the proposal for two months, buying the ring, booking the Maldives tickets, and walking into Flynn's office to find him with Sage. When I was done, I 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 better. It was like I had relived the entire scene. "Flynn West,"Everett said, his voice cold now. "Your boyfriend is my executive assistant." "I know. I'm the one who got him the job actually."I looked down at my hands. "My friend works in HR." "Interesting."Everett pulled out his phone and typed something. "He's been impressing me lately with marketing concepts. I wondered where the sudden burst of talent came from." My head snapped up. "What do you mean?" "Those weren't his ideas, were they?" The realization sunk in. So he wasn't just cheating on me. He also took credit for my ideas to get to the top. "I helped him with a few presentations. He said he wanted my input because I have a marketing degree and he valued my opinion." "He stole your work and passed it off as his own."Everett's jaw tightened. "For how long?" "Six months maybe?"My voice came out small. "He always asked me to look over his presentations. I thought I was being supportive." "You were being used." The words stung because they were true. I'd spent three years putting Flynn first, helping him succeed, sacrificing my own career advancement so he could shine. I closed my eyes. This was the third time today I was shutting my tears in. "I'm an idiot,"I whispered. "You're not an idiot. You trusted someone who didn't deserve it."Everett leaned forward. "But that proposal in the lobby? "That was perfect timing."His gray eyes met mine. "I have a proposition for you." My stomach flipped. "What kind of proposition?" "Let's do a fake engagement for three months. I want to avoid my parents' matchmaking attempts, I help you get revenge on Flynn." I stared at him, my mouth hanging loose. He tapped his fingers on the table. "My parents have been trying to marry me off to Diella Ashford for five years. She's from old money, well connected, everything they think I need in a wife. The problem is I don't love her. I don't even like her. But they won't stop pushing until I'm engaged to someone else." I finally found my voice. "So you want to use me as a shield." "And you want to make Flynn regret ever betraying you. This arrangement benefits both of us." I should have said no. But the thought of Flynn seeing me with someone like Everett Montague, seeing me happy and successful while he rotted in his guilt, that thought was too tempting. "What would this arrangement involve?"I asked carefully. "They'll be a lot of public appearances. The media would be heavily invested. You would meet my family, and you'd need to move into my penthouse to make it convincing." "This is insane,"was my reply. A chuckle left his lips and I nearly melted. "You proposed to a stranger in a corporate lobby. If that's not insane, I don't know what else it is. Finally, You'd receive fifteen thousand dollars a month as compensation. After three months we have a quiet breakup and go our separate ways." My mouth hung open again. I'd never seen that amount of money in my life before. "Any questions?" I shook my head. "Any remarks?" I leaned forward. "Don't you think this would be awkward since Flynn works for you?" He waved dismissively. "Oh, about that. He's getting a transfer to the site office in Chicago. He'll be far from both of us." His voice was cold. "I need to think about it,"I said. "Take your time."Everett stood up. "But not too much time. My mother is already calling about meeting my mystery fiancée. News travels fast in this building." Before I could respond, someone pounded on the conference room door. "Liora, please. I need to talk to you. Mr. Montague, please let me explain." I sighed. Flynn. Everett looked at me. "Do you want me to have security remove him?" I looked at the door. Flynn at the other side, begging for another chance because he saw that I piqued his boss interest, then I looked back at Everett Montague with his expensive suit and amused gray eyes and completely insane proposal. "I accept your deal,"I said. "Excellent."He walked to the door and opened it. Flynn stumbled inside. "Liora, thank God. Listen to me. Sage means nothing. It was a stupid mistake. I love you. I want to marry you. Please don't do this." Never have I ever met a more confused bloody liar. Flynn gestured wildly at Everett. "You don't even know him. This is crazy. You're just upset and acting out but we can fix this…" "I said yes,"Everett interrupted. " We're engaged." Flynn's mouth fell open. "You can't be serious." Everett's hand circled around my waist and pulled me against him. "Isn't that right, darling?" My heart hammered in my chest. This was really happening. I was really doing this. "Yes,"I managed to say. "We're engaged." "Liora, you're being ridiculous,"Flynn snapped. "You met him five minutes ago. This is insane." "You're right,"I said. "It is insane. But you know what else is insane? Finding out the man I loved for three years has been cheating on me for months while stealing my work to advance his own career." Flynn's face went pale. "I didn't—" "Save it. We're done. I'm moving on." My eyes landed on Everett's lips. Everett's hand tightened on my waist. Then he did something I didn't expect. He leaned down and kissed me. It was supposed to be for show. But the moment his lips touched mine, electricity shot through my entire body. My hands came up to his chest, feeling the expensive fabric of his suit, the solid chest underneath. I wanted more of him, and he pushed me closer to him to deepen the kiss. My entire body was on fire. Flynn's face crumbled. "Liora—" "The engagement announcement goes out tomorrow,"Everett said, his voice cold again. His hand never left my waist. "Clear your desk, Flynn. You're transferred to the Chicago office. Effective immediately." Flynn's mouth opened and closed. No words came out. He looked at me one last time, his eyes pleading. I looked away. "Get out,"Everett said. Flynn left. The door slammed behind him. I stood there in Everett Montague's arms, my lips still tingling from the kiss, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might explode. What did I just agree to? Everett's hand was still on my waist. His thumb moved in small circles against my hip, sending shivers up my spine. "Pack your things,"he said, his voice low. "You're moving in tonight." "Tonight?"My voice came out breathless. "We need to make this convincing. The faster we move, the more real it looks."His gray eyes met mine. "Unless you've changed your mind?" "I haven't changed my mind,"I said. "Good."Everett finally stepped back, breaking the contact between us. "I'll send a car for you at seven. Pack light. You can buy whatever else you need." "Okay,"I whispered. He walked to the door, then paused. "And Liora, Welcome to the family." Then he was gone and I was alone in the conference room, my lips still tingling, my heart still racing, wondering what the hell I just got myself into.