Minnie POV
After picking out our dresses, Will took me straight to a luxury salon. I smiled and shook my head at how thoughtful he was. The makeup artist gave me a soft, simple glam look that highlighted my eyes, and styled my dark hair down in effortless, loose waves that cascaded over my shoulders.
By the time we finished and reached the grand venue, night had fallen. As the car pulled up to the entrance, I saw dozens of news reporters standing outside, their camera flashes blinking like blinding lights. A wave of intense nervousness washed over me.
Will stepped out of the car, walked over to my side, and opened the door for me. My breath hitched in my throat as he held out his hand. Looking up into his steady, confident eyes, I placed my hand in his and stepped out onto the red carpet.
He leaned down and whispered softly, "You are so beautiful, love."
My heart skipped a beat, a sweet smile blooming on my face. Will handed the car keys to the valet, then bent his elbow so I could slip my arm through his. As we walked toward the entrance, cameras flashed rapidly in our faces, making my chest tighten with anxiety. Feeling my tension, Will leaned in close to my ear and murmured, "Don't be nervous, love. I'm right here with you."
Just as we crossed the threshold into the grand hall, a familiar, teasing voice called out to us.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Will!" Nova grinned, stepping out from the crowd.
My eyes went wide in shock. Mrs. Will?! What is he thinking saying that in front of everyone?!
"Nova... what..." I stammered, my face burning up.
Before I could finish, Will squeezed my hand and chuckled smoothly, "It's okay, love. One day, you really will become Mrs. Will."
I blushed furiously, completely speechless. Before I could process his words, someone called Will's name. We turned around and saw Mr. Smith walking toward us with a forced, cheerful smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Will!" Mr. Smith said, shaking Will's hand before turning his gaze to me. His eyes swept over my dark red velvet dress, a sleazy undertone in his voice. "Oh, Ms. Minnie, is that you? I almost didn't recognize you. You look absolutely amazing tonight."
I gave him the coldest, most fake smile I could muster. Mr. Smith then turned back to Will. "Mr. Will, come with me. Let me introduce you to the main investors."
I tried to gently pull my arm away so Will could mingle freely, but the moment he felt my hand slipping, he tightened his grip, pulling me right back flush against his side. I smiled softly to myself, my heart fluttering at how possessively he held me.
The Grand Introduction
A few moments later, Mr. Smith stepped up to the main stage and tapped the microphone, his voice echoing loudly across the luxurious hall.
"Good evening, everyone! Thank you all for coming tonight-my beloved employees, distinguished guests, and shareholders," Mr. Smith announced, trying to sound emotional. "It is my honor to introduce the new Chairman and owner of this company. I must admit, I feel a deep sadness as I prepare to leave you all..."
Standing near the edge of the crowd, I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. Right next to me, two female employees whispered under their breaths, unaware that I was standing near them.
"What a jerk," one whispered furiously. "We are thrilled he's leaving! He barely paid us on time and constantly misbehaved around female staff. He's such a bastard. I really hope our new chairman puts him in his place."
A surge of anger boiled inside me. How dare he treat his employees like that? I was glad Will was taking over this place.
Mr. Smith finished his dramatic speech and pointed toward our side of the room. "Please give a warm welcome to your new Chairman, Mr. Will!"
The room burst into applause. Will squeezed my hand one last time before stepping up onto the stage with total confidence. Standing tall in his sharp, dark wine-red suit, he looked like a king taking his throne. He adjusted the microphone, his sharp, dark gaze sweeping over the crowd until his eyes locked onto mine. The room fell into dead silence, captivated by his powerful, dark presence.
"Thank you, Mr. Smith, for that... dramatic farewell," Will began, his deep, magnetic voice commanding the entire room. "I bought this company because I see its true potential, but more importantly, because I know the hard work of the employees here has been overlooked for far too long. Under my leadership, things are going to change immediately. Misconduct will not be tolerated, respect will be mandatory, and everyone here will finally receive what they truly deserve. To my team, I assure you that Sky Wings is entering a new era-one where strength, integrity, and absolute loyalty come first."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with intense authority as the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, while Mr. Smith stood on the side, his face turning completely pale.
He continued speaking, his deep voice echoing across the big hall. "I have an announcement to make. Soon, we are going to start a new Fashion Design department. We will make our own clothing brand, and our modeling agency will grow even bigger!"
My eyes went wide. Wow, what a great idea! I looked at him, feeling super proud.
Right away, reporters started asking questions. Will answered them one by one in a cool, calm voice. But at the end, they asked about his love life. I rolled my eyes-why was everyone so curious about his private business?
"Mr. Will!" a female reporter called out. "In your last interview, you said you liked someone. Did she forgive you?"
My breath stopped. I remembered that interview so clearly. Will looked right at me with a big, handsome smile. "Yes, I got my girl."
Another reporter pushed his microphone forward. "That woman must be Lucy, right? You two dated in the past, and she is the top model here. Did you buy this company for her?"
I could feel Will getting very angry. His face turned dark and cold. Beside me, Nova whispered, "I think that reporter is in big trouble."
I tried not to laugh. Will spoke in a very cold voice. "You are completely wrong. My past relationship ended years ago. I don't care about her at all. I have found my true soulmate-the only girl for me."
"Can you tell us who she is?" the reporter asked.
Instead of answering from the stage, Will stepped down and walked straight toward me. The whole room went completely silent. He took my hand in his warm grip, looked into my eyes, and said, "She is right here. The love of my life."
Cameras flashed everywhere! The security guards quickly stepped in and pushed the reporters back. I took a deep breath and looked up at Will. "Are you angry, my love?"
Will smiled softly. I shook my head and said, "Actually, Will... I am starving. Let's go eat."
Before we could walk to the food table, a sweet, annoying female voice called Will's name. We both turned around. I held Will's hand tightly as my heart dropped. Standing there was a girl in a very short, revealing dress-Lucy i think . But my eyes did not stay on her. Standing right next to her was the person I hated the most.
Pranav.
My blood went cold. Memories of that horrible night-his mean actions and the nightmare he caused-came rushing back. What was he doing here? Why was he back in my life?
"Hi, Will! How are you?" Lucy asked with a fake smile. "Oh, Will... I missed you so much. I am so sorry for what I did before-"
"Do not talk to me like that," Will cut her off coldly. "I am the Chairman of this company. We ended when you cheated on me. You are just an employee to me now. Do not interfere in my life."
I froze, staring at the floor in shock. Will called out gently, "Love? You said you were hungry. Let's go eat."
I nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. As we walked away, I whispered, "So... was she your..."
"Yes, love," Will said softly.
Suddenly, Mr. Smith's voice boomed behind us. "Mr. Will! Let me introduce my son, Pranav. He just came back from a meeting. He is the CEO of our partner company."
His son?! I was in total shock. Pranav held out his hand to Will, giving a fake smile while staring at me with his ugly eyes. "Mr. Will, let's have a good relationship in the future."
I could not stand being near him for another second. I leaned into Will's ear and whispered, "I need to use the washroom."
Will nodded softly, and I walked away quickly. Inside the washroom, I looked at myself in the mirror. My hands were shaking. How could this happen? How could I tell Will about what Pranav tried to do to me? What if Will thought badly of me?
I quickly called my best friend Sara. She answered, "Hey baby girl! Do you miss me?"
"Sara..." I whispered, almost crying.
"Minnie? What happened? Are you okay?" she asked, worried.
"Sara... Pranav is here," I said, telling her everything about Sky Wings, Mr. Smith, and his evil son.
Sara spoke strictly. "Minnie, listen to me! You must tell Will about him. Will loves you, and he will protect you. He will understand!"
"Okay... I tell him," I said. Hearing the door open, I added, "Sara, I have to go."
I hung up, washed my face with cold water, and took a deep breath. But as soon as I turned to leave, I froze.
"You look so beautiful, Minnie. You changed a lot," a disgusting voice said from the dark corner.
My heart stopped. "What are you doing here, Pranav? Get away from me!"
I tried to run past him, but he grabbed my hands and forcefully pulled me into a tight hug.
"Minnie, I am so sorry for what I did!" he pleaded, holding me tight. "I lost my mind back then, but I really love you. Seeing you again is destiny! Please give me one last chance!"
Anger boiled inside me. Using all my strength, I shoved him away with all my power and slapped him hard across the face.
CRACK!
Pranav stumbled back, holding his red cheek in shock.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" I yelled, breathing heavily and glaring at him with pure hatred. "You want my forgiveness after what you tried to do to me?! Get the hell out of my life! Stay away from me!"
Without waiting for him to speak, I turned around and walked away as fast as I could. Before reaching Will, I stopped, took a deep breath, and calmed myself down.
When I looked up, I saw Will standing there. The moment his eyes met mine, his cold face turned into the softest, safest smile. He was my safe place. I walked over, held his hand tightly, and looked up at him.
"Shall we go home, Will? I am so tired," I whispered.
Will sensed that something was wrong. He squeezed my hand gently, holding me close. "Let's go home, love."
Will POV
I held Minnie's hand tightly as I drove toward her apartment. She was unusually quiet, staring out the car window with heavy eyes. The moment she returned from the washroom at the party, her bright energy had completely vanished.
When I parked outside her building, she unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at me, her eyes pleading for comfort. "Will... it's really late. Why don't you stay at my apartment tonight? We can go to the office together tomorrow."
I looked at her pale face, my dark mood instantly softened. "Okay, love. I'll stay."
We went upstairs into her quiet apartment. Minnie sat down on the sofa, her hands trembling in her lap. I sat right beside her, pulling her small body flush against my chest and wrapping my arms around her like a shield. "Tell me, love. What happened back there
Minnie took a deep, shaky breath, her fingers clutching my suit jacket tightly. "Will... do you remember Pranav? Mr. Smith's son?"
"Yes," I said, my voice dropping into a cold tone at the mention of his name.
"Back in my college days..." Minnie began, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes. "I used to work a part-time job after classes to support myself. One night, after finishing my shift, I was walking back home alone in the dark. Pranav saw me on the road and blocked my way. He started misbehaving with me and tried to force himself on me..."
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed against my chest. "Later, I found out the sickening truth. He had made a bet with his friends that he could easily make me fall in love with him. But because I ignored him and he failed his bet, he got furious and tried to ruin my life that night. I was so terrified, Will. It was the worst nightmare of my life..."
Hearing her story sent a wave of absolute, terrifying rage crashing through my entire body. My blood turned into liquid fire. The thought of that disgusting coward targeting my innocent girl over a sick bet made me want to tear him apart with my bare hands. My jaw clenched so hard it ached, and my knuckles turned white.
I am going to destroy him, I promised silently, my mind was consumed by dark, violent thoughts.
I held Minnie close as her crying slowly quieted down into soft hitches of breath. She was still trembling against my chest, her fingers clutching my shirt like I was the only anchor keeping her afloat in a storm. Hearing about what that bastard Pranav did to her-about his disgusting bet, his entitlement, and the fear he forced onto her-sent an ice-cold, murderous rage through every vein in my body. But right now, looking down at her pale, tear-stained face, my dark anger had to wait. She needed me here, completely present and gentle.
I cupped her soft face in my warm hands, tilting her head up so she was forced to look straight into my eyes. "Minnie, look at me," I said, my voice dropping into a low, steady gravel. "None of that was your fault. You hear me, love? That pathetic coward tried to hurt you because he couldn't control you. You are the bravest, most resilient woman I know, and nothing he did makes you any less incredible."
I leaned down and pressed a long, soft kiss against her forehead, letting my lips linger there while my thumb gently wiped away the wet trails on her cheeks.
She swallowed hard, her dark eyes searching mine with a raw, desperate vulnerability. "Will..." she whispered, her voice shaking as she reached up to grip the lapels of my suit jacket. "Make me forget him. Please... I don't want to think about that night anymore. I don't want his ghost in my head. Help me replace every terrible memory with you."
My breath hitched. Every protective, gentlemanly instinct inside me instantly slammed the brakes. I stared down at her, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Love... are you sure?" I asked hesitatingly, my voice thick with emotion. "I want you more than life itself, but I never, ever want to take advantage of you when you're hurt or overwhelmed. You don't have to do this tonight just to escape."
"I'm not escaping, Will," she whispered softly, leaning in until her warm breath brushed my lips. "I'm choosing you. I only want you."
That single sentence completely broke my last shred of restraint.
I wrapped my arms securely around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest until there wasn't a single millimeter of air between us. My lips captured hers in an intense, breathless kiss-deep, possessive, and overflowing with a dark, fierce devotion. I lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carried her into the quiet shadows of the bedroom, never breaking the intoxicating rhythm of our kiss.
Lowering her onto the soft mattress, I hovered over her, the dark shadows of the room framing us in our own private sanctuary. My large hands slid up her waist, slowly unzipping her dark red velvet dress and letting the fabric fall away. Every touch, every burning press of my skin against hers was deliberate, marking every inch of her with my love and driving away the shadows of her past.
"You are mine, Love only Mine," I growled softly against the hollow of her throat, making her arch her back and gasp my name into the quiet room. "Every single piece of you belongs to me, and as long as I am breathing, I will spend every second protecting you."
Her hands pulled me down, her fingers lacing tight through my hair as the rest of the world dissolved around us. Every breath she took against my lips was heavy, fast, and completely consumed by the heat we were building together. I shifted my weight, careful not to crush her, but keeping my body pressed close enough so she felt every beat of my racing heart against hers.
"Will..." my name broke from her lips in a soft, breathless gasp as my mouth traced down the line of her jaw, finding that sensitive spot on her neck.
"I'm right here, love," I whispered against her skin, my voice low and thick with an intense, possessive warmth.
I took my time with her, making sure every touch was deliberate, every kiss deep and lingering. My hand slid up her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us. I wanted her to feel safe, wanted her to know that within these four walls, she was entirely mine-protected and loved beyond measure. The cold shadow of her past didn't stand a chance against the fire blooming in the dark room.
When my mouth found hers again, the kiss wasn't hesitant anymore; it was deep, intoxicating, and filled with a fierce devotion that made her arch into my touch, her breathing tangled completely with mine. She held onto my shoulders like I was her whole world, and in that dark, quiet night, she was truly mine.
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Author Note
Hello my dear Readers hope you are all doing well!! If you like this chapter don't forget to vote and support đź’“đź’ś