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PROVING GROUND 4
Última actualización:
2026-02-14 13:30:08
Último capítulo
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL EXPOSED
LIORASunday morning I woke up to my phone ringing. Unknown number. I almost didn't answer."Hello?""Liora Jovan?" A woman's voice. Professional. "This is Rebecca Chen from People magazine. I'm writing a piece about you and Everett Montague. Do you have time for a few questions?""No. Sorry." I hung up.It rang again immediately. Different number."Miss Jovan, this is David Park from Entertainment Weekly—"I hung up and turned off my phone.Margaret knocked on my door. "The press wants interviews. About the gala. About your relationship. Mr. Montague's publicist is handling it but they thought you should know.""Tell them no comment.""They're offering money. Substantial amounts for exclusive interviews."I thought about my student loans. About how much money substantial meant. "Still no."Margaret nodded. "I'll let them know."I got dressed and went to the kitchen. Everett was already there reading something on his tablet. He looked tired."You okay?" I asked."Ramsey leaked somethi
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL THE GALA
LIORAThe week before the gala passed in a blur. Everett was busy with damage control from whatever Ramsey had done. I was busy launching the campaign. We barely saw each other except at night when we were both too tired to talk.But the notes kept coming.I found one Tuesday morning. "You were right about the emotional marketing angle. The early numbers are incredible. -E"I wrote back. "Told you so."His response came that night. "Don't get cocky. It's only been three days."Thursday he left me a coffee on the kitchen counter with a note. "Remembered you like extra cream. -E"I smiled for an hour after that.Friday morning Margaret woke me up early. "Hair and makeup team is here. The gala starts at seven."I spent four hours getting ready. They did my hair in loose waves. My makeup made me look like someone else. Someone who belonged at charity galas with billionaires.The emerald dress fit perfectly. I put on the diamond earrings Everett had insisted on buying. I looked in the mirr
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL PROVING GROUND 4
LIORAI went to my room and closed the door. Then I let myself cry. Quiet tears that I wiped away as fast as they fell.I was so stupid. Of course he didn't feel the same way. This was business to him. A transaction. I was just the girl who proposed in a lobby and gave him a way out of his parents' matchmaking.I hugged my pillow and tried to sleep. But all I could think about was the way he'd looked at me tonight. The way he'd laughed. The way he'd shared real parts of himself.Maybe I'd imagined it. Maybe I'd seen what I wanted to see instead of what was really there.Down the hall, Everett lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. He'd almost said it back. The words were right there. I'm falling for you too.But Claire's face flashed in his mind. The check his parents wrote. The way she'd left without fighting for him.Everyone had a price. Everyone left eventually.But Liora wasn't Claire. She'd proven that today. She'd stood up to the board, to Ramsey, to everyone who said she didn'
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL PROVING GROUND 3
LIORAThe 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
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL PROVING GROUND 2
LIORAI had three days to save my career. Three days to prove I wasn't just the boss's girlfriend. Three days before the board decided if Ramsey Bellamy was right about me.I didn't sleep much. My team slowly started helping instead of fighting me. Even Derek admitted I might not be completely hopeless. We worked long hours getting everything ready.But the worst part wasn't the work. It was Everett.After our fight about Claire, he avoided me. I saw him in meetings and hallways but he didn't stop to talk. He just nodded politely and kept walking like I was any other employee.There was no more hand holding, no more late night kitchen talks and no more moments where it felt like we were becoming something real.It hurt worse than I expected. I told myself it was better this way and easier. But it didn't feel easier. It felt like losing something I never had.On the second day, someone knocked on the penthouse door. I opened it and found Nuala standing there."Mrs. Montague," I said. M
THE VALENTINE PROPOSAL RIVAL'S MOVE
LIORAEverett turned away. He walked to the window and stared outside."You met with a man who's been trying to destroy my company for ten years," he said. His voice was cold. "A man who sees you as just a tool to hurt me. And you're mad at me for not telling you every detail of my past?""I'm mad because you're hiding things.""We barely know each other, Liora." He turned around. "We've been engaged for three weeks. Most of that was pretending for cameras and family dinners. You don't get to demand my whole life story."The words hurt more than they should have. "You're right. We barely know each other. Maybe that's the problem.""This is exactly what Ramsey wants." Everett's hands made fists. "He wants to make us fight and make you doubt me. Don't you see? He just made you think I'm using you.""Are you?"The question came out before I could stop it. Everett stared at me like I hit him."Are you using me?" I asked again. My voice shook. "Because everyone keeps saying I'm in over my
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