The Woman Behind the Proposal

Adrian strode into his office with his grandfather and Ethan close behind him. Without a word, he shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the couch before loosening his tie. His movements were hurried, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.

Not on the meeting.

Not on Aria.

On Chloe.

The name echoed in his head like a song he couldn't stop hearing.

"Chloe... Chloe Bennett," he murmured under his breath.

His grandfather watched him carefully before breaking the silence.

"Adrian."

He looked up.

"Are you really going to marry Aria?"

The question was firm, carrying the weight of genuine concern.

Adrian barely heard it. His thoughts were still occupied by the mysterious woman he had just met in the elevator.

Instead of answering, he walked to his desk, switched on his computer, and logged into NovaCare's employee database.

Ethan exchanged a confused glance with the chairman.

"What are you doing, sir?"

Adrian ignored him. His fingers flew across the keyboard until a profile appeared on the screen.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I knew it."

His voice was filled with satisfaction.

"What do you mean you knew it?" his grandfather asked, stepping closer.

Adrian turned the monitor toward them.

"Chloe Bennett. She's one of our employees."

Ethan leaned in to read the screen.

"Marketing Department... Product Development Team."

Adrian nodded.

"She's the employee who created the Bucket List Fish proposal."

His grandfather's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh... really?"

Ethan looked equally shocked.

"She's the same employee you singled out during the presentation because of that idea?"

"I remembered her name because it was unusual," Adrian admitted. "I assumed she was talented back then."

He paused, studying her profile picture.

"And it looks like I was right."

There was a strange admiration in his voice.

"She's incredibly competent."

He was about to say more when his grandfather interrupted impatiently.

"Enough about work."

The old man's voice echoed through the office.

"Answer my question."

Adrian sighed and leaned against the desk.

"What question?"

His grandfather folded his arms.

"You've always said blind dates were a complete waste of time. Now, after just one blind date, you're suddenly talking about marriage."

He narrowed his eyes.

"So what's really going on?"

A smug grin spread across Adrian's face.

"I'm giving you the granddaughter-in-law you've been begging me for."

The chairman blinked.

"Really?"

A smile slowly replaced his disbelief.

"So Aria agreed to marry you?"

Adrian's confidence only grew.

"What do you think?"

He straightened proudly.

"With this face, this body, impeccable manners, and a flawless personality..."

He smirked.

"Why would any woman say no to me?"

Ethan couldn't stop himself from laughing.

His grandfather burst into loud laughter as well.

"My handsome grandson is truly impossible."

The office filled with laughter for the first time that morning.

A few minutes later, the three of them walked through the company hallway together.

The chairman suddenly slowed his steps.

"Was Aria really that beautiful?"

Ethan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I'm... not sure."

"You were there."

"I didn't get a good look at her."

The chairman nodded absentmindedly before staring out through the glass windows overlooking the city.

His smile faded.

Deep inside, guilt settled in his heart.

Adrian lost both his parents when he was still young.

And I was too busy building this company to truly be there for him.

He released a quiet sigh.

Maybe it's time he built a family of his own... someone who will love and care for him the way I couldn't.

His eyes softened.

Then he turned to Ethan.

"And what about you?"

Ethan froze.

"M-Me?"

"Aren't you planning to find a girlfriend?"

Ethan nearly choked.

The chairman chuckled.

"Don't spend your whole life working for my grandson."

He patted Ethan's shoulder.

"Go and find a good woman for yourself."

Then he smiled warmly.

"And when you do... bring her to meet me."

Ethan stood speechless while Adrian laughed at his embarrassed expression.

The chairman walked ahead, completely unaware that fate had already begun weaving Chloe Bennett into Adrian Blake's life.