Chapter 10: Decisions

By Monday afternoon, Salma walked out of a grueling, three-hour conference, her head throbbing as her assistant hurried alongside her down the office corridor.

"Miss Wellington, you have your final bridal dress fitting scheduled for three o'clock this afternoon" her assistant murmured, flipping through her tablet. "And I’ve penciled in your lunch with Mr. Jim at one to discuss the final merger parameters. The shares are holding steady, but the board is anxious for a formal announcement regarding the acting CEO seat."

"My wedding is in two week, Joyce, the board shouldn't be worried about announcing CEO, my weddings would do just that. Keep the pressure on the public relations team" Salma muttered, pushing open the heavy glass doors to her private executive office.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Sitting comfortably on the corner of her pristine mahogany desk was her mother, looking incredibly striking in a flashy, gold-and-white designer suit that practically screamed old money.

"Mom," Salma said, her tone flat as she closed the door behind her. Her mother looked up, a sharp, instant smile spreading across her thin, red-painted lips.

"Sal, darling." She stood up gracefully, extending her arms.Salma walked into the embrace, offering a quick tight side-hug, immediately stepping around her to get behind the safety of her desk.

"You didn't mention you were stopping by today." She began frantically rearranging the neatly stacked files on her desk, intentionally avoiding her mother's sharp, assessing eyes.

"Yes, well... I wanted to discuss something incredibly important with you, Salma," her mother said, smoothly sliding into one of the leather armchairs facing the desk.

Salma paused, raising a single, skeptical eyebrow. "Go on."

"It's about Aria," her mother said, her voice dropping into a low whisper.

"I know you love the girl, and I know you have your little history but have you actually told her about the will? About the three men?"

Salma felt the air leave her lungs, she stiffened slowly dropping a manila folder back onto the desk.

"No. I haven't."

"Good. Keep it that way," her mother said firmly, leaning forward. "It wouldn't be good press right now, Salma. You are preparing to assume control of a multi-billion-dollar global empire. Being caught in a highly publicized relationship with a woman while simultaneously preparing for three high-society marriages? The media would tear the Wellington stock to pieces."

"I don't understand you, Mom!" Salma snapped, her professional restraint finally fracturing. "This entire legal shenanigans is already an absolute circus! A female heir being forced to marry three men simultaneously? The media is already circling like vultures. How is Aria going to make it any worse?"

"Because you can never predict what a hurt woman will do, Salma," her mother countered, her eyes cold and practical. "Imagine you tell her, she completely breaks down, and she takes her story straight to the national tabloids. The board would use the scandal to declare you unfit"

"Aria isn't like that," Salma said her voice shaking with anger. "She would never weaponize our relationship against me."

"You never truly know someone until you break their heart, my dear."

"We are not breaking up, Mom!" Salma slammed her palm lightly against the wood "The moment this mandatory year is over and the inheritance is securely unlocked, I am ending the contracts and I am marrying her. End of story."

Her mother let out a soft sigh, smoothing the front of her skirt.

"I never told you to break up with her, Salma. In fact, I'm telling you the exact opposite. Just act like absolutely nothing has changed in your world. She doesn't ever have to know about the marriages."

Salma stared at her in utter disbelief. "We are literally planning our own wedding for December! How the hell am I supposed to lie to her face? What kind of excuse do I even give her when I have to inevitably call her and cancel our wedding plans? Mom, I can't do this to her."

"Then why haven't you told her the truth yet?" her mother challenged, her voice dropping. "It’s been a full week since the will was read, Salma why are you keeping the secret?"

Salma’s jaw tightened "Because I'm still grieving Dad... and I... I just can't face it yet."

"Exactly," her mother said, standing up and with a cold, elegant finality. "You can't hide behind your grief forever, Salma. Make a decision, stick by it, and protect what is at stake."

The heavy click of her mother's luxury heels echoed against the hardwood floor, followed by the dramatic swish of her gold skirt as she exited the room. The heavy office door clicked shut, plunging the space back into absolute silence. Salma slumped heavily into chair, burying her face in her trembling hands as she fought the violent urge to scream at the top of her lungs. Why did she have to be the sole biological heir to the Wellington name? Why did she have to legally bind herself to three random men she felt absolutely zero attraction toward? Beneath the roaring ocean of questions in her mind, a dark realization settled deep into her stomach. She knew her mother was right. She was going to keep the secret—not to deceive Aria, but to desperately protect her fragile, failing heart from the devastating reality.