“Arnold, there is some kind of miscommunication here. I?—”
“You know I hate doing business with those playboy types. No one cares about the family these days. It’s good to see you finally making an honest woman out of this gem.”
“Oh Arnold, stop. I’m an engaged woman now,” Carly says with a blush as she shoos him away.
A huge diamond ring catches my attention on her left hand, and I snatch it midair to examine it. She smiles at me happily as I glare at her.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Nico,” Arnold chastises as Carly smiles.
“It’s fine. We had a bit of a late night,” she winks.
Arnold laughs like he’s in on a dirty joke before nodding.
“I’m going to use the restroom, I’ll give you two some privacy. Congratulations again.”
“Thank you so much!” Carly smiles as she rests her hand onto my chest.
As soon as Arnold is out of the room, I toss her hand off of me and take several steps back.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
Her blissful smile drops as she gives me a flat look.
“Jesus, you very well may be the worst actor I’ve ever met in my life. I’m securing you another fat investment from that rich son of a bitch. You’re welcome.”
“Why the fuck did you tell him we’re engaged?” I snap.
“Oh, because we are, baby. See, you even bought me this gorgeous six carat ring,” she says as she wiggles her ring in my face.
“I didn’t buy you anything,” I scoff.
She shrugs as she paces through my office, taking a seat once again in my chair.
“Well, it was your credit card that made the purchase, ergo, you bought it for me. How could I say no?” she smiles, lifting her shoulders up as she admires the ring.
Running a hand through my hair I shake my head.
“I don’t have it in me to keep up with whatever stupid fucking game you’re trying to play, Carly.”
“Baby, this is not a game. This is real. Did you honestly think I was going to let the best thing that ever happened to me walk out the door and I wasn’t going to fight for it?”
“Fight for what? We’re over, Carly.”
“We’re over, when I say we’re over.”
She slaps down a magazine onto my desk and my face pales as I look at it. An impressively well photoshopped picture of me on one knee proposing to her is on the front page with the words “Billionaire CEO Nicholas Sanders proposes to longtime girlfriend.”.
“What?” I snarl as I clutch the paper in my hands.
“Five other online media outlets have published their coverage on it and our engagement party has been all planned. Invites have already been sent out.”
“What engagement party? We’re not fucking engaged!” I shout, because my god, it’s like talking to a fucking wall.
She fakes shock as she covers her hand over her heart.
“Are you saying you want to break off the engagement? I don’t think that will look too good to your clients, your investors, the board.”
