"We weren't sure how to tell you," Killian said as he looked down at April. "But since you've clearly moved on with Brenda, I suppose there's no need to hide it anymore. We didn't want to hurt you, but April and I can't deny it any longer."
Chad's face went through a series of tragic shades, landing somewhere between ash grey and sunburnt rage. "Hide it? Hide what? What are you talking about?!"
April raised her left hand as if to tuck her hair behind her ear and let the heirloom diamond catch the fluorescent light, throwing a disco of lies down the hallway. "I thought your little 'prank' with Brenda was your way of telling me you wanted out. It's such a relief. Now we can finally go public."
"Engaged?!" Chad choked. "Killian, she's my girl! We've been together three years! This—this is a prank, right? This is the best 'Gotcha' ever! Good one, man! You almost had me!"
He let out a laugh that sounded like it had been strangled halfway up his throat. His eyes darted from April's face to the diamond, then to April tucked into the CEO's side like she'd always belonged there. The color drained from his face.
"No, seriously, this is a bit, right?" His voice cracked again. He gestured wildly between them, movements jerky and uncoordinated. "You're not actually with him, April. You said he was intense and emotionally constipated! You said you'd never date someone who schedules their life in fifteen-minute blocks! I get it. Ha-ha. Okay. Joke's over now. Let's all go to lunch andlaugh about it." Chad clapped Killian on the shoulder like they were frat brothers sharing a bit.
Killian shrugged him off. "It's no prank, bro." Then he laced his fingers through April's, the ring pressing into her skin. He leaned in. "Smile. We're making him regret everything."
Then, louder: "We have a formal announcement to make." His voice carried the authority of a corporate acquisition as he led April toward the bullpen without looking back at Chad.
"Wait! Announcement?" Chad stuttered, still rooted to the spot.
He scrambled after them, shoes squealing in protest. "This is a joke! I know it! April, cupcake, stop being so dramatic and tell him the prank is over!"
Cupcake.He called her cupcake like twenty minutes and one HR violation ago hadn't happened.
They reached the center of the bullpen—April, Killian, and Chad trailing behind them like the world's worst parade—and fifty pairs of eyes lifted from dual monitors as Killian stopped. He raised their joined hands just slightly, the diamond doing the rest.
"Team," Killian said, "I have some personal news."
The office held its breath. Even the printers stopped.
"I've always kept my private life separate from the firm. Today, April and I are no longer doing that. We're engaged."
A gasp rippled through the room, already accelerating into something that would spread faster than gossip at a small-town church potluck.
"Wait, wasn't she with Chad?"
"Is that a ten-carat diamond?"
The murmurs dissolved into applause that swelled quickly; no one wanted to be the employee not applauding the CEO.
Chad broke through the crowd. He lunged, reaching for April's arm. "April, look at me! You can't just—"
Arthur was there before anyone else moved. He calmly reached for a nearby ergonomic chair and rolled it between them like a chess piece placed to block checkmate.
Chad stumbled back, suddenly separated from April by reinforced lumbar support and pure HR compliance.
Arthur looked down at him with the same expression he reserved for suspicious mileage claims on expense reports.
Chad tried to step around the chair, but Arthur shifted just enough to block him. Whispers spread. Phones slipped into camera mode. The crowd absorbed him like quicksand, closing ranks around April and Killian.
Killian checked his watch. His expression returned to business, but his hand stayed at April's waist.
"I hate to leave you in the middle of our celebration, darling," he murmured, "but I have a board meeting I can't reschedule."
He turned, raising his voice to reclaim the room. "Since today is a day for surprises"—his eyes cut briefly to Chad—"I've arranged for a catered lunch for the entire floor. Consider it a celebration of our new chapter."
He turned to Arthur. "Make sure she isn't bothered. By anyone."
Arthur nodded once, with the gravity of a man double-checking a billion-dollar spreadsheet. "I have her."
Killian gave April one last look that didn't ask for anything or pretend nothing had happened, then turned toward the elevators.
