The entire room held its collective breath. Victoria sat at the head of the table, calmly flipping through a quarterly report, but Marcus could see her perfectly manicured eyebrow arch at his question. Her expression suggested she found his nosiness distinctly offensive.
"That's none of your business," Victoria replied with ice-cold harshness that made everyone shrink in their chairs. "The quarterly reports better be exceptional."
The thinly veiled threat hung in the air like a storm cloud. Everyone immediately focused on their materials, suddenly very interested in productivity metrics and performance indicators.
After the meeting, as her staff began packing up their belongings, Victoria's voice cut through the rustle of papers and quiet conversations.
"And no, we are not dating."
The words registered immediately, and her employees looked at each other with renewed confusion. Marcus felt a mixture of relief and puzzlement. If they weren't dating, then what had that passionate kiss been about? He had been right that James wasn't Victoria's usual type. Maybe she was just playing with him after all.
Marcus was settling into this conclusion when Victoria's next words shattered every assumption in the room.
"We are married."
The silence that followed was deafening. Every person in the conference room wore identical expressions of complete shock, their eyes wide and mouths agape. The implications hit them like a tidal wave.
Victoria Sharp, the woman they had all considered untouchable, the CEO who had never shown romantic interest in anyone, the perfectionist who seemed to have impossibly high standards for everything including men, was married. Not just dating, not just engaged, but actually married.
The revelation sent shockwaves through their understanding of reality itself.
Victoria smirked at their stunned expressions, clearly enjoying the dramatic impact of her announcement. She stood gracefully and walked toward the door, every eye in the room following her movement.
"You're all invited to the grand ceremony. Invitations will be sent out soon," she said casually before exiting, leaving her staff in various states of shock and excitement.
The room remained silent for several heartbeats before exploding into spirited conversations. Congratulations mixed with amazement, surprise blended with genuine happiness for their formidable boss who had somehow found love.
As usual, the news spread throughout the entire company within hours. Those who had been curious finally had their answers, and the overwhelming response was joy for the couple who had managed to find each other despite all odds.
Soon, March arrived with the promise of new beginnings and eternal love.
Victoria had chosen a beachfront location for their wedding ceremony, and the significance wasn't lost on either of them. This was where they had given themselves to each other completely for the first time, where their love had been born in salt air and moonlight.
The guest list included family, close friends, and business partners, including the Petrovs, who wouldn't have missed James and Victoria's wedding for anything. Money was no object for either family, and Victoria's vision for perfection meant every detail was flawless.
On their wedding day, Victoria was absolutely radiant. Her dress was a masterpiece of silk and lace that seemed to capture and reflect the ocean breeze. Her slight pregnancy glow made her even more beautiful, if such a thing were possible.
James looked impeccably handsome in his white suit, every inch the successful businessman and devoted husband-to-be. Looking at him standing at the altar, Victoria felt her heart swell with pride and love. He was everything she had ever wished for, hoped for, and so much more.
James's mother and Victoria's father cried continuously throughout the ceremony, their joy overflowing in tears of happiness. When James and Victoria exchanged vows, their words spoke of their journey through betrayal and pain, redemption and forgiveness, and ultimately, the triumph of love over every obstacle.
"Victoria," James said, his voice strong and clear as he looked into her eyes, "you have challenged me, changed me, and completed me. You are my heart, my soul, and my future. I promise to love you through every storm and celebrate with you in every joy."
Victoria's vows were equally moving. "James, you saw past my walls and loved me when I couldn't love myself. You never gave up on us, even when I had given up hope. You are my anchor, my peace, and my greatest blessing. I promise to choose you every day for the rest of my life."
After the rings were exchanged and the final promises made, the officiant's voice rang out over the sound of waves lapping the shore.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife!"
The cheers and applause from their guests erupted like fireworks, filling the air with celebration and joy. The newly married couple walked down the aisle hand in hand, followed by their beaming families and friends.
The photo session captured every moment of their happiness, from intimate couples shots to large family portraits that would become treasured memories. The reception that followed was a celebration that lasted until midnight, filled with dancing, laughter, and heartfelt toasts to the couple's future.
James and Victoria had slipped away long before the party ended, eager to begin their official honeymoon and their first night as husband and wife in their own private celebration.
James felt like he was on top of the world, still unable to fully believe his incredible fortune in winning Victoria's heart. Victoria couldn't even find words to describe the waves of happiness that seemed to flow through her entire being, radiating outward in pure joy.
It didn't take long for the media to pick up the story of their marriage. Headlines blazed across entertainment and business publications alike, with photos from their beach ceremony gracing magazine covers. The public reaction was mixed, as it always was with celebrity news, many were genuinely happy for the couple, while others expressed skepticism or jealousy. None of the outside opinions mattered to James and Victoria, who were too wrapped up in their own happiness to care about public speculation.
Months passed in wedded bliss, and then came the blessing that would exceed even their wildest dreams.
When Victoria went into labor, both she and James expected to welcome their single baby as all the ultrasounds and checkups had indicated. The medical team's excited shouts of "Another one!" and "There's a third!" left the new parents in complete shock.
Triplets. Two girls and one boy, each perfect and healthy despite their surprise arrival.
Victoria, exhausted but glowing with maternal joy, named them in the order of their birth: Derah, the first daughter with James's dark brown hair and Victoria's determined chin; Delilah, the second daughter with Victoria's elegant features and James's gentle eyes; and Désiré, their son who seemed to be a perfect copy of James.
James stood beside Victoria's hospital bed, holding Désiré while she cradled both girls, and felt his heart expand beyond what he thought was humanly possible. Their family was complete in ways he had never even dared to dream.
Looking at his wife and children, surrounded by the love of their families and the promise of a bright future together, James knew that every struggle, every heartbreak, and every moment of pain had been worth this perfect ending.
Victoria met his eyes over their sleeping babies and smiled the radiant smile that had captured his heart all those years ago. In that moment, they both understood that this wasn't really an ending at all.
It was the beginning of their greatest adventure yet.
THE END