The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: The Gala

Aria’s POV

"It’s a statement." Damien’s voice came from the doorway. He was already dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo that made my mouth go dry. "And you need to make one."

I turned away from how good he looked. "I’m announcing a corporate merger, not walking a runway."

"You’re doing both." He moved into the room. "Every major player in Ravenwood will be there tonight. Sterling Industries, Marcus’s potential allies, the board members we need to convince. Aria, you can’t show up looking like you’re not confident in this merger."

"I am confident." I grabbed the dress off the hanger. "I just don’t need to advertise it with my cleavage."

"The dress is perfectly tasteful," Olivia said. "And you have amazing cleavage. Use it."

"I hate both of you." But I headed toward the bathroom to change.

"Love you too!" Olivia called after me.

Ten minutes later, I stood in front of the full-length mirror, barely recognizing myself. The red silk hugged every curve, the neckline low but elegant, the slit in the skirt revealing just enough leg to be devastating. My hair fell in dark waves over my shoulders, and with the diamond earrings Damien had insisted I borrow, I looked like...

"You look like a CEO who could buy and sell everyone in that room twice over," Olivia said softly, appearing behind me. "You look like the woman who conquered Europe’s tech sector and came home to claim what’s hers."

"I look terrified." My voice was quiet.

"You look powerful." She squeezed my shoulders. "And Damien’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you, which is entertaining for those of us watching."

"We’re not" I started.

"You’re living together, having sex, raising a child together, merging companies together." She raised an eyebrow. "At what point do we stop pretending you’re ’not together’?"

I didn’t have an answer for that.

When I emerged from the bedroom, Damien was pacing in the living room, checking his phone. He looked up, and the expression on his face made my pulse race. "Aria." His voice was rough. "You’re"

"If you say ’gorgeous’ I’m changing back into my suit," I warned.

"I was going to say ’devastating.’" His eyes traveled slowly down my body and back up. "But gorgeous works too."

"Mama, you look like a princess!" Noah ran over from where he’d been playing with his dinosaurs. "Like the pretty ones in my books!"

"Thank you, baby." I knelt carefully in the dress to hug him. "You be good for Dora tonight, okay?"

"I will." He hugged me tight. "And Mama? You and Daddy look like you’re going to a wedding."

"Just a boring business party." I kissed his forehead.

"Mr. Peterson says when grown-ups dress up fancy, it means something important is happening." Noah looked between us seriously. "So this must be really important."

"It is," Damien said, crouching beside us. "Your mama and I are telling everyone that we’re partners now. In business."

"And in family?" Noah asked hopefully.

"We’re working on it, buddy." Damien ruffled his hair. "Now, you have fun with Dora and we’ll tell you all about the boring party tomorrow."

"It’s not boring if you’re dressed like that," Noah said matter-of-factly.

******

The car ride to the Ravenwood Grand Hotel was tense. Damien kept glancing at me, his hand resting possessively on my thigh through the slit in my dress.

"You need to stop looking at me like that," I said quietly.

"Like what?" His voice was innocent.

"Like you’re planning to skip the gala entirely and take me back home."

"The thought crossed my mind." His fingers traced small circles on my skin. "You’re making it very difficult to concentrate on business strategy."

"That’s not the plan." I caught his hand. "The plan is: arrive, make joint announcement, schmooze with board members, deflect questions about our personal relationship, and leave. Professional. Clean. Simple."

"When has anything between us ever been simple?" His thumb brushed against my wrist.

"Tonight it will be." I pulled my hand away as the car stopped. "Because we’re partners and we’re presenting a united front. Nothing more."

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