The Still CEO: Forged Succession

Chapter 5 - A Surprise

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Author’s POV

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Liviana sits in her car, her gaze fixed on the message from Chase that lights up her phone screen. In the message, Chase says he can’t wait for her to come home, and her stomach churns at that. He’s off, and she knows he wants to spend time together. But today, she's not in the mood to play the happy girlfriend. All she longs for is the solitude of her own space, the chance to soak in a warm bath, and some precious alone time over a glass of wine.

Today was a close call; if Chase had opened that door, he would have discovered her with Tyson, and the repercussions of that revelation would have been catastrophic for Tyson. They have to be careful now until Chase goes back to work again.

Liviana is tired of keeping her relationship with Tyson a secret, and it’s becoming suffocating. But Tyson doesn’t want the relationship discovered before he leaves his wife, and the process is taking longer than Liviana can endure.

She doesn’t understand why Tyson is dragging the whole thing out because it’s not like he needs Laurel anymore. He's rich now, and his father will die soon, so he’ll take over the company. Their lives could be on the verge of taking off, but he’s dragging his feet, and she’s starting to question whether he really intends to leave Laurel, and it’s causing frustration to fester within her.

She grabs her purse and exits the car, and she dials Chase’s number as she punches the code on her keypad to let him know she isn’t feeling well. He’ll be disappointed, but he’ll get over it. She pushes the door open, placing the phone against her ear, but a smell of food greets her nostrils, making her cut the call, realizing someone is in her apartment. Just then, her mother emerges, and her eyes widen, taking in her swollen lips.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, and her mother tells her she missed her, walking over to her. She hugs her daughter, but Liv tells her she knows she isn’t supposed to be here.

"What if Chase came by here and saw you?" She asks, proceeding inside, and her mother tells her to relax, adding that she wouldn't have told Chase that she was her mother. But Liv cuts her off, screaming.

"Mom! This is a $15,000 bottle of wine! I was saving this for a special occasion," she says, and her mother raises her hands, saying she’s sorry. She tells Liv she didn't realize. But Liv cuts her off, asking again what she’s doing in her place. Her mother tells her she had to go redo her lip surgery, but the insurance didn’t cover it this time, so she had to pay out of her pocket, and now she’s broke.

"I just gave you money last week!"

"I know, honey, this wasn’t planned. I thought my insurance would pay," she says, and Liv opens her mouth but closes it again knowing whatever she says won't matter, and takes out her checkbook, having no energy to deal with her mother.

"This is $5000. I don’t have any more money," she says, handing her mother the check before grabbing the car keys she just put down and heading out, leaving her mother standing there, saying she cooked.

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Chase

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My heart races with anticipation as I hear the unmistakable clicking of Liv's heels approaching the door. I quickly adjust the volume of the music playing softly in the background, making sure it's just right—not too loud to overwhelm the moment. With a final glance around the room to ensure everything is in its place, I pick up the bouquet of roses, a nervous smile stretching across my face.

The door handle begins to twist, and Liv's voice, laced with irritation, filters into the room as she complains about having to use the back entrance. "Chase!" she calls out, her annoyance evident, and I reply, letting her know my location.

She makes her way toward the dining area, continuing to grumble about why she had to come in through the back, and my smile broadens, knowing this annoyance will soon give way to a surprise. Coming through the back entrance means leaving her car outside the gate, and I knew from the last time I had work done in the house how annoyed she was that she had to use that entrance, but the car I bought for her is parked in front, and I didn’t want her to see it yet.

Her voice fills the room again as she questions why it's so dark inside, not knowing I intentionally dimmed the lights. But her words catch in her throat when she steps into the room and is met with a sight she wasn't expecting as the romantic ambiance I've painstakingly set up takes her by surprise.

"What is this?" Her voice comes out soft as she stops for a moment before proceeding inside, taking in the soft glow of candlelight that’s dancing across the room and the dining table adorned with elegant white linens, fine china, and crystal glasses.

“This is to say thank you," I reply, stepping up to her and handing her the fresh roses, their delicate fragrance filling the air while the classical music playing softly in the background completes the romantic ambiance.

"For what?" she asks, taking the roses and bringing them to her nose, and I tell her for being my rock. I take her free hand and keep it in mine, stepping closer to her.

"For everything you've done for me, for understanding the demands that have kept me away these past few months." I pause, my thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand as I continue, "I know I haven't been there for you the way I should have, and for that, I'm truly sorry. You've been patient and supportive, and I can't tell you how much that means to me." I add, my gaze never leaving hers. "I want you to know that I love you more than any words can ever convey. Your love and understanding have been my anchor through this challenging time, and I promise to make it up to you and to be there for you in every way possible from now on." I continue and see a mixture of emotions in her eyes—and a flicker of tears that she tries to hold back.

"Chase… I-I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this," she says, and I lean in and softly kiss her forehead before telling her she doesn’t have to say anything; she just has to let me appreciate her. With her hand in mine, I lead her towards the dining table. I pull out a chair for her, watching as she graciously takes her seat and admires the scene before her, hoping she likes everything.

But I don’t have to hope for long as she begins to compliment everything, putting me out of my misery as her words fill me with a warm sense of accomplishment.

I reach for the bottle of wine and pour it into our glasses before raising my glass.

"To making time," I make a toast, and we clink our glasses together before we both take a sip, the rich flavor of the wine hitting differently as I hold gazes with the woman of my dreams, praying she gives me her hand tonight. With a sense of contentment, I reach for the covered dishes in front of us, and her eyes light up as I reveal her favorite meal while I thank the universe again for making her mine.

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Kyra

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"Is everything alright?" my mother asks as I walk inside the living area, and I tell her what happened with the dog. I also mention that I hope it’s going to be okay. She hugs me, saying she's sorry and that she hopes it will be okay too, before asking me if I found Jude’s house and did what he wanted.

I tell her I did and explain about Laurel, Jude’s sister, whom I found crying inside. My mother doesn’t communicate with Jude, so I don’t have to hide what I saw from her. I tell her I’m going to start with dinner, so we both head to the kitchen while she tells me she's preheated the oven for me already. I thank her and ask if she would like some coffee, and she says she’s fine. My nerves are still frazzled from what happened to that poor dog, so I make some for myself while I finish preparing our supper.

"Do you think it had to do with her husband?" I ask and Mom looks at me confused, so I explain that I mean whatever Jude’s sister was crying about. I mention that she had a wedding band on, and she says maybe. Unlike her brother, who’s always in the tabloids, Laurel is very private. I never even knew Jude had a sister until I saw her that day at the club opening.

After putting the fish in the oven, I quickly start with the veggies while my mother tells me that it’s a good thing the guy didn’t accept my offer to pay for the dog’s hospital bills, saying I didn’t have the money. I knew I didn’t when I made the offer, but I was feeling horrible. I tell her that, adding that maybe I should go back to the guy’s place tomorrow just to check and show that I care.

She isn’t comfortable with me going there since I don’t know the guy, but I tell her I don’t think he would do anything to me. I’m still assuring her when the doorbell rings, and we share a look, both wondering who it could be since we don’t know anyone here.

I head to the front to get it, and my eyes widen, looking at the last person I expected to see here as I open the door, Ayesha. "Oh my god. What are you doing here?" I ask, pulling her into a hug. She tells me she’s sorry, making me confused. "About what?" I ask, still in the hug. But just as we pull back, a guy emerges with her bags, making me even more confused.

"I asked Jude to transfer me to this side too, and he agreed," she says, surprising me. I didn’t know she was going to do that. She says she didn’t want to tell me and get my hopes up, and then he doesn’t agree. I scream at the news and pull her into another tight embrace before stepping aside and letting her inside, instructing the guy where to put her bags.

Just then, my mother comes into view, looking alarmed, probably because of the scream she just heard, and she is just as surprised. She and Ayesha hug while I follow behind the guy and close the door. After that, all of us head to the kitchen while Ayesha looks around, admiring and complimenting our place before explaining that because she requested the move, Jude isn’t providing her with accommodation. She adds that I will have to help her find accommodation far away from here, joking about how she would have to dance until her heels bleed and her knees pop before she could afford to rent a place like this.

But I interject and tell her she could stay with my mother and me, laughing at her statement. My mother adds that we have more than enough room, and she asks if we are sure. I tell her we are. I am glad to have her here, plus she’s like a sister to me. She asks if Jude won’t mind and I ask her why he would.

It’s not like having her here will cost him more. We hug again as she thanks me, but I ask her what’s wrong, seeing the worry in her eyes even after I tell her she can stay with us. She takes my hands in hers, her eyes now gleaming with tears before she says she knows that Kayden wasn’t in Kay’s life, but he was still his father and that she is sorry.

"What are you talking about?" I ask a sense of dread immediately washing over me from the look in her eyes and from hearing her speaking of Kayden in the past. She asks if I haven’t heard and I shake my head. “What haven’t I heard?" I ask and she takes out her phone, scrolls on it, and gives it to me.

I take it, my heartbeat accelerating, and it stops when I see what the article says:

Kayden Berrigan was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"No."

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Chase

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"I’ve got you," I whisper reassurances to a blindfolded Liv, her curiosity piqued as she questions where we're going. A smile plays on my lips as I gently guide her forward, assuring her that she'll soon find out. Leaning in, I steal a quick peck on her lips before telling her to stop, adding that we have arrived at our destination. With gentle hands, I remove the blindfold, and her eyes widen as she gasps, her gaze fixed on the brand-new car parked before her.

"This is why I had to come through the back entrance?" She asks in disbelief, taking slow, cautious steps toward the gleaming vehicle before her fingers trace the sleek lines, admiring the car's beauty.

I step closer to her side, a proud grin on my face, as I tell her she’s more beautiful. We share a kiss, and I tell her to go ahead and check it out, feeling myself sweat a little knowing what awaits her inside. She slides inside the driver's side and her hand moves toward the start button, but it freezes over it, her eyes widening as she sees the ring next to it.

"Chase..." she whispers, her gaze drawn to the sparkling diamond ring, and when she looks at me, she finds me on my knees.

"Liviana Mosher, will you make me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife?"