Alpha Billionaire Series
Valentine’s Day Proposal Chapter 11

CHARLES

So far, the evening had gone off without a hitch. Introducing my new wife had been as awkward as I thought it would be. Having not had a huge public ceremony planned out far in advance meant proving my affection was true. That had come in the form of public displays of affection-which Willow seemed to disdain even more than me asking her to sleep on the couch-and recounting the totally bogus tale of how we broke up in college only to be reunited at a political rally last month.

I followed her around that dinner feeling like an a*s for the way I'd treated her after s*x the other night. It had happened so quickly; I didn't think either of us knew what to do. She didn't stop me, but she didn't call out to me when I climbed off of her, ashamed and feeling like I had pressured her into that. She made it clear when signing the papers that it was a "no love" contract and I had crossed the line. And even worse, I felt things-strong things I couldn't explain. So, when we were done, I shut down. Now, I wished I had said something, done something, because the way she looked at me tonight made me want her like that all over again.

Every time we were alone, Willow reminded me to keep my hand off her a*s but f**k if I didn't want to grab that a*s all night, even when the cameras were off. The attention was exactly what we needed, just what Peter said would happen. It had been two weeks since the wedding and the polls were already changing. I was up across the board, and I was also having a difficult time not getting up.

Willow was ravishing. The gown she bought cut so low in the front I feared if she raised her arms her tits would pop out and the world would get a show. The diamond drop necklace nestled right into her cleavage, and the black, sparkly material shimmered at every turn, hugging her curves like an Indy car on the streets. It was difficult not to be aroused by that.

"Are you two having a good night?" Peter's hushed tones as he shouldered in next to me meant something was wrong.

"Yeah, it's a pretty good night. Why?" I kept my eyes up, my smile broad. Every now and then when someone looked up at me, it would catch my eye and I would wave, but my attention was fixed on Peter, and the way Willow clung to my side. "Because if you're having a good time, you usually smile." Peter patted my stomach and I glanced at Willow, who seemed lost in her own world. I tugged at her side, jostling her, and she looked up at me, deep melancholy in her gaze. Peter walked off and I was left to deal with her dragon-like attitude. "What is wrong? Why aren't you smiling?" I tried to keep my face calm, happy even, but just looking at her tanking this dinner with a grimace on her face was upsetting.

"I am not cut out for this shit. I don't want to be here anymore." Willow sighed, then yawned, at least having the decency to cover her mouth. I noticed the fatigue in her eyes and the way the dark circles beneath them seemed more prominent. She was still ravishing, but obviously tired.

"Just a few more hours. Okay?"

"Hours?" She grunted and rolled her eyes. The act was immature, but I didn't entirely disagree with the way she felt. I hated these functions as much as anyone else. A bunch of pomp and circumstance wrapped up in a bow and called necessary for the sake of the political race.

But while I could sympathize with her, it was my duty to make sure I was winning and thus she had a contractual obligation. "Just smile," I told her out the side of my mouth. "I'll buy you froyo or something."

"Yay for indigestion." She straightened and I could hear the sarcasm in her voice. When I looked at her, she had a look of renewed enthusiasm, a fake smile plastered to her pearly whites. "I'm so grateful you can treat me like I'm your child, bribing me with sweets." I saw motion out of the corner of my eye and Willow waved, a big goofy grin on her face. "Who's that?" she asked, looking up at me. I leaned down and pecked her on the lips, a knee-jerk reaction after being forced to place a kiss on her lips every 10 minutes yesterday during our preparation meeting. Peter, literally set a clock with a timer to make sure it was every 10 minutes on the dot. He believed it would pay off and it had. Now it was unconscious to both of us. If only the smiles were just as unconscious. "Hell, if I know. This fundraiser is for the entire party, not just for the state of Maryland. So, there are people here from all 50 states, or at least there should be." I didn't recognize the woman, but maybe she recognized me from somewhere. I waved at her as well, then turned toward the main hall where drinks were being served.

The party had rented out the entire convention center. The entire place was lit up like Christmas with string lights and golden and red decorations. Black tie wasn't even the beginning of how to describe this. Women wore dresses that cost more than my f*****g car, and they'd spared no expense on the food either. Catered by Pineapple and Pearls, the event was $1500 per plate just to attend, and there was no shortage of entertainment either.

"My feet hurt." Willow limped along beside me, and part of me felt sorry for her. She probably had no clue what she was getting into when I gave her that card and told her to buy something nice.

"You should have bought sensible footwear." I talked out the side of my mouth, keeping my tone low as I plucked two glasses of champagne off a passing tray. The waiter who carried it smiled and nodded. I thrust the drink into her hand, and she took it. "Drink more. You won't feel your feet before too long."

I tipped my drink up, slogging down the bitter alcohol, and when I turned my chin back down, my gut dropped. There only a few paces away, stood Irene Borchers-college best friend to Willow, and ex-girlfriend to yours truly. Only, Willow never knew I dated her. And I could live my whole life without her knowing that fact.

I tried to turn away, hastily maneuvering my body in hopes that Willow would not see her. I hadn't expected her here. When we attended Harvard, Irene had been in the law program with me, while Willow was in finance. Willow and Irene shared a dorm room and became pretty close. I hadn't even given Irene a second glance back then. My heart belonged to Willow.

But post-graduation, I found myself sitting for the bar with Irene. We studied together. We had dinner. I ended up fucking her in the back corner of the library in the middle of the night. We had a spicy fling that started only a few months after Willow left, and it lingered for a few years. When I broke it off it was because I was moving to DC to work for a private firm. Irene probably thought we were an item, though I never thought of her as more than s*x.

My heart was always, and probably would always be only for Willow, even if she didn't want it.

I looked down, trying to make it look like I hadn't seen her. Willow protested, reaching for a tray of champagne that passed by. I held her arm down and tried to make her move away, but she smacked my hand playfully and chuckled like a half-drunk, ditzy blonde. I rolled my eyes, offending Peter's cardinal rule about displaying my distaste for her in public. If he was watching, I'd get a lecture later.

"Charles?" The voice tingled my neck. I cringed, my shoulders dropping. Despite my best attempts to move away from her, Irene had seen us. "Charles Perish, is that you? My god, I thought that was you." I turned toward the sound of her voice and saw her approaching. As I turned, Willow saw her too, a large smile spreading across both of their faces at once.

"Irene?" "Willow!"

They spoke at once, their voices colliding in the air in front of me, but it may as well have been the sound of a bomb exploding. I clenched my jaw. If I didn't control this conversation, I was going to have a very difficult night. "Irene, you remember-"

She pushed me out of the way and wrapped her arms around Willow. They hugged for a moment then held each other at arm's length, grinning. My chest tightened. Seeing them together again was a bittersweet moment. They had been like Laverne and Shirley, always together, joined at the hip. Then Willow was gone. I learned from Irene later on that she had just vanished, not leaving a forwarding address or number either. She canceled her cell plan and that was it.

"Oh my god, how are you?" Irene swatted at the air. The giant diamond on her finger bobbling and reflecting light. At least she was engaged so she seemed less threatening if Willow found out.

"I'm good." Willow hugged my arm like a good little actress. She had traded her empty flute for a full one when I wasn't looking. I was probably gawking at Irene and trying to come up with a believable story as to why I wanted to leave all the sudden. "What are you up to? I heard you two got married. Good for you! I let this one get away." Irene pinched my arm, getting more suit coat than skin, and grinned as she sipped her champagne.

"You what?" Willow took her drink to her mouth and blinked. I could see the way she used the flute to hide her surprise. I wanted to back into the wall and melt away. Pretend this entire night hadn't happened. I had no way of knowing Irene would be here. Last I heard she was in Boston, working for a law firm up there.

"He didn't tell you? Well, I suppose not. When you left, everyone was shocked. Charles and I dated for more than a year. I was holding out for a ring, but thankfully it never happened. Now I'm engaged and slated to be partner." She wiggled her finger in front of both of us, presenting the oversized diamond. So, she was the "sleeping her way to the top" type of woman. Made a lot of sense now.

"Really...." Willow turned to look at me. No shame now in revealing her scowl. "You dated my ex-boyfriend? After I left college?"

"Well, it was really after graduation, but yeah." Irene seemed to be enjoying this, choking me with my own past. There was nothing there to draw any media circus, but Willow would create a scene. I could see it in her eyes.

"It was nice talking with you, Irene." Before either of them could protest, I nodded, turned away-Willow still gripped at my side-and started walking.

I didn't get two steps before Willow elbowed me in the ribs, hard. "You fucking bastard. You waited what, three months before you started dating her?" She charged ahead of me, and I went after her, dodging through clusters of chatting dignitaries and constituents. I apologized at least a hundred times as I weaved my way to the outer hall where we had a bit more privacy.

"Willow, come on and listen."

"Three months, Charles? That's all? You got over me in three months?"

"It was almost five, okay."

I thought her eyes would bug out. Her face was beat red, probably from the rage her face exhibited. Even her chest was flushed, her breasts pink and enticing. I blinked, trying not to be aroused by this even as I realized how angry she was. Willow screamed through clenched teeth, not the first time since our wedding I'd seen her do that. She had clenched fists and tears brimming in her eyes.

"What. I'm sorry. It was over. What did you want me to do? Never date again? You dated people. I saw you at Tifany's dinner that night with that doctor."

She shook her head. When she blinked tears streaked across her face. "You're right. I dated. But it was two years before I even considered it. And I'd never have dated Trevor."

"That's because Trevor was a douche." I laughed, but it was clearly the wrong move. She turned and stormed off.

"Willow..." I didn't bother following her this time. "Willow, come back. Peter is going to be furious."

"I don't fucking care," she called over her shoulder. Trevor-college friend of mine-was a douche, but I got her point. I knew I was crossing a line when I kissed Irene in that library, and fuck the sex wasn't even that great. Not like it was with Willow. I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes.

Had she never heard of a rebound relationship? My heart was broken too, just not the way hers was, and I found comfort in another woman's arms. I didn't know Willow would come back into my life like this. I had no way of knowing she would ever be back. When I lowered my hand, she was gone. Turned a corner or left the building. Either way, I didn't see her anymore. I kept replaceing ways to fuck this up. I was no good at relationships at all. I'd proven that years ago when I got scared she was pulling away and dumped her before she could dump me. And here I was contractually obligated to be with her when she clearly wanted nothing but the money.

I sighed and looked back at the ballroom. Peter would have my head, but I couldn't go back in there. Not tonight. I'd rather collect my coat and walk the streets for a while to clear my head. Maybe by the time I got home, Willow would be sleeping.