Naughty Ceo’s Secret
Chapter 92

Kenzo had Ben take me home instead of going to the office with him. He said that his meeting might run late, and he didn't want me to be late to hang out with my friends. I thought that was very sweet of him.

The moment I entered my apartment, I made sure that Cobweb was fed. Then I pulled the box with the ring out, and set it on my kitchen table. I poured a full glass of wine as I stared at the ring. Kenzo wants to marry me. Marry. Me. For real. Not for fake.

What do I do? Kenzo made it very clear that I could take all the time I wanted. That I don't need to feel pressured, or rushed into anything. Kenzo just simply wanted me to know that his mother's ring would not be used for a fake promise. Simple as that..

Simple my a.ss.

Kenzo might have said one thing, and I do believe that he meant it. He wouldn't rush me into a decision like this, but.. The look in his black eyes.. I know that Kenzo wanted me to jump for joy. To scream yes, and put that ring on my finger right away. I just.. couldn't.

A knock on my door distracted me from my thoughts. I took another swig of my wine before going to peek out the peep hole. I smiled as I looked at Kendra's face. I stood back and opened the door for her. "Hey." I said as Kendra walked in.

"Hey, I'm so glad that your boyfriend let you off of work early to get ready with me." She said.

The moment Kenzo told me that he was taking me home early, I texted Kendra. She might think it was to get ready together, but in all honesty.. I just really need someone to talk to.

"Uh, well, actually.." I trailed off uncomfortably.

Kendra walked right in, making herself at home like usual. I shut the door, and followed her to my kitchen table. I opened my mouth to continue, but before I could, Kendra dropped everything in her hands. Her mouth fell open as she snatched the little black box off of the table. Then she turned to me, her mouth hanging open, and displaying the ring like I hadn't noticed it sitting there.

"What the fu.ck is this?" She asked.

"Oka-"

"I know that you and Kenzo worked things out, but.. I didn't know you meant like this." She continued. "Well-"

"You didn't even tell me what he ended up saying. Is this why? Because Opal.. this is kind of-"

"Okay! Kendra just listen to me." I interrupted her for once.

"Sorry." Kendra mumbled. "But what the fu.ck Opal?" She practically shouted.

I huffed and snatched the ring box from her hand.

"I wanted to talk to you about it, but.. I've been busy all week," I said.

"Busy planning a wedding?" Kendra asked.

I gave her a bored look.

"Kendra, don't you think that if I was planning a wedding I would be wearing my ring?" I asked. Wait, my ring?

"I guess you have a point." Kendra said. "Wait, does that mean you said no?" She asked.

I gave her an incredulous look.

"You sound surprised," I commented.

Kendra shrugged.

"No offense Op, but you usually jump in first, ask questions later." She said.

I shook my head at her.

"Even with something this important? This life changing?" I asked her.

Kendra shrugged again.

“།

I guess you have a point," she said.

"I can't believe you think I'd marry someone that I was barely even in a relationship with." I said with a frown.

Kendra rolled her eyes at me.

"I'm sorry okay?" She said.

I narrowed my eyes at her for a moment before sighing.

"So, what happened?" She asked.

I took a deep breath before blowing it out.

"Well, shortly after you left, Beck showed up." I started.

"Beck? The other hot one?" Kendra asked.

"Yes." I answered, nodding. "He came right in, threw me over his shoulder, and hauled me out of here like a sack of potatoes." I told her.

Kendra snorted, causing me to give her an incredulous look.

"This funny to you?" I asked.

Kendra shook her head, and then shrugged.

"Kind of. I bet your neighbors were freaked out," she said.

I rolled my eyes at her.

"Anyway, there was a change of clothes in the car. Beck practically had to force me into the clothes." I said.

I ignored the question written all over Kendra's face, and continued.

"Beck had to drag me into the building. Where I was thrown into Kenzo's arms. Before I could even get an explanation, his grandfather walked in. Haru Suzuki." I said.

"Wow.. The big dog. I hear.. wonderful-"

"He's a total a.ss." I interrupted my friend.

"Oh thank god," Kendra breathed out. "Yeah, I hear very bad things about that man." She said.

I nodded.

"It was extra fun when Kenzo introduced me as his fiance." I said.

"He what?" Kendra asked.

"Yeah, literally just told me to play along, and then dropped that bomb on me." I said.

"What did you do?" She asked.

"I played along obviously. It was awful. Haru tried to pay me to leave the country," I said.

"Wow.." Kendra breathed out.

"I stood my ground though. Apparently, Kenzo and I are not engaged to the public. He told me it was just to keep Haru out of his hair. Kenzo told me that everything that had been happening was Haru's fault pretty much. That Haru had set Kenzo up for that picture, and how he dropped the girl on her a.ss after" I said with a laugh.

"And?" Kendra pushed.

"Well," I sighed. "We had a long conversation after at his place. Kenzo explained everything to me. We talked about boundaries, and including me in things. Then Kenzo told me about his life. About himself. He finally opened up to me. It was amazing." I said with a bright smile.

Kendra returned my smile.

"I knew that something was off." She said.

I just smiled to myself.

"So. you guys are fake engaged then. Is this the ring he gave you? It's not fake, you know that, right?" Kendra asked.

I chuckled at her.

"Yeah, I know it's not. And no, it isn't for the fake engagement," I said.

Kendra gave me a confused look.

"Kenzo took me to a jewelry store today. I told him I didn't need anything fancy for a fake engagement. At first, I thought he was insisting. He even got me this necklace and bracelet as an apology for everything." I said, showing her the items. "Bet that irritated you." Kendra commented.

I nodded.

"Yeah, at first. I accepted them though, which I'm still not sure how I feel about," I said.

"Hey, if he ever breaks your heart, you can pawn 'em." Kendra offered.

I gave her a pointed look before laughing.

"True I guess." I said. "Anyway, this ring.. it was his mother's." I said as I stared down at the ring in my hand. "He told me that when I put this ring on, our engagement becomes real."

Then I looked up at Kendra with panicked eyes.

"Real Kendra. He wants our engagement to be real. He said it could be today, or years from now. But he actually wants to marry me. Already," I said.

Kendra placed her hand on mine.

"How did that make you feel?" She asked softly.

I scoffed as tears filled my eyes.

"Scared," I admitted.

"Why?" Kendra asked.

"B-because." I stated like that was all the reason I needed.

Kendra raised a brow at me and I sniffled.

"Be-because. What if.. What if he wakes up one day and doesn't want me anymore? What if he cheats on me? Or completely changes once we're married? What if we build this life together, and years later he decides he wants to see what else is out there?" I rushed out question after question.

I sighed heavily as I squeezed my eyes shut.

"I don't want to.. relax with him just yet. I don't want to get my hopes up. I don't want to build a life with him, fall more in love with him, have his kids.. All for things to come to an end some day. I don't want to be heartbroken like that. I already thought things were bad when Brad dumped me, and he wasn't even a good boyfriend. I can't imagine marrying Kenzo, all for him to leave me." I admitted.

Kendra moved her hand to my shoulder, and gave me a queeze. I looked up into her pretty face. Kendra offered me a small smile.

"I hate to break it to ya babe, but.. That's life." She said. "But you can't live in that fear. You'd never take chances to do anything if you let that fear control you."

"But-"

"What if things turn out to be great Opal? What if Kenzo turns out to be your person? What if he ends up being a wonderful husband, and an even better dad? What if 30 years from now you two are old, retired somewhere, with your grandbabies all around you? What if saying yes to that ring ends up being the best decision of your life?" Kendra asked.

I just stared at her, unsure of how to respond.

"The point is, you'll never know unless you take the risk." She finished.

I sniffled, and wiped my nose with the back of my hand.

"You.. You think I should say yes?" I asked, shocked.

Kendra made a lot of valid points. I shouldn't let 'what ifs' scare me into making a decision. I'm still shocked that she's pushing me to say yes though. I thought Kendra would think this is far too soon, and tell me to run.

"No." Kendra said, shaking her head. "I think it's way too soon. He's not proven that he can take you seriously. That being said.. I think you should still consider it. First of all, he told you to take your time, which is great. On top of that, people can be engaged for years. So, when you do say yes, you can always tell him you still want to wait a few years to actually get married. Maybe that would make you feel better about things too. Plus, Kenzo is rich. You can literally have a dream wedding." She added.

I gave her another bored look.

"I'm not marrying Kenzo for his money," I said.

"Oh, please. I know that. It's not like your dad can't give you the wedding of your dreams. I just mean, how great it will be to still have that without their help," she said.

I smiled.

"That would be nice," I said.

Then I snorted.

"Can you just imagine their faces if they found out that Kenzo wants to marry me?" I said, laughing.

"Jezz is going to be furious." Kendra agreed, laughing as well.

I set the ring box on the table as my laughter died down.

"I don't know what to do." I admitted, though I feel much more lighthearted now,

"You don't have to make any decisions right away. For now just.. go with the flow. Enjoy being with Kenzo. And know, I will always support you, no matter what decision you make," she said.

I smiled at my best friend.

"Thank you Kendra," I said earnestly.

Kendra beamed at me.

"Alright, let's get ready for drinks!"