Aria’s POV –
Lucas entered looking different sohow. Lighter. His usual confident swagger was there, but there was sothing softer in his expression, sothing almost—happy.
"Aria." He smiled, and it reached his eyes. "Thank you for seeing ."
"Sit." I gestured to the chair across from my desk. "Want coffee?"
"No, I’m good." He sat, and we looked at each other for a mont. "You look happy. Really happy."
"I am." I felt myself smile. "Damien and I are—we’re good. Really good. We’re taking things slow, dating properly before the wedding."
"That’s great." And he sounded like he ant it. "He’s treating you well?"
"He is." I leaned back in my chair. "Lucas, what’s this about? You didn’t co here just to check on my relationship status."
"No." He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly looking nervous. "I ca to apologize. Properly apologize. And to—to say goodbye, I guess."
"Goodbye?" Concern flickered through . "Are you leaving Ravenwood?"
"No, nothing like that." He smiled. "I ant—goodbye to whatever this was between us. The flirting, the possibility, the—I don’t know. The idea that maybe we could be sothing."
"Oh." I wasn’t sure what to say. "Lucas"
"Let finish." He held up a hand. "Please. I’ve been practicing this and I’ll lose my nerve if I don’t say it now."
"Okay." I settled in to listen.
"When I first t you at that business conference, you fascinated ." His voice was thoughtful, nostalgic. "This brilliant, beautiful woman who’d had an empire. You were fierce and vulnerable and so damn smart it was intimidating." He paused. "I thought maybe we could be sothing. That maybe I could be the one to make you happy."
"Lucas"
"But then I saw you with him." He continued, his voice soft. "At the gala, the way you looked at Damien. The way he looked at you. And Aria, that’s real love. The kind of love that survives everything, that chooses each other despite the odds, that builds sothing unbreakable. And I—" He smiled ruefully. "I realized I never had a chance. Not really. Because you were always his, even when you hated him."
"I don’t know what to say." My throat was tight. "I never ant to hurt you."
"You didn’t." He leaned forward. "You were always honest with . You never made promises you couldn’t keep. And Aria, seeing you now, seeing how happy you are—I’m glad. Genuinely glad. You deserve it."
"Thank you." I blinked back unexpected tears. "That ans a lot."
"And there’s sothing else." His whole face transford, lighting up with barely contained excitent. "Sothing I need to tell you. About why I’m really here, why I’m officially closing the door on whatever might have been between us."
"What?" I asked, curious about this sudden shift.
"I’m dating soone." The words tumbled out fast, like he’d been holding them in. "Soone amazing and brilliant and so far out of my league it’s ridiculous. And Aria, I’m—I’m in love with her. Really, truly in love in a way I’ve never been before."
"Lucas, that’s wonderful!" I felt genuine happiness bloom. "Who is she?"
"Well." He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking nervous. "That’s the thing. It’s soone you know. Soone close to you. And I wanted to make sure it was okay before I—before we go public with it."
My mind raced through possibilities, and then it clicked. The way his gaze had kept drifting to Olivia at the gala. The way he’d stamred when she’d walked by. The way he’d asked about her so casually afterward.
"Olivia," I said.
His face confird it before he spoke. "Yes. Olivia. Your best friend, your person, and Aria" He stopped. "I know this might be weird. I know I pursued you first and now I’m with your best friend, but I swear it’s not so kind of."
"Lucas." I held up a hand, then started laughing. "Oh my god, Olivia never said anything! How long has this been going on?"
"A few weeks." He grinned, relieved. "It started at the gala, actually. I went over to talk to her to build up courage to approach her properly, and we talked for hours. And then I asked her to coffee, and then dinner, and—" He stopped. "Aria, she’s incredible. The way her mind works, her sense of humor, how she doesn’t take any of my shit. She challenges and supports and makes want to be better. And I" His voice cracked slightly. "I’m completely gone for her."
"Does she feel the sa way?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Olivia had been acting different lately—lighter, happier, constantly on her phone texting soone.
"She says she does." Wonder filled his voice. "She says I make her happy. That I’m funny and kind and—I don’t know. She sees , you know? Not Lucas Hayes the CEO or the playboy or whatever reputation I have. Just—."
"That’s how you know it’s real," I said softly. "When soone sees past all the armor to who you actually are."
"Like you and Damien." He nodded. "Yeah. And Aria, I want to do this right. With Olivia. No gas, no playing it cool, just—being honest about what I want. Which is why I’m here. To make sure you’re okay with this. To get your blessing, I guess."
"You don’t need my blessing." I stood, coming around the desk. "But you have it anyway. Lucas, if you make Olivia happy—and clearly you do—then I’m thrilled for both of you."
He stood too, looking relieved. "Really? Because I know our history is complicated."
"Our history is friendship." I cut him off. "You were there for when I ca back to Ravenwood. You were kind and supportive when I needed it. And Lucas, I want you to be happy. If Olivia makes you happy" I grinned. "Then I’m ecstatic. Though I am going to kill her for not telling ."
"I asked her not to." He admitted. "I wanted to talk to you first. Make sure it wasn’t weird before we went public."
"It’s not weird." I hugged him impulsively. "It’s perfect. You two are perfect together."
He hugged back, then pulled away with a smile. "So, you won’t destroy for dating your best friend?"
"Only if you hurt her." My voice turned serious. "Olivia is my person, Lucas. She’s been with through everything. And if you break her heart."
"I won’t." His voice was firm. "Aria, I promise you—I’m going to treat her like the queen she is. She deserves nothing less."
"Good answer." I smiled. "So, when are you going to make it official? Tell everyone you’re together?"
"Actually" He pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket, and my jaw dropped. "I’m planning to propose. Soon. Like, this weekend soon."
"Lucas!" I grabbed the box, opening it to reveal a stunning erald ring surrounded by diamonds. "This is gorgeous! And fast! You’ve only been together a few weeks!"
"I know." He took the box back carefully. "But Aria, when you know, you know. And I know. Olivia is it for . The one. And I don’t want to waste ti pretending otherwise or playing gas. I want to marry her, build a life with her, grow old with her. So" He looked at nervously. "Do you think she’ll say yes?"
"Are you kidding?" I laughed. "She’s going to scream yes so loud the whole city will hear."
"Yeah?" Hope lit up his face.
"Yeah." I felt tears prick my eyes. "Lucas, she loves you. I can see it in the way she talks about you, the way she lights up when her phone buzzes. You make her happy in a way I’ve never seen before."
"She makes happy too." His voice was thick with emotion. "Makes want to be the man she sees when she looks at . Better, kinder, more honest. And Aria" He stopped. "Thank you. For understanding. For being happy for us. For—for everything."
"Thank you for taking care of my best friend." I hugged him again. "And Lucas? For what it’s worth—you’re going to make an amazing husband. Any woman would be lucky to have you. But especially Olivia."
"I’m the lucky one." He pulled back, smiling. "Trust ."
After he left, I imdiately grabbed my phone.
: My office. Now. We need to talk.
Olivia: I’m in a eting!
: I don’t care. Get here or I’m coming to you and making a scene.
Olivia: ...on my way.
She burst into my office an hour later, looking guilty and nervous.
"Before you say anything" she started.
"LUCAS HAYES?!" I shrieked, then started laughing at her expression. "You’re dating Lucas Hayes and you didn’t tell ?!"
"He wanted to talk to you first!" She closed the door quickly. "To make sure it wasn’t weird since he kind of pursued you and then—wait, are you mad?"
"Mad?" I pulled her into a hug. "I’m ecstatic! Liv, he’s in love with you! Like, crazy in love! He just left here and he couldn’t stop talking about how amazing you are!"
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