A/N: I've been reading Bechloe's fanfics for all my time on this site. Never thought I would ever write a story, well I'm never the writer throughout my past school days and I dread handing in essays and all. Then again, this story plot struck me and I thought, why not? Again, I'm never good at writing so I apologize for any unpleasant experiences reading or such. I do accept and appreciate all kinds of feedback though, help me to learn! Do hope you enjoy the story though. Cheers!

Disclaiming everything. I own nothing.

Chapter 01: Absurd Condition

"Chloe, stop pacing up and down! I'm sure we can find another way out!" The blonde standing by the office desk let out frustratedly.

"Really now, Bree? Another way? You tell me! How sure are you that we would be able to work our way through this? The company is failing, not ten years later, but right NOW, IN FRONT OF MY FUCKING EYES," the redhead spat in utter exasperation.

"I'm… I'm… right, I'm sorry Chloe, I just don't know what to do anymore too," Aubrey stepped forward, sat down on the floor and side-hugged her inconsolable best friend.

Aubrey Posen and Chloe Beale have been the best of friends since the beginning of time. They have been neighbors, attended the same kindergarten, high school and college. Now, Aubrey is working in Beale's Corp. as the Chief Financial Officer alongside Chloe, the Chief Executive Officer (and notably, the heiress).

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Aubrey bit her lip and let out in a small voice, "Looks like Mitchell is our only option…"

Immediately, Chloe's eyes shot up.

*Flashback*

"I really need your company's help, Miss Mitchell. I know that Aubrey already tried negotiating with you but I hope you can reconsider this proposition. Yes, you wouldn't be able to gain much out of this deal, but please, it will be worth your while at the end of the day, I promise…" Chloe said in a small yet firm voice.

The brunette before her just maintained a poker face and stared straight into her eyes throughout. Receiving no response, Chloe let out yet another plea, "Or, why don't you consider our grandfathers' ties...?"

Upon hearing the grandfather's title, Beca Mitchell, CEO of the Mitchell's Corp. seemed to tense a little and readjusted herself slightly in her seat.

"One condition," Beca finally spoke her first words ever since Chloe stepped into her office.

"Anything, I'd do anything to repay you if you help me this time… I'll…." Chloe rambled out in a hopeful tone but before she could continue, she got cut off.

"Marry me."

*End of Flashback*

"Aubrey! It's not like you didn't know how I just stood up and left her office that day. I mean, yes, I'm in desperate need of funds right now, but HELLO, did it seem to her that I'm selling myself? It's just... ridiculous. This whole situation is absolutely absurd. I don't know what I was thinking… or rather what SHE was thinking. Who in the hell makes such ridiculous condition…"

"Well… if you'd just stayed for a while you might have found out her rationale…" Aubrey muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?" Chloe asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing… but Chloe, as the CFO of this company, I've to let you know. The Beale's Corp. is really in dire need of funds right now. No other banks or such is willing to extend any more credit to us. All we can play is the friendly card with the Mitchells, we are left with pretty much no other choices." Aubrey told Chloe sympathetically.

Although this wasn't her own company, it was still like her second home, where Chloe and her had slogged and worked hard up the corporate ladder to their current position based on their abilities, instead of leveraging on family relations. Ben Beale had proudly retired and handed over the company to Chloe when she was twenty-five, believing that Chloe had everything in her to manage the company well.

Three years had passed since, the company was well-managed until this recent crisis. It wasn't Chloe's fault or lack of management per se, but rather, the economic crisis had tolled greatly on the company's finances when several critical partners and suppliers went bust.

"Bree, I'm sorry for venting it out on you… Just give me some time to digest everything. Don't worry, I will get it all worked out eventually… I can't let all these fail… Give me some time alone…" Chloe spoke weakly, tears threatening to spill out of her bright blue eyes.

Aubrey had never seen Chloe so dejected before. Chloe was always the bubbly redhead with optimism overflowing at any point in time. She had always been the one trying to make the uptight schedule-driven blonde relax whenever things started sidetracking and all.

"Okay, go home and rest for the day Chloe. Let's face this together tomorrow. We'll be fine. Go and sleep on it. You haven't been resting well... " Aubrey suggested seeing that it was getting late and there wasn't any solution on hand.

"Let's go…" Chloe followed behind Aubrey, mind still in an overdrive.

At the doorstep of the Beale's residence, Chloe straightened her clothes, put on her best bright smile, took in a deep breath and turned the knob.

"Hey Daddy! Hey Mummy! I'm back!" Chloe greeted in her perky voice.

"Hello my little sweetheart, how's work?" Daddy Beale came forward and hugged his daughter, "Mum's cooking your favorite, wanna make a guess?"

"Hmmm…" Chloe pretended to think lightly, "Kate Beale's famous clam chowder and baked pasta! Ohhhhh I'm gonna drool on your shirt Dad!"

Ben chuckled lightly at his daughter's antics and returned his attention to The New York Times that he was reading prior to Chloe's return.

During dinnertime, the Beale family sat around the table and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner. They were chatting about anything under the sun as usual until Ben asked casually, "By the way sweetheart, I read the news about some of our business associates filing for bankruptcy. How are you and the company doing? Everything's good?"

Stunned by the sudden question, Chloe almost dropped her fork but quickly acted to regain her composure, "Oh, no worries Daddy… Everything's fine. Well, we did lose some business deals but no biggie, nothing that we couldn't handle."

"That's good, hmmm how about the…" Ben got cut off by Kate before he could ask further, "Ben, no business talks at the dining table. Besides, don't you trust our darling's capabilities to run the company?"

Saved by the bell, Chloe heaved a inner sigh of relief when the topic was dropped. It's not that Chloe did not want to tell Ben and Kate the truth about the distressed company. Rather, the Beale family had always been very open with one another. However, this time, Chloe knew deep in her heart that the company was in deep shit, literally, yet she didn't have the heart to see her beloved father sad. Sure, she knew that they would not blame her, and would pretty much give her all the support that she needed, but Chloe decided otherwise, determined to keep the bad news to herself for as long as she could.

Sitting against the headboard of her bed, Chloe finally had the time and space to settle her thoughts for the past few days. A silent tear rolled down her bare face and the splattering of raindrops against the windows seemed to echo the sound of her heart breaking into pieces.

The images of happenings when she first joined the company as an entry level employee straight out of college up till today flashed through her mind. Although she didn't build the company from the scratch herself, it was after all, her father's sweat and blood and she did have an active role keeping it going throughout the years. She refused to let any obstacles deter her. That was until today, when there was simply no means that she possess that could help to keep the company afloat.

Deep in a corner of her heart, she knew that she didn't have any more choice, and that she there was nothing else she could do other than to take up Beca Mitchell's offer. Yet here's the thing. Chloe Beale was a firm believer of L.O.V.E. She had dated a few people (both men and women, yes, gender doesn't matter in terms of love) before but none of them gave her the feeling of belonging, or any hints of long-term commitment. So there she was currently, single and pretty much available. In fact, in Aubrey's words, Chloe was a very picky "bachelorette".

No one had managed to shake Chloe's belief, that one should only marry "The Right One". Any feelings other than "perfect", "wholesome", "loved" and such do not make the mark. No one should settle for "feels nice enough" or what. That was until tonight.

Chloe inhaled a slow, deep breath. Wiping off the tears on her face with a single stroke of arm, she replaced the detested pitiful look with a burst of determination.

Taking quick stride towards her table where her purse was, she picked up her phone and dialed the number printed on the name card given to her.

"Hi, it's Chloe Beale. Let's meet tomorrow."