Gabrielle glanced at her phone, smiling as she read the message from Vic. They had met at a nightclub a few weeks ago and hit it off instantly. Since then, they had been texting regularly and finally decided to meet up again. Tonight was the night.

Gabrielle dressed in her favorite outfit, feeling excited and a little nervous. She arrived at the trendy bar where they had agreed to meet and spotted Vic almost immediately. Vic was leaning against the bar, looking effortlessly stylish and confident.

"Hey!" Gabrielle called out, waving as she approached.

Vic turned and grinned. "Gabrielle! Great to see you."

They hugged briefly, and Gabrielle felt a warm spark at the contact. "You too, Vic. Ready for a fun night?"

"Absolutely," Vic replied, her eyes sparkling. "Let's grab some drinks and hit the dance floor."

They ordered their drinks and quickly found a spot on the dance floor. The music was loud and infectious, and they lost themselves in the rhythm, dancing close and laughing. Gabrielle couldn't remember the last time she had felt this carefree and happy.

After several songs, they took a break and found a quieter corner to talk. Vic leaned in, her voice just audible over the music. "I've been looking forward to this all week."

Gabrielle smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement. "Me too. It's been a while since I've had this much fun."

Vic's gaze was intense and warm. "There's something about you, Gabrielle. I feel like we really connect."

Gabrielle felt her cheeks flush slightly. "I feel the same way, Vic. This is…nice."

As the night went on, they danced more, laughed, and shared stories about their lives. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and Gabrielle found herself drawn to Vic in a way she hadn't expected.

Eventually, they decided to call it a night and headed out into the cool evening air. "Do you want to come back to my place for a nightcap?" Gabrielle asked, her heart racing.

Vic smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I'd love to."

Back at Gabrielle's apartment, they settled on the couch with glasses of wine. The atmosphere was warm and intimate, and the conversation flowed easily.

"I had a really great time tonight," Gabrielle said, her voice soft.

"Me too," Vic replied, moving a little closer. "I feel like we have something special here."

Gabrielle felt her pulse quicken as Vic's hand brushed against hers. "I think so too."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, everything else seemed to fade away. Gabrielle leaned in, and Vic closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a soft, lingering kiss. The kiss deepened, and Gabrielle felt a rush of desire and emotion.

They moved to Gabrielle's bedroom, the night taking on a new level of intimacy. They explored each other with a mixture of tenderness and passion, the connection between them growing stronger with every touch and kiss.

The next morning, Gabrielle woke up to the sunlight streaming through her window. She turned over to find Vic still asleep beside her, looking peaceful and content.

As she watched Vic sleep, Gabrielle felt a sense of happiness and contentment. This night had been unexpected but wonderful, and she felt hopeful about where things might go from here.

Vic stirred, opening her eyes and smiling at Gabrielle. "Morning."

"Morning," Gabrielle replied, smiling back. "How did you sleep?"

"Perfectly," Vic said, stretching. "Last night was amazing."

Gabrielle nodded, feeling a warm glow. "It really was. I'm glad we did this."

Vic reached out and took Gabrielle's hand. "Me too. I feel like this could be the start of something really great."

Gabrielle squeezed Vic's hand, feeling a surge of affection. "I think so too. Let's see where this takes us."

— — —

Maya sat at her desk, buried in legal documents and emails. The days had been long and exhausting with the added pressure of the impending engagement party her family had announced. Her phone buzzed with a new message, but before she could check it, there was a knock on her office door.

"Come in," she called out, not looking up from her work. Maya assumed ti would be her secretary, Sarah, as was the case with most knocks at her door.

Carina had known the relative location of Maya's office after all a week or so ago they were here to agree to the the arrangement their parents were pushing. She decided to grab some lunch and bring it to discuss some of the recent plans with the engagement party. While they had both agreed this was something they were willing to jump into together, Carina still felt slightly hesitant with some aspects now that they would be creating the public image of them as a couple.

Carina found the correct floor and approached in the direction of Maya's office.

"Excuse me, Miss, Can I help you?" Carina was caught off guard as a shorter dark haired lady stepped into her path.

"Yes, I am looking for Maya," Carina stated "Ms. Bishop I mean."

"I don't think she is expecting anyone." Sarah stated as she rounded the corner of her desk to pull up Maya's schedule.

"No, well, she isn't really expecting me. I thought I would surprise her." Carina blushed as she was trying to figure out her next move if this woman wouldn't allow her to pass.

"Ms. Bishop is not very fond of surprises" Sarah stated, "I am her secretary. Sarah, and I do all of her scheduling."

"Oh, nice to meet you Sarah, I am Carina DeLuca." Carina reached out her hand towards Sarah.

"Oh, Ms. DeLuca, I am so very sorry. Right this way" Sarah quickly began to lead her down the hall towards Maya's office door. "Ms. Bishop put a note on all of her calendars if you were to ever call or come in, you would be directed straight to her immediately." Sarah finished as she stepped aside and headed back down the hall. "You must be someone special to her."

"Oh, Thank you again, Sarah." Carina said kind of taken a back by the last statement.

Maya's phone buzzed with a new message, but before she could check it, there was a knock on her office door.

The door opened, and Carina stepped inside, holding a brown paper bag. "I thought you might need a break," she said with a warm smile.

Maya looked up, surprised but pleased. "Carina! This is a nice surprise."

Carina walked over and placed the bag on Maya's desk. "I brought lunch. Thought we could talk about the engagement party. I had to make it past the Spanish Inquisition back there."

May's face became puzzled for a slight second "Oh, you mean Sarah. I thought I noted on all my calendars to let you through straight to my office."

"Well, she is definitely protective but it's all good now." Carina chuckled.

"In this line of business, there are not important men that think they are always the most important in the room. I don't like to be interrupted when I am working. Sarah has been great at keeping their egos in check." Maya smiled

"How long as Sarah worked for you?" Carina questioned as she sat down in one of the office chairs.

"Well for almost 6 years now, I guess. I met her when I was still in law school as a secretary for another firm. We became friends and then when I got this position, it just seemed right to work with someone I knew already had my back" Maya continued

Carina suddenly felt a slight pang of jealousy. She couldn't place where this was coming from. She was very much not interested in Maya in that way but still felt compelled to ask "More than friends, every?"

"Umm, well, umm" Maya coughed slightly "I don't usually discuss much of my personal life but as we are now in this unique situation I guess I should be honest. We did date briefly when we first met, but quickly realized we were way better friends than lovers. Plus I am not a fan of dating co-workers, it only leads to very messy situations"

"Ok, yes, Maya if we are going to be married then we should be honest with each other." Carina found herself relaying the words slightly harsher than she meant.

Maya's shoulders relaxed as she leaned back in her chair. "Thank you for lunch, this sounds perfect. I could use a break."

They moved to the small sitting area in Maya's office. Carina unpacked the food, revealing a spread of sandwiches, salads, and fruit.

"This looks amazing," Maya said, reaching for a sandwich. "Thank you."

Carina smiled, taking a seat across from her. "You're welcome. I figured we both need to keep our strength up with everything going on."

Maya trying to recover from the earlier line of questioning asked "So, I heard that you and Lucas have parted ways." She immediately internally cringed, why did she ask this questions. She was interested in if the article was true or not but was trying to avoid any more awkward conversations.

Carina slightly caught off guard at the question put her water down as she responded "Well, not technically. I am not sure this relationship will last but it is fun for right now." Carina couldn't imagine why Maya would ask about her relationship, they had agreed to be able to see who they pleased during this arrangement. She was discreet with Lucas and while he was not aware of the entire arrangement, he was aware they were staying out of the public light.

"Oh, sorry, Jack had read an article."Maya stumbled through her words "I knew you can never trust the press."

Carina smiled to herself, Maya was taking the time to read articles about her. "Well, like I said, it is fun for now. I wondered if we could discuss the engagement party some. I am having a few reservations and wanted to run it by you before upsetting the families"

As they ate, the conversation naturally shifted to the engagement party.

"Our families certainly know how to plan a party," Carina remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I just wish we had more input in all of this. It seem like it is getting out of hand."

Maya nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "I know what you mean. It feels like they're planning this huge event without really considering how we feel about it."

Carina sighed, setting her fork down. "Exactly. And I'm worried it's going to be this big, extravagant affair when all I really want is something simple and meaningful. The press could still take their photos and get their inside scoop while not inviting one thousand people."

Maya looked at Carina, appreciating her honesty. "I feel the same way. But maybe we can find a way to make it a little more geared to what we have in mind."

Carina's eyes lit up with a hopeful spark. "You think so?"

Maya nodded. "Yes. We can suggest some things to help guide the planning. I think when we both decided to step back and let them handle all the decisions we might have stepped directly into their trap." Maya laughed as she began to gather the papers from lunch.

"We can sit down with the families this weekend and try to steer the planning a bit. I will call my mom this afternoon and get her to plan the get together." Maya said as she returned to her seat next to Carina.

"Thank you for being understanding, Maya, I really do appreciate it" Carina smiled as she finished her water bottle. "Where is the recycling?"

"Oh, well, I am trying to get better about recycling but everything goes into the one bin for now" Maya said sheepishly.

Carina frowned a bit "The planet matters, Maya."

"I know, trust me. Sarah has been on my back about this for years. I do believe she sorts the trash once it leaves my office as there are recycling bins in other parts of the office." Maya shook her head scratching the back of her neck.

Both heads turned as they heard a knock on the door, and Sarah leaned in the room. "Quick reminder you have that business call with John Lloyd in about 20 minutes, Ms Bishop."

"Thanks" Maya replied as the door shut just as quickly as it opened

"I will get out of the way, thanks again for hearing out my concerns" Carina stated as she got up packing the last few things back into her bag.

"Anytime, my door is always open for you Carina. I will make sure to get the details for whatever my mother sets up this weekend to you ASAP." Maya said as she stood also.

Carina leaned in again for a hug as she had done all the previous times they had met. Maya was sure this hug may have lingered a but longer than the last. She quickly felt the tell tale sign of arousal in her slacks as Carina paired this hug with a slight kiss on the cheek,

Maya stood in her office door for a minute after Carina had left, pondering the feeling in her pants brought on by such limited contact. She shook her head quickly coming to the conclusion, she really needed to get laid soon. It had been 3 weeks, which was pretty much a record for her.

— — —

Maya and Carina arrived at the Bishop residence, where their families had gathered to discuss the engagement party. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, and the living room was filled with chatter and laughter.

Lane Bishop and Kathleen Bishop were there, along with Vincenzo DeLuca and Lucia DeLuca. The mothers were deep in conversation, already tossing around ideas for decorations and menus.

Maya and Carina exchanged a look of determination as they stepped into the room.

"Hello, everyone," Maya said, her voice firm but friendly. "We thought it would be a good idea to sit down and talk about the engagement party."

"Yes," Carina added, nodding in agreement. "We have some ideas we'd like to share."

The families settled into their seats, eager to hear what Maya and Carina had to say. Kathleen leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "We're all ears, darlings. It is about time you started to participate in the planning."

Maya took a deep breath, glancing at Carina for support. "We appreciate all the effort and excitement you're putting into this party, but we want to make sure it reflects who we while completing a public image for the press."

Lucia nodded, looking thoughtful. "Of course. What did you have in mind?"

Carina smiled, feeling encouraged. "We'd like to keep it more intimate and personal, more of an exclusive event."

Vincenzo looked intrigued. "That sounds meaningful. I like the idea of an exclusive event. It will cause press just with a restricted guest list."

Maya continued, "The press will get their exclusive while it will be enjoyable with just close friends and family at the event."

Lane nodded, his expression approving. "That can make sense. If we do agree to a smaller engagement party the wedding will have to be slightly more open. There are are many business partners that will need to attend after all they need to see the merging of B4 and DeLuca International in order to stabilize the business junction. The whole idea behind this is you are a visible stable couple uniting both businesses."

Kathleen cleared her throat, looking around the table. "We will narrow down our side of the guest list, but we need to discuss the number of people we're inviting from each side."

Vincenzo nodded. "We have some important business partners and close family friends that we feel should be included."

Maya glanced at Carina, then spoke up. "We understand that, but we want to keep the event intimate. We don't want it to feel like a corporate event."

Lane leaned forward, his expression serious. "Maya, you know how important these relationships are to our family's business. This is a significant event, and it's not just about the two of you."

Carina sighed, feeling the frustration build. "We've already compromised on so much. Can't we at least have some say in how many people are invited?"

Lucia chimed in, her voice calm but firm. "We all want this to be a memorable and meaningful event. But we also need to consider the importance of maintaining our family's connections."

Maya took a deep breath. "How about a compromise? Each family can invite ten business partners or close family friends. That way, we keep the event from becoming too large, but we also respect the importance of these relationships."

Carina nodded in agreement. "And we'll include the press, as you suggested, to ensure the event is properly covered. This way, everyone gets a bit of what they want."

Kathleen and Lucia exchanged glances, silently communicating. Finally, Kathleen spoke up. "That seems like a fair compromise."

Vincenzo nodded. "Agreed. Ten business partners or close family friends from each side, plus the press."

Once the lists were finalized, Lane raised his glass. "To a successful engagement party and to Maya and Carina. May this be the start of many more happy occasions."

Everyone clinked glasses, the toast marking the end of a tense but productive meeting.

— — —

After the guest list meeting, Maya slipped out onto the back patio to get some fresh air. The night was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the buzz of activity inside. She leaned against the railing, lost in thought. As she stood there looking out over the city, her and kept racing back to what had she and Carina really agreed upon. All though she was researching and making informed decisions, she couldn't help but feel like everything was flying by her.

A few moments later, she heard the door open and close softly. She turned to see her father, Lane, stepping out to join her. He had a thoughtful expression on his face, one she rarely saw.

"Maya, do you have a moment?" Lane asked, his tone unusually gentle.

Maya nodded, curious but apprehensive. "Of course, Dad."

Lane walked over and stood next to her, looking out at the night sky. For a while, he didn't say anything, just took in the serene surroundings. Finally, he spoke.

"I know this arranged marriage isn't what you envisioned for yourself," he began, his voice tinged with regret. "And I understand that I've asked a lot of you by pushing for it."

Maya listened quietly, giving him the space to express his thoughts.

Lane sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Our family's business has faced challenges, more than you might realize. The partnership with the DeLucas is not just a merger of wealth, but a union of two influential families that can support each other through difficult times."

Maya felt a pang of empathy for her father. She knew he bore the weight of the family business on his shoulders. "I get that, Dad. But it's still a lot to take in."

Lane nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and concern. "I know. And I never wanted to put you in this position. But I couldn't see any other way to secure our future and ensure the business remains strong."

Maya sighed, feeling the heaviness of the situation. "Why didn't you talk to me about it sooner? Maybe we could have found another solution together."

Lane looked at her, his expression softening. "I should have. You're right. I was so focused on finding a solution that I didn't consider how it would affect you personally. For that, I'm truly sorry."

Maya placed a hand on his arm, a gesture of understanding and forgiveness. "I appreciate that, Dad. It means a lot to hear you say that."

— — —

Maya walked back inside with her father, feeling a renewed sense of determination and support. The atmosphere in the living room was still bustling with activity. Her mother, Kathleen, was deep in conversation with Lucia DeLuca about the engagement party decorations.

Maya's eyes found Carina, who was standing at the table, looking at various flower arrangements and discussing ideas with a decorator. She couldn't help but smile, seeing Carina so involved and engaged in the process.

Carina looked up and met Maya's gaze, a warm smile spreading across her face. She excused herself from the conversation and walked over to Maya.

"Hey," Carina said softly. "Everything okay?"

Maya nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Yeah, it is. My dad and I had a good talk. Cleared the air a bit."

Carina reached out and took Maya's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm glad to hear that."

Maya glanced at the table where Carina had been working. "I see you're making some decisions about the flowers."

Carina laughed softly. "Yes, our mothers have very strong opinions, but I think we've found a good balance. Want to join me?"

Maya smiled "I think whatever you design will be excellent."

They walked back to the table where they were still discussing various options. Kathleen looked up and smiled warmly at her daughter. "Maya, Carina has been a huge help. We're going through the flower choices now."

By the end of the evening, the major decisions had been made, and the atmosphere in the room was one of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Kathleen clapped her hands together, smiling at everyone. "I think we've done it. This engagement party is going to be wonderful."

Lucia nodded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "It's going to be a night to remember."

— — —

Later that night, after the planning meeting had concluded and everyone had gone home, Carina sat in her cozy living room, reflecting on the day's events. She felt a mix of excitement and apprehension about the engagement party and the future with Maya. Needing to talk it out, she picked up her phone and called her best friend, Gabrielle.

Gabrielle answered on the second ring. "Hey, Carina! How did the planning go?"

Carina smiled at the sound of her friend's cheerful voice. "Hey, Gabby. It went well, actually. We managed to find a good balance between what our families want and what makes some sense."

"That's great to hear," Gabrielle replied, sounding genuinely pleased. "I know how stressful these things can be."

Carina sighed, feeling a bit of the day's tension ease. "Yeah, it was a lot, but I think it's going to be a beautiful event."

They chatted for a while about the details of the engagement party, from the flower arrangements to the guest list. Gabrielle listened attentively, offering her opinions and encouragement.

After a brief pause in the conversation, Gabrielle's tone became more inquisitive. "So, when are you moving in with Maya?"

Carina blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the question. "Moving in with Maya? We haven't discussed that yet. I haven't even seen her apartment."

Gabrielle laughed lightly. "Well, it's kind of a big deal, Carina. You're getting married. Don't you think you should talk about living arrangements?"

Carina bit her lip, feeling a mixture of uncertainty and curiosity. "I guess I just hadn't thought that far ahead. We've been so focused on the engagement party and the terms of our agreement."

Gabrielle's voice softened, her concern evident. "I know this whole arranged marriage thing is complicated, but you should definitely talk about it. You need to figure out what living together would look like and how you'll navigate that part of your lives."

Carina leaned back on her couch, processing Gabrielle's words. "You're right. I've been so focused on the immediate events that I haven't thought about the next steps."

Gabrielle's tone turned reassuring. "It's okay. You've had a lot on your plate. But now's the time to start thinking about it. You and Maya need to figure out how this marriage will work in the day-to-day sense. You need to be comfortable in the shared space as much as she is."

Carina nodded, even though Gabrielle couldn't see her. "I'll talk to her about it. We need to be on the same page about everything, including where we'll live."

Gabrielle chuckled. "That's the spirit. You two are doing great so far, and I'm sure you'll figure this out too."

Carina smiled, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Thanks, Gabby. I appreciate your support and advice."

Carina sat in her thoughts for a while. She knew her apartment would never work for both of them, it was not very large. Maya had eluded to having a few properties during recent discussions but had not mentioned many details. She knew that her father would make sure they had a comfortable house but that entailed a whole new level of asking. Carina was proud that while she worked for the family company she was able to completely support herself.

Determined to address the issue head-on, Carina picked up her phone again and sent a message to Maya.

Hey, can we meet up tomorrow to talk about a few things?

Maya responded almost immediately. Of course. How about lunch at my office? I will arrange the food this time.

Carina smiled at the prompt response. Sounds perfect. See you then.

— — —

The next day, Maya and Carina met for lunch at Maya's office. Maya had ordered a selection of sandwiches and salads from a local deli, and they sat down in the spacious conference room to eat.

Carina picked at her salad, clearly distracted. Maya noticed her agitation and reached out to place a comforting hand on her arm.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Maya asked gently.

Carina sighed, looking up at Maya with a worried expression. "Honestly, I've been freaking out a bit. This whole arranged marriage thing, the engagement party, and now the idea of moving in together... it's a lot to process."

Maya nodded, understanding her fiancée's concerns. "I get it. It's a huge change for both of us. Moving in together makes it real I guess, well, more real than it has been so far."

Carina took a deep breath, feeling slightly reassured by Maya's calm demeanor. "Gabrielle brought up a good point last night. We need to talk about where we're going to live."

Maya nodded, taking a sip of her water. "That makes sense. I've been thinking about it too. I have a few properties that we could consider or if you feel like we need to get a new place we certainly can look into that option also. With this being a 1.5 year agreement, I would like to see if we can make one of my properties work but I will understand if you feel differently."

Carina looked intrigued. "Tell me about them."

Maya smiled, leaning back in her chair. "Well, first, there's my downtown penthouse apartment. It's close to work, has great views of the city, and plenty of space for both of us. It has 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. You could pretty much have your own wing. It has a home gym, elaborate kitchen and dining area, office area, and "man cave." One of the other spare bedrooms can be converted into an office space for you as well. It has a small library and rooftop garden and terrace."

Carina nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds nice. What else?"

Maya continued, "I also have a house on the water in the San Juan Islands. It's more secluded, great for getting away from the hustle and bustle. If has 4 stories and 8 bedrooms, 7.5 baths. There is an office/conference area, theater room, state if the art kitchen, home gym, and private beach area. If that was our full time home it would take a bit of a commute with the ferries and all but I do have a helicopter that can speed up commuting. We could spend weekends there or use it as a vacation home, it does work perfectly for either of those."

Carina's eyes lit up at the mention of the islands. "That sounds wonderful. I've always loved the idea of a peaceful retreat on the water."

Maya smiled, pleased by Carina's reaction. "And then there's the family house on the river slightly more inland about 40 minutes from here. It's where I grew up. It's a bit farther out, but it's a beautiful property with a lot of memories. It is 6 bedrooms and 5 baths. It has two offices, enclosed pool area and pool house, home gym, game/theater room, bar area, large patio and garden area, grand library, and great living room."

"Really all of the properties have everything we need, it is just what surroundings would you prefer." Maya said watching Carina's eyes.

Carina considered the options, feeling a bit more at ease now that they were discussing practicalities. "They all sound amazing, Maya. Do you have a preference?"

Maya shook her head. "I do think the Penthouse is the more convenient option. We would have adequate space not to mention close to both of our offices. I know you work from home a lot so we can easily convert a bedroom into an office for you to be comfortable in. I am not opposed to living at either property but the penthouse makes the most sense to start. I can give you a tour this afternoon if it will help to see it in person."

Carina smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "That sounds like a good plan. We can always spend weekends or holidays at the other properties."

Maya nodded, reaching out to take Carina's hand. "Exactly. We'll figure this out together. It's all about finding what works best for us."

Carina squeezed Maya's hand, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. "Thank you, Maya. I feel a lot better after talking this through with you."

Maya smiled warmly. "Anytime, Carina. We're in this together, and we'll make it work."

Maya called Sarah on the intercom, and shortly after she appeared in the door way. "Please clear my afternoon."

Sarah scoffed a second looking towards Carina, "But you have the meeting with the McKinley's and also a dinner with Greg remember."

Maya paused for a second "Jack can definitely handle the meeting with the McKinley's, he has my number in case anything is urgent. Dinner with Greg can be rescheduled, it was only a favor to his sister that I was taking this meeting in the first place."

Sarah stood in the door way still, " the McKinley's is a large account." She added pushing back slightly.

"And Jack is more than capable, this is just a check in, it will be fine. Sarah please clear my afternoon." Maya persisted

Sarah glanced Carina up and down and then retreated to her desk to make the necessary arrangements. After Carina was sure she was gone "She did not seem like you should cancel that meeting. Maya, I completely understand if you need to take these meetings. I do not want to interrupt your business at all, remember we agreed to not interfere with each other's careers." Her face showed worry even though she was attempting to mask it.

"It really is fine. If it would affect the standing with the McKinley account I would never suggest otherwise but really Jack is just as much on the account as I am and well versed in everything needed. Sometimes Sarah get a little a head of herself when I am doing things outside of work." Maya said reaching out to squeeze Carina's hand.

"Just friends right" Carina glared at Maya "Not that it matters in the slightest but I also want to know all the facts when interacting with her."

Maya thought for a second she could hear the slightest bit of jealousy in Carina's tone but walked back that thought quickly.

"Just friends, I promise. I understand wanting to know the full story when interacting with people and promise to warn you before introducing to anyone I am involved with. I appreciate you doing the same for me." Maya squeezed Carina's hand again. "Now I believe we have some real estate to tour" extending her elbow for Carina to lock her arm in.