The air outside the Vance residence was still and cool when Nick and Ellie finally arrived home. The night had been a whirlwind of emotion, from the rush of the party to the intoxicating confession on the terrace. As Ellie closed the front door behind them, sealing them into their shared sanctuary, Nick turned, his eyes burning with a passion no tailored suit could contain.

He didn't hesitate. With a low, possessive growl, he scooped her up in a classic bridal carry. Ellie shrieked softly, wrapping her arms securely around his neck, the diamond on her finger catching the foyer light. He ascended the stairs with a powerful, determined stride, taking her not to a guest room, but to the deep, familiar warmth of his Red Room.

In the glow of the bedside lamp, their passionate kiss from the terrace deepened, transforming from an expression of surprise into a profound confirmation of their destiny. They exchanged a wordless, desperate affection, their movements driven by years of unspoken longing and the terrifying realization of how close they had come to losing everything. Their initial embrace was one of sheer relief, a powerful convergence of two souls that had finally found their permanent harbor. They moved with tender reverence, affirming their mutual search was over, exchanging silent, yearning commitments with every tender touch. Nick studied her face as if memorizing a map, his hands gentle yet firm, and Ellie responded by pulling him closer, dissolving the remaining pretense of their corporate marriage into the breathtaking reality of their profound, exclusive love. It was a night of beautiful, complete union, where every touch was a promise and every shared breath a silent vow of forever. They created a history only they would know, marking the true beginning of their life together.

Ellie woke up slowly the next morning, enveloped in the rich scent of Nick’s sheets and his skin. Her body felt wonderfully heavy, a pleasant exhaustion settling deep in her bones, and her heart was impossibly light. She stirred, opening her eyes just as Nick emerged from the ensuite bathroom.

He was magnificent. A towel was slung low around his hips, clinging to the water that glistened on his sculpted chest and perfectly defined six-pack. Water droplets tracked a slow path down his strong neck, and his hair was damp and tousled.

Ellie lay perfectly still, wrapped only in the duvet, watching him with an openly adoring gaze.

Nick caught her eye, a slow, sensual smile spreading across his face. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

“Good morning, Madam CFO-to-be,” he said, his voice deep and playful.

Ellie, suddenly feeling bashful despite the intimacy of the night, pulled the sheet tighter around her. “Very good morning, Sir CEO-to-be-my-husband-for-real.”

They both burst out laughing—a sound of pure, unburdened joy that echoed happily in the Red Room.

“So, how does the Mrs. Vance feel this morning?” he teased, walking toward the bed.

Ellie sighed dramatically. “Very, very tired. But in the best possible way.”

Nick sat beside her, gently kissing the diamond gleaming on her finger. “That’s what happens when you pull an all-nighter fighting off danger and then agreeing to marry the boss. Get dressed, sleepyhead. We are going out for a proper, non-burnt breakfast. I need to fuel up my brain because we have some serious planning to do.”

They found a quiet café bathed in morning sunlight. Over plates of perfect Eggs Benedict, Nick steered the conversation toward their future.

“I think we should have a proper wedding, Ellie,” Nick began, swirling the cream in his coffee. “Not just a legal document signed in secret.”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Ellie agreed, her heart swelling with warmth. “It feels right. We owe it to ourselves, and to the people who care about us.”

“So, what’s in your mind?” he asked. “A massive, over-the-top society wedding, or something simple and intimate?”

Ellie considered it, looking down at the ring. “I want all my closed ones to be with me, but I don’t want a spectacle. I want a simple, traditional wedding, exchanging real, heartfelt vows. No show, just commitment.”

Nick smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand. “A beautiful choice. The focus should be on us, not the guest list. Once our parents return next week, we need to inform them. They will be thrilled to hear that their little arrangement actually succeeded.”

“Yes,” Ellie chuckled. “Their strategic merger became an actual success story.”

Just as they finished speaking, both of their phones chimed simultaneously. It was a family group text.

The message read: “We’re arriving Monday morning and want to celebrate our return with a family dinner on Monday evening at the Hayes residency. Be there, everyone! We have much to discuss.”

Their weekend unfolded in a blissful bubble of romantic intimacy. They didn't leave the house much, instead savoring their first two days as a truly engaged couple, sharing stories, cooking (successfully this time), and enjoying the physical and emotional freedom of their new relationship. The feeling of being completely open with each other, without the pretense, was intoxicating.

“Do you think we should tell the office about us now?” Ellie asked him Sunday evening, leaning into his shoulder as they watched a movie.

Nick kissed the top of her head. “No. Let’s announce our engagement and then our wedding plans to our parents first. Let’s arrange the wedding, set the date, and then we can tell the office officially that the CEO and CFO are husband and wife.”

Ellie agreed, excited by the idea of a strategic, coordinated reveal.

Monday morning, the VH Group headquarters buzzed with double the usual energy. Not only was the excitement from the party lingering, but Mr. Abbott and Mr. Jenson had returned, their commanding presence immediately restoring the office’s full operational power.

Mr. Abbott summoned Ellie immediately. He looked over the stack of reports Nick had prepared on her performance.

“Elara,” he said, his expression serious. “Your performance during my absence was stellar. The way you managed the document crisis, your handling of the VH Group’s image, and your support for Nicholas has been outstanding. I have submitted my final report to the directors and the CEO. You can start officially taking the position as Chief Financial Officer in two months, after the final board approval. Congratulations.”

Ellie walked out of the cabin, her head spinning with happiness and pride.

She immediately found Freya in the cafeteria for their coffee break. They both shared their good news in breathless succession.

“They confirmed my promotion, Freya! CFO in two months!” Ellie exclaimed.

Freya shrieked. “That is amazing! They confirmed mine too! Chief Information Officer in two months! We’re going to be running this place, girl!”

Then, Ellie held up her hand, the huge diamond flashing under the fluorescent lights. “And this happened on Friday night!”

Freya’s jaw dropped. She launched herself across the table, engulfing Ellie in a massive hug. “He finally did it! I knew it! I knew he was going to break! This is the best news ever!”

That evening, the three families—Hayes, Vance, and Jenson—gathered for dinner at the grand Hayes residency. The meal was delicious, the conversation lively, but an underlying tension was palpable among the younger VH team members.

After dinner, as they settled in the parlor with coffee, Mr. Graham, the patriarch of the Vance family and one of the founders, cleared his throat.

“So,” he said, his eyes twinkling knowingly. “Would the young executive team like to tell us what happened in those eventful days we were enjoying ourselves?”

Nick, Ellie, Ethan, and Freya immediately exchanged nervous glances. They were so busy congratulating themselves on their secrecy, they hadn't considered that the founders might be steps ahead.

Graham continued, a subtle, proud smile playing on his lips. “It seems you all managed to find the black sheep in our flock, didn’t you?”

Everyone froze, utterly shocked. Marcus, nodded calmly. “We knew there was an internal breach, but we couldn’t pinpoint the source. That is precisely why we decided to have Freya and Ellie ‘go inside’ as regular employees. We needed them to be close to the daily operations to find the leak.” He looked directly at Ellie and Freya.

Nick, realizing the cat was not just out of the bag but already lounging comfortably on the sofa, decided to come clean. He detailed the entire saga—the tampered documents, the PI, the discovery of Peter Paul, David's espionage, and the final, terrifying confrontation at the bar.

Marcus and Graham listened intently, occasionally nodding at the strategic choices. Penny Vance, Nick’s mother, gasped dramatically, and Audrey, Ellie’s mother, cried, “Oh my god! Are you hurt, sweetie? Are you fine?”

Ellie smiled reassuringly. “I’m fine, Mom. Nothing happened thanks to Nick.”

Marcus Hayes, looked sternly at Ellie. “Ellie, that was incredibly reckless of you to go alone. You should have learned your lesson about rash decisions.”

Ellie nodded submissively, whispering, “Yes, I did.” She shot a playful, yet meaningful glare at Nick, reminding him of his morning lecture. Nick, catching her eye, turned away dramatically, pretending to be intimidated, prompting a wave of soft laughter around the room.

After the advice and the admonishments had passed, Graham looked between Nick and Ellie, his expression softening.

“Alright, all business aside. How is your… relationship… with Ellie going, Nick? Are you at least friends now, or still sparring?”

Ellie blushed fiercely, and Nick's ears turned a slight red. He slowly cleared his throat.

“Dad, actually, we want to talk to you all about that.”

Graham and Marcus exchanged a tense look, bracing themselves for an announcement that the marriage was ending. The room fell silent.

Nick continued, his voice steady, his eyes locked on Ellie's. “It’s going to be one year in two months since we registered our marriage. You gave us the out—the option to part ways if we wanted to after that date.”

The silence stretched, thick with family tension. Nick finally smiled, a wide, genuine, victorious smile.

“Me and Ellie don’t have big plans for parting ways. In fact, we want to get married properly. In a simple, traditional way. And we would like to announce this wedding to the office officially so everyone knows we are, for real this time, husband and wife.”

There was a beat of stunned silence, then the room erupted in cheers, applause, and tearful embraces. Graham was the first to reach them, pulling both into a powerful hug.

“You foolish boy!” Graham exclaimed, happiness radiating from him. “You could have told us that first! You made us all tense, thinking you were announcing a divorce!”

Nick laughed, pulling Ellie close, his eyes alight with love. “It was a small revenge, Dad. For making us wait so long to figure it out ourselves.”