Chapter 47: You Are Engaged
Richard pulled back fully, his expression twisting. He stared at her as though she had spoken another language. "Engaged? Cara?" he asked, genuinely confused. "Who told you that?"
Roxanne’s brows knit together. "What does it matter where I heard it?"
"Just tell me who gave you that information," Richard snapped, his jaw tightening into a rigid line.
"No, you tell me," Roxanne insisted, squaring her shoulders against the wall. "Are you engaged to her or not? And why on earth did you keep something this serious hidden from me?"
"I am not engaged to anyone," Richard replied. He forced a slow, grounding breath into his lungs, his voice calmer now. "That is the absolute truth."
"Then who exactly is Cara to you?" Roxanne pressed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "And before you answer, keep in mind that I already know you two have been together for twelve years."
Richard let out a dry, mocking scoff. "If Cara told you it’s been twelve years, she lied. She and I were on and off for just three years. And we broke things off completely over two years ago."
"Then why is she still wearing the diamond ring on her finger?" Roxanne asked, pinning him with a piercing look.
Richard stared down at her, his dark eyes swirling with a heavy, conflicted emotion she couldn’t quite read. The silence extended between them, thick and heavy. Slowly, he exhaled and stepped back into her space. He wrapped a warm arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his body as he rested his forehead gently against hers.
"I don’t explain myself or my life to anyone, Roxanne," he murmured, his voice laced with a raw struggle. "I don’t even know how you manage to make me do it."
Roxanne swallowed hard. She pulled her head back slightly, forcing him to look her in the eye. "If answering me is such a burden, then don’t. I’ll just leave you to it," she said, trying to take a step away.
Richard tightened his grip instantly, anchoring her against his chest. "Why must you be so stubborn?" he whispered, closing his eyes as his warm breath brushed across her cheeks.
"I just want the truth, Richard," Roxanne insisted, her voice trembling but firm. "Because if I walk out of this corridor without it, you and I are nothing but corporate colleagues from here on out."
"You’re already part of my life," Richard growled softly, his brows furrowing in an immediate scowl. "Don’t pretend this is just business between us."
"Well, the reality says otherwise," Roxanne shot back.
"I said, do not say that to me," Richard replied. His baritone deepened significantly, vibrating with a potent mix of possessiveness and frustration.
"Then give me an answer."
"If I had known Mother was still introducing her as my fiancée, I would’ve put an end to it long ago." Richard looked at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"I was engaged to Cara, but that was over two years ago," he finally confessed. "We broke it off because she betrayed me. Ever since then, she has refused to take the ring off. And my mother has made it clear that Cara is the only woman she will ever accept as my wife."
Roxanne shook her head, a cold weight settling in her stomach. "Then this whole thing is entirely pointless."
Richard pulled her even closer, his grip unyielding. "No one dictates my choices, Roxanne. No one. Cara will take that ring off when she is finally tired of playing pretend with my mother. I want absolutely nothing to do with her."
"I just don’t want any more drama," Roxanne whispered, looking up at him as her composure started to crack. "Everything in my life is completely falling apart right now, and I am burning all my energy just trying to hold the pieces together. I refuse to fight for a place in your life, too."
Richard’s expression softened completely. He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss against her forehead. "You will never have to fight for a place in my life," he promised, his voice thick with sincerity. "Cara is my past. You are the only woman I want standing beside me now."
The sheer weight of his words melted every single argument she had left. She could only stare at him, her eyes shimmering with a sudden rush of unshed tears. Richard gently wiped away a single stray tear that escaped down her cheek before pulling her securely into his arms.
When he pulled back, his gaze dropped instantly to her lips. He leaned in and kissed her carefully at first, as though giving her one last chance to pull away. When she didn’t, the restraint he’d fought all evening finally broke. His hand tightened around her waist as hours of restrained longing poured into a single lingering kiss.
Roxanne didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him back, letting herself get lost in the heat of the moment. When they finally parted, she exhaled slowly, her head spinning.
"I really need to leave now," she murmured, trying to gather her senses. "If we stay out here any longer, we will surely get caught."
"Come to my place tonight," Richard urged, his hand still resting on her waist. "That fool locked you out of your own home, and there’s no telling what kind of stunt he will pull if you go back there tonight. Just wait for me in the courtyard, and we’ll leave together."
Roxanne shook her head, offering a small, sad smile. "Not tonight, Richard," she said softly, gently stepping out of his embrace and turning to walk down the hall.
Richard caught her hand one last time, pulling her into a tight, protective hug from behind. "I promise you will never have to fight to be with me. Because I choose you," he whispered near her ear. He turned her around, looking deeply into her eyes. "Only you."
Roxanne looked up at him, a genuine smile finally gracing her lips. She stood on her tiptoes, pressed a quick kiss to his lips, and turned away. This time, she kept walking, leaving him standing alone in the dim corridor.
Neither of them noticed the slight rustle in the shadows at the end of the hallway, where a camera lens silently retreated after capturing every single moment of their embrace.
Roxanne pressed trembling fingers against her lips as she crossed the courtyard, trying to steady the frantic rhythm of her heart. Despite everything that had happened tonight, she couldn’t stop replaying Richard’s promise. For the first time in years, hope felt dangerously real.
She pressed the key fob, and the lights flashed as the doors unlocked. But just as her fingers wrapped around the handle—
"Are you finally done playing the big executive for the night?" a harsh, mocking voice cut through the dark.
Roxanne snapped around. Christian was standing right behind her in the shadows of the parking lot, his eyes narrowed into malicious slits.