Holiday Flash Marriage with Mr Ceo

Chapter 1: Shattered Dreams

~Sara Pov~

The Taxi stopped at the right place and the driver's voice saying we were here jolted me out of my daze. I looked out of the window and my eyes lit up with happiness on seeing the familiar place, David, my Boyfriend's home.

I wonder how he would react seeing me travel from New York to Los Angeles just to see him. picturing his reaction-the way he'd light up when he saw me standing there, I couldn't help the mischievous smile that popped up on my face. David always said I planned things like surprises, and he wasn't wrong. This was going to be his best Christmas present ever.

I stepped out of the car; my suitcase dragged along with me. The biting cold of the winter's eve wouldn't even be felt on my skin, all that filled my heart was anticipation.

Three years-that was how long we had lasted. Three years of laughter and shared secrets and whispers of dreams. Three years planning our life: a house, children, everything.

Now, everything has fallen into place.

My hand instinctively went to my stomach. I hadn't told him yet. I had wanted it to be perfect-to see the light in his eyes at the exact moment I told him he was going to be a father.

I smiled to myself and went up the stairs, my heels stepped softly on the stone. I knocked softly at the door once, and-

No answer.

I frowned and tapped again. Nothing.

"David?" I called out, leaning in. There was no answer.

He must still be at the office. But what was he doing there at this time? Workaholic!

My excitement was a little dimmed by that thought, but it didn't matter. I'd just surprise him there instead. I turned back to the waiting taxi and waved it down once again.

"To Packer Enterprises," I told him, giving him the address of his office

building.

The driver nodded and off we went.

In no time we got there, I thanked the driver and stood before a sleek, modern building.

David would sometimes stay late at the office. I wasn't surprised, for he was that kind of very dedicated man who always wanted to do more and was never content with what he was doing. That was one thing I could respect in him.

But tonight, I just wanted to remind him to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. I squeezed the box in my hand hard as I pictured how his face was going to light up the moment he tore open the lid and found that ring inside it.

The ride up to the highest floor seemed to take forever. Each soft tinkle as the elevator passed the floors was a test to my patience. And finally! We got to his office.

His office was at the end of the hall, I saw the door slightly ajar to let in a warm light flow into the dim hallway.

My eyes lit up thinking of meeting him soon. I walked nearer and then heard s

Voices-or should I say Sounds?

I raised my eyebrow. "Is he with someone?"

I took a step nearer, then as if I was shot, I went still with what I just saw.

David. His arms were wrapped around Emma Lane, his secretary. Her blouse half-open, her lipstick mussed. His lips on hers, his body pressed to hers in a way that turned my stomach inside out.

My body shook with agitation, The world turned upside down at that moment, My chest got tight, and the air in my lungs just vanished. I stood there, unmoving, as my head struggled to make sense of what my eyes were seeing.

The box slipped from my fingers and fell onto the floor with a soft thud.

Then David's head jerked up, and he separated from Emma like he'd taken an electric shock. His lips were still reddened from the kissing, his shirt wrinkled from where her hands had been. His face bleached the minute his eyes met mine.

"S-Sara?" he stuttered, his voice cracking.

The room started spinning around me. My vision began to blur. My chest was heavy, squeezed tight, making it difficult to breathe.

I swallowed hard, "David..."I muttered, My voice was barely audible, but it was shaky.

He took a step forward, his hands upraised in a gesture of placation, but I took an instinctive step back. "Sara, I... I can explain-"

"Explain?" I cut him off. My voice cracked and trembled. My legs felt like they were going to give out any second, but still I forced myself to stand. I glared at him, "I saw you! What, exactly, do you plan on explaining?!"

I looked at Emma who didn't bat an eyelid. She just leaned back against his desk, blouse still half undone, lipstick smudged over her mouth, with the smallest curve playing about her lips like she was expecting this.

"I..." David looked from her to me, his shoulders slumping very slightly. "Look, Sara, maybe this isn't the time-"

"Not now?" My voice shot up sharp, splintering. "I came here to surprise you! I came here to spend Christmas with you and to give you this!" I thrust my hand towards the box on the floor. My hands were shaking so hard, I felt like it wasn't my own anymore.

He looked shocked then flicked a glance at the box, looked away, almost as if he couldn't look at it himself. "Sara, I-"

"Don't!" I cut him off again. my chest heaving. "Don't you dare make excuses! Don't you dare stand there and act like this isn't what it looks like!" I yelled angrily.

He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. Frustration carved on his face as he muttered, "Fine," his voice no longer filled with the hesitation it had been. "You're right. This isn't what it looks like."

For a moment, hope flared to life in my chest, a wild, foolish hope. Maybe he will say it was a prank.

"It's over," he finished, voice now icy, bitter.

The room began to spin, I immediately held a table to stabilize myself.

My throat constricted and I forced out the words. "Wha... what did you say?"

He snorted and crossed his arms. "I'm telling you this isn't new, Sara. Emma and I... we've been seeing each other going on almost a year now."

The floor dropped out from under me.

"A year?!" You are lying to me right? This is a Christmas prank right?!

Chapter 2: Holiday Heartbreak

~Sara Pov~

I looked at him with shock and horror. What is going on?!

Emma's smile was wider now, her voice bright and taunting. "You really didn't expect that, right?" she said, the words dripping with false sympathy.

My eyes flashed with anger, "Shut up!" I bellowed, startling myself at the venom.

I looked on as David took a step forward, his hands wanting to hold me but I dodge his hands.

Then he sighed softly, "Sara, don't make a scene, okay?"

"Make a scene?" My laughter was wild and broken. "You're telling me not to make a scene? You've been cheating on me for a year, David! A whole year! And I had no idea because I trusted you. I loved you!"

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have," he snapped, his voice suddenly sharp.

I froze at his words which cut me like a knife. "What... what is that supposed to mean?"

His face turned cold and indifferent, "It means this isn't all my fault, Sara!" he said, his voice rising. "You're not exactly perfect, you know. You're boring. Predictable. And, honestly? You were never really the kind of woman I wanted to be with long-term." He said then looked at me indifferently with his hands in his pocket.

My gut twisted at the words, slamming into my ears.

"You don't excite me, Sara," he went on, his voice now more bitter. "You don't challenge me. You don't inspire me. You're just ... there. And I need more than that."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, blurring my sight. "You ... you don't mean that."

"Don't I?" His face set in a harder line.

"You don't come from a family that matters. You don't have the connections I need. Emma does. She understands me. She fits into my world."

I looked at Emma, who he was talking about as she tilted her head. Her smile dripped with satisfaction. "He's right, Sara. You and David? You were never really a match." She said then laughed sarcastically.

I Clenched my hands with anger, then glared at her, " Get out," I whispered as my voice shook.

"Excuse me?" she laughed.

" I said GET OUT!" I screamed. it ripped out of my chest like some feral animal.

Then I felt David caught at my arm. "Stop, Sara. You're only making a fool of yourself."

I shook his arm free from his hand, eyes streaming with tears. "Me? Making a fool of myself? You lied to me, David! You lied for a whole fuckin for one year! And now You just stand there, and tell me it is my fault?"

He sighed then, heavy as if I'm some kind of nuisance. "You're not listening, Sara. I moved on. I am with Emma now. We are happy."

"Happy?"The words felt like Acid, that one word left my tongue and burned a fire trail within. "You destroyed all we were-for her?"

He looked at me then turned to look at Emma, "I am sorry, Sara."

My knees buckled slightly, and I had to reach out for the edge of the desk to catch myself.

"David..." My voice broke, weak and rough. "I. I thought we were getting married. I thought we were going to have children."

Emma snorted. "A family?" She exchanged a look with David, her eyes flashing with amusement.

I threw her a look, then him. "What's so funny?"

He shook his head, lips curling up at the corners. "Sara, Emma and I are already getting married."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

Emma rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small, white envelope. She held it out to me with her smile triumphant. "Here," she said, with a sweet voice

"Consider this your official invitation."

My hands were shaking as I took the envelope. It was heavy in my palms, the weight like a thing that would crush me. Slowly, I opened it and my breath went heavy.

Their wedding. In Maldives. At the very same resort I had secretly booked for our vacation.

I opened and closed my mouth, but no words would come.

The tears fell now, hot and without ending, but I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think.

"Sara... "David's voice was softer now, almost pitiful. "I think you should go. "

Go?

I reeled backward, the invitation fell from my hand. Both my legs were shaking and at any moment, I was convinced, they would abandon me, but somehow I lurched towards the door

I have no memory whatever of leaving the house. The next thing I knew I was running.

It suddenly hit me right in the face-the cold, that is. My chest would heave with a sharp aching gasp in reaction every time I breathed out. City lights blurred past in this manner as I ran, dragging my suitcase and now shatter-torn heart at the same speed.

I should have screamed. I would have cried out, but then there was just no end in sight to it.

I wanted to tell him. About the baby. About everything. But now... now none of it mattered.

None of it mattered anymore.

Chapter 3: A Lonely Christmas

~Sara Pov~

I just kept running.

The air slammed against my lungs, icy cold air slammed at my face, but I just didn't give a damn. The city lights blurred together through the tears streaming down my face. My heart thudded in my chest, I felt pain like never before. Its felt so painful.

My heels clicked noisily against the pavement, and then one gave way and twisted my ankle, making me stop dead in my tracks. I hobbled up onto the sidewalk and dropped down onto my knees as finally the weight of everything crashed down.

And then I just broke.

I curled into myself, my arms wrapping around my legs as sobs tore from my chest. It was raw like an animal in pain.

I didn't care who saw me-didn't care how I looked. The hurt was too much, too big to hold in.

I replayed his words in my head, each one a little sharper than the last.

The vision of Emma's smug face, her cruel smile, everything just twisted my gut into a sickening knot. I buried my face against my knees and another sob came out.

How could he do this? How could the man I loved, the man I thought loved me, tear me to shreds like this?

I have no idea how long I sat crying there on the sidewalk. It could have been minutes or even hours, but none of that mattered anymore.

When finally my tears began drying up, I wiped my face with my shaky hands. A glance in a nearby store window made me recoil. My cheeks were red and pale white, my eyes puffy and bloodshot. I sucked breaths through my lips that would not stop shivering.

The city was as lovely as always.

Christmas lights blink in every direction, curling around trees and buildings and shining softly against the night. Couples stroll hand in hand, laughing, faces of all of them were flushed with joy.

Children tug at the hands of their parents, pointing out the shop windows with all their silly holiday trimmings. Wherever I look, there is joy and warmth and love.

But not loneliness.

I put a hand on my stomach, the new wave of tears scorching my eyes.

I was three weeks pregnant.

The reality slammed into me anew, brutal and unyielding. I was going to tell him in the Maldives at Christmas, make it special, perfect-just like this life I thought we were building.

I had dreamed of it so clearly, his face, the brilliance of joy in his eyes when I would say to him that he was going to be a father. I pictured him picking me up in his arms, saying he loved me-that we were going to have a family now.

Now it all seemed like some kind of cruel joke.

I let out a painful laugh and bore down harder on my stomach. The only thing that kept me from falling apart, that kept me tied to myself, was this heat beneath my hand.

Why? Why had he made love to me that night? Why did he cradle me so lovingly, whisper what sounded like promises, if he knew he didn't want me?

I'd thought it was love. I'd thought it was real. But now I realized it was good-bye. He'd been giving me that one last moment before he finally moved on to someone else.

A quivering breath tumbled out as I let my eyelids close. His betrayal cut me up more than I ever have been hurt by anyone.

How come I didn't see it?

I do not know how many blocks up and down the streets I went in those few hours. My suitcase trailed behind me, its wheels softly clicking on the pavement.

The whole city was alive with the cheer of holidays, strings of lights twinkled overhead, casting everything in a soft, golden light. Street vendors were roasting chestnuts and selling hot chocolate, calling out as people passed.

I passed a group of carolers, their well-sung, harmonized voices floating through the crisp night air as they sang on a street corner.

Families pressed their faces to the brightly lit shop windows, children pointing excitedly at mechanical reindeer and life-size snowmen. Couples strolled arm in arm, sharing quiet smiles and stolen kisses.

It was beautiful.

But for me, it hurt.

Whatever I saw, wherever I looked, was a life I felt I'd lost: laughter, love, connection.

I had thought this Christmas was going to be special, filled to the brim with romance and happiness. I had thought David and I would take long, romantic strolls through these very same streets, hands linked, discussing our future.

Now here I was. Alone. Broken.

I blinked hard, trying to force the tears back. My throat was burning, and there was a great weight on my chest, like a stone was placed upon it.

I didn't know where I was walking to. I just kept going, my feet carrying me mechanically.

I picked my phone, and looked at the call logs, No missed calls or Even Messages. I laughed mockingly. "What were you expecting, Sara?"

Then I saw my friend's number, Lisa. I looked at it then dropped my fingers again,

The last thing I felt like doing was talking to anyone, voicing the words out loud. But the pain came again, sharp and unbelievable, and I pressed the call.

"Hello?" My voice came out weak and shaky.

"Sara? Oh my god, what happened? Are you okay?" Lisa's voice was frantic, filled with concern.

The sound of her care undid me completely.

I broke down, the words spilling out between sobs. "He... he cheated, Lisa. He's been cheating on me for a year. A whole year. And now he's marrying her. He's... he's marrying her!"

"You mean David cheated?! What?!" Lisa's voice rose sharply, filled with incredulity and anger. "That son of a bitch! I swear to god, Sara, I'm going to kill him. I'm going to rip him apart with my bare hands!"

I let out a watery laugh, but it turned into another sob.

"He said I was boring," I whispered, the tears making my voice shake. "He said I didn't excite him. That I wasn't enough."

"Don't you dare listen to him," Lisa said, brusque. "He's a piece of garbage, Sara. You're better than him. You're worth a thousand of him. He doesn't deserve you.".

Her voice was soft, but not soft enough to penetrate the well of pain deep in my chest.

"I thought he loved me," I whispered.

Lisa sighed, frustrated behind the sound. "Men like him don't know what love is. He isn't worth your tears, Sara. Or anything from you."

I swallowed. My eyes blur again m.

"Listen to me," Lisa went on, her voice had gone soft. "You have to get out of here. Get out of everything. Go someplace where you can breathe and just...just be. Don't let him wreck you."

I sniffled, swiped at my face with my sleeve. "Where am I supposed to go?"

"Go on the trip," she said, firm. "Go to the Maldives. Enjoy the vacation, even if it's by yourself. You don't need him to have a good time."

I faltered. The thought of sitting alone amongst happy couples and honeymooners made my chest tighten. "I don't know, Lisa. I feel like I'll just sit there and think about him."

"Or," she said, "you'll sit there and realize how much better off you are without him. You'll remember what it feels like to live for yourself. Sara, you deserve that."

Her words sliced through the air, through the haze of my grief.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I did need to get away, escape this city and its memories.

I took a deep breath, the cold of the air biting against my lungs. "Alright," I whispered. "I'll go."

"Good," Lisa said, her voice tight. "Book your flight. Pack your bags. And promise me you won't let him steal another moment of your happiness."

I nodded, though she could not see me. "I promise.".

I hung up and immediately reached for my phone to cancel our trip, which I had booked for David and me. The Maldives, where we were to begin life together. Now it's all mine.

A few frantic taps later, there was a flight to my destination in three hours.

How my heartbeat quickened once I confirmed it-it has sunk in now.

It's happening, and I am leaving.

I flagged down a taxi, my suitcase heavy in my hand.

"To the airport," I said, my voice stronger now.

The driver nodded and pulled the car away from the curb. As the city lights began to blur past the window, the faintest flicker of hope was stirred in me.

This trip may not fix everything, and maybe the pain will still be that acute, aching sore.

I was, at least, in motion. Only if I knew this trip will be filled with the unexpected.