One Time Isn't Enough

Chapter 26

Miko P.O.V. 

I grabbed my phone quicky calling dad. He didn't pick up so I tried calling grandma. Who also did not pick up the phone. I was getting kind of frustrated. 

"Call Stacy if they are not picking up. We all know he does not miss a phone call cause it annoys him to miss anything," Maki said getting up from his seat. 

I searched through my contacts finding Stacy's number clicking dial and waited to listen to each and every one of the rings wishing, hoping he would pick up before the next one. 

"The person you are trying to contact-" I screamed throwing my phone. 

"I swear to ever-lovin' Jesus I'm going to kill someone if everyone keeps ignoring my calls!" I yelled 

I thought for a moment and then I called William. I knew he would not ignore my call. At least I hope he wouldn't. I knew I only had one ring left before he missed my call and I was on edge but thankful I heard that sweet voice. 

"Yes, baby? I'm kind of busy?" He answered. I could hear the sound of the interview still going on in the back round but the person talking and answering the questions was my Dad. 

"What the fuck was my grandma thinking?" I asked angrily. 

"I have no idea but she's sitting in my living room with Stacy. Your dad was in there for almost half an hour yelling while I was still answering questions for my interview. It's almost over and I think you should come over to help me handle it because I do not want to handle this alone," William answered in a whisper.

"Okay, tell me when the reporters leave cause I do not want to be on the news. Have fun with the rest of your interview, Bye-bye," I said slightly less mad. 

"Okay, Baby sees you then, bye," He hung up the phone and I sat there on the couch crossing my arms. I was mad but I did not know who to be mad at. It was kind of hard. 

The video of my grandmother storming Mr. Voodoo's press conference went viral within hours. #CEOHickeys was trending, and my phone wouldn't stop buzzing with notifications. I buried my face in a pillow, mortified, while William to the rest of the world seemed calm. 

It had been almost two hours but William finally texted me to tell me to come over. I never realized how fast I could get up and leave. I was already to his house trying to calm myself down so I did not go completely off the edge when I got there. 

No one was outside anymore, no news vans, dads truck or grandmas car missing. I had thought they would have stayed till I got here but never the less, I ran up the front steps bursting in the door. 

William still dressed nicely but only a faint smile on his lips. "I think we should just address it," he said, handing a steaming mug of tea in my hands. His voice was steady, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. My eyes widdened as he guided me through the house towards the livingroom gently pushing me to sit down. 

"Address it how?" I whispered as I peeked up at him. "The company's PR team must be having collective heart attacks right now."

William smiled slightly. "They'll survive. I'm more concerned about you." He sat beside me, taking my hand. "I'm tired of hiding, Miko. Maybe your grandmother did us a favor."

nearly choking on my tea. "A favor? The whole country is talking about my hickeys!"

"Let them talk," he said, squeezing my hand. "I've spent my entire career carefully constructing walls between my personal life and my professional image. It's exhausting." His smile was Brighting as he looked at me for a long time. 

"If you want to come out with me join me at the company for a press conference in one hour, we'll be a power house together," WIlliam said with a worried look in his eyes, he might have thought I would back out and leave but I think he is my Zing. 

Time skip

I stood back on the stage, heart pounding as he approached the podium.

"Yesterday, a video circulated showing an... unexpected interruption to our quarterly briefing," William began, his CEO voice in full effect. The room of reporters chuckled nervously. "I would like to address that directly."

My palms were sweating. We had discussed this, but actually watching it happen made my stomach twist.

"The woman in that video was the grandmother of my partner, Miko Midnight." William's voice softened. "We have been together for eight months, and while I had intended to keep my private life private, circumstances have changed that. I will not apologize for being in a relationship, nor will I hide it any longer." gesturing to me behind him. 

The room erupted with questions. William handled them with his usual poise, neither confirming nor denying the hickey allegations specifically, thank god, but making it clear that yes, we were seriously involved, and no, it would not affect his leadership of the company.

Grandma had called me late that evening. "I didn't mean to make such a scene," she said, though I detected a hint of pride in her voice. "But that man needed to show proper respect!"

"It's okay, Grandma," I sighed. "Actually, it's worked out for the best."

The media frenzy lasted about two weeks before some celebrity scandal took its place in the headlines. At work, there were whispers when I passed through the halls, but my team had my back. William made it clear to the entire company that our relationship had never influenced my fathers position or projects, and anyone suggesting otherwise would answer directly to him.

Six months after what we now jokingly called "Hickeygate," William had proposed during a weekend at his lake house. No cameras, no press—just us, a sunset, and a simple question.

Three months later, we married in a small ceremony with family and close friends. Grandma behaved herself, though she did give William a stern look during the vows that made him stand up straighter.

At the reception, William's new CFO clinked her glass for a toast. "When I first learned about Miko and William I wondered if it would change things in my long time neighbor and now team partners life. And it has—for the better. I've never seen our fearless leader so balanced, so genuinely happy." mt Dad asked to retire shortly after and was focusing on my brothers more who were my only groomsmen next to me that night. 

William looked at me then, his public CEO mask completely gone, replaced by something real and warm that still makes my heart skip a beat. 

Later that evening, as we swayed to our first dance, William whispered, "Thank your grandmother for me."

"For what?" I asked, puzzled.

"For caring enough about you to publicly embarrass me," he laughed softly. "Sometimes we need a push to realize what matters most."

I smiled, resting my head against his chest. "I'll tell her. But fair warning—she'll never let you hear the end of it."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said, and I knew then that all the drama, all the attention, all the whispers had been worth it.

Sometimes life's most awkward moments lead to its greatest joys. And sometimes, your overprotective grandmother barging into your boyfriend's press conference turns out to be exactly what you both needed to find your way to happily ever after.

Note, 

there is no promise but I might edit this again one day but this is the end of this love story for now.