After the Business Trip

Chapter 25

A/N:  Here is another chapter and I hope you enjoy it.

Ae's parents are not stopping at all and they are going ahead with their plans.  They seem determined to get what they want.

Ae POV

This is so frustrating. Why won't my parents give this up? Well, I already know why. Earth and Pete's mother have found out that my parents are on the verge of bankruptcy and they need these people's help to save their company. However, they have sucked me into their scheme this time and have sold me off to the highest bidder. Okay, that isn't exactly what happened, but that is how I feel. I have no say in it. Well, my parents think that anyway, but I'm here to tell them that I do have a say and I've already voiced my say. I have told them no that very first night that they said something about this, but they didn't want to listen. My dislike for this whole thing should be pretty evident by now, since I won't talk to them, but I still don't think that they are listening to me. They keep going ahead with their plan. However, our photos to counter their photos and the fact that I have been able to prove that I wasn't with that nasty girl, I would have thought that they would give up. Shoot, the article that Pete's mother had written about me pretty much debunked the claim that I was engaged. Neither the girl nor my parents are giving up on it though. I still don't understand why. They should see that they can't win this fight.

I sigh and roll over. I can't sleep again tonight. My mind can't stop thinking about this situation and all the 'what ifs' that could happen. However, looking at Pete's innocent sleeping face calms me down and warms my heart. I never thought that it would be possible to love someone so much, but I do. I also know that this whole situation is hurting him too, which I never wanted to happen. I hate seeing his sad face when my parents try and pull something else. I also know that my attempts to shield him from this is not working. The more that I keep to myself to try and shield him from my own hurt and pain, I can see a little less sparkle in his eyes. I guess I made the wrong choice by trying to protect him. I wish that this whole mess would end soon. I don't know how much more that I can take.

I slide closer to Pete and I gently kiss his forehead. He is still the best thing to happen to me. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have Pete and his family to help stop my parents. No. I take that back. I know exact what would have happened. I have been engaged and then married to someone that I don't even know because my parents wanted me to. I can also assume that I probably would have been miserable the rest of my life. I don't think that there is anyway for me to love anyone else as much as I love Pete.

He is my angel and my savior.

I gently kiss his forehead again. In his sleep, Pete moves closer to me and enjoy his warmth. I drape one arm across his waist, and I close my eyes. Finally, I drift off to sleep.

Buzz...buzz....buzz...

I groan and let go of Pete, who is still sleeping in my arms. I love waking up with him in my arms. However, I hate this silly alarm. Ugh....

I roll over and grab my phone off the nightstand. As I turn off the alarm, I mumble, "But I don't want to get up yet."

Pete mumbles, "But we have to go to work."

I set my phone back down on the nightstand and I roll back over to face Pete. I wrap my arms around him and pull him tight against me. "Morning, baby."

Pete's eyes flutter open and he smiles. Oh, that smile has my heart race. He is the only person that can send me into a flurry of emotions without even touching me.