"I'm not going to lie, my back is killing me," I murmur slyly, smirking against my coffee cup. Stellan grins proudly from across the table, holding the morning paper.

"Mine too."

"Worth it though."

"Every second."

I continue to stare as he goes back to reading, his toast and jam barely touched. He's shirtless so I don't really expect to look away anytime soon. I consumed my breakfast- whether it was from the strenuous exercise last night or the result from the baby growing inside of me, I don't know.

"Do you have to go see the lawyer today?"

"Yes... our old friend Marcus is definitely trying to get us."

Good ol' Marcus. Fucking asshole. "What's happened?"

"Nothing yet. He's just milking that abuse allegation for all it's worth."

"Because it's the only thing they have to go off of."

"Exactly. The thing is because she's a woman, it really doesn't matter much that she hurts men. You notice how no one's talking about that?"

I sigh, setting down my cup. "Have you got anything- an alibi for that night?"

"Well, I told you. I was with her and Vance walked in on us. We had been arguing because I was ceasing our contract... I left and the next day, I was leaving a bar- I was jumped."

"And everything was gone."

"Yes, my entire life seemed to disappear in a matter of hours. I truly don't know how he did it... He probably didn't expect me to live through the beating."

I nod, looking down. "I saw your hospital records."

He sets down the papers, looking at me quizzically. "How?"

"It was before- when you were still here... I had Charles look into it."

"Oh, well, so you know how it was then."

I nod, reaching across the table for his hand. He did make it within an inch of his life. He takes my hand, squeezing gently.

"I'm not worried. Our case is pretty solid. Thankfully, I had a legal contract with Constantine. The only thing I'm unsure of is what we're suing him for."

"You deserve it after what he's done to you."

"Three million dollars?"

I let go of his hand, taking my empty mug with me. "Yes. You're worth that and more."

I set the cup into the sink and turn, finding him smiling warmly at me. Blushing, I lean against it, crossing my arms.

"It makes me feel as if that's what everyone thinks I'm doing this for."

"After the trial, Stellan, no one will think that. This is for justice. You've had your life torn away from you and it takes a brave person to try and get it back."

"You know, you're the best ego booster."

"What ego? You don't have an egotistical bone in your body."

I watch his brow rise upwards. "Is that so?"

I press my lips together happily, nodding. He stands up and I laugh, scooting towards the cabinets.

"I'll catch you," he states, coming round the table. I sprint the other way, laughing loudly when his arm comes around my waist, twisting me towards him. I jump up onto him with a defeated sigh and kiss his lips. With a chuckle, he grins, clutching the back of my head with his one free hand.

"I'll show you egotistical."

...

"You seem rather chipper this morning," Oli states matter-of-factly as the executive staff exit from the conference room. There are boxes upon boxes of Chinese food scattered across the long table.

"Do I?"

"Yes, compared to the last couple of days at least. I was scared you had been told you had cancer or something."

I look down at my papers, gathering them. "No, nothing like that... Stellan's back in town."

She grins, nodding. "I see."

"How long is he here for?"

"Indefinitely, actually."

She smiles wide, looking genuinely pleased. "I'm glad to hear it. I've been worried..."

I avoid her gaze and stick the papers into my briefcase. "Heard from him?"

"Nothing."

I take a deep breath and nod, knowing I have to let Viktor go. I have too much to worry about right now- he's being selfish and I can't continue to beg him to tell me what's wrong- what I did to make him hate me so much.

"Okay, well... the show must go on. I'm going to call Allison now- let her know she got the job."

"I wanted to talk to you about that... Do you think that's the best idea? I do know that there is a trial going on with you- should you bring someone in you can't trust?"

"Oh, don't worry. I've already thought of that." I pull out a contract- it's so thick it folds over in the air.

Her eyes widen. "Oh, I can see that."

"Can never be too prepared," I state, skirting around the table.

...

"Alright, Allison." I sit down on the edge of my desk, resting the contract beside me. "This is huge for a reason. To make things short, because I could go on for days literally on how complicated my life can be, this contract means that you cannot speak about anything regarding my business, personal life- your job is to be loyal to me and that means confidentiality."

The girl looks as if she couldn't harm a fly. "I-I understand."

"I do know it's a thick contract and you will probably like to go home and review it- I do encourage that. I don't want you to get in not know what's what. I move fast and I need someone that can catch on well by my side."

"I'm sure that won't be a problem."

I smile softly. "I'm sure it won't. Besides, I'm not a gargoyle- I will help you learn the ropes."

"I don't mind signing it now, I wouldn't tell anyone about your life anyway."

Reaching down, I grab the contract and hand it over to her. "Do you have any-"

The door opens and Oli sticks her head into the room. "Iris?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt but you have a visitor- I've been trying to get her to go away for a while now..."

My face falls. "Her?"

"I'm afraid so..."

"Tell her I'm busy- I will not be able to see her today."

"I already did."

"Tell her again, please."

She presses her lips together and nods, shutting the door.

"Do you need to see someone? I can-"

"No, really. It's alright. I would like to get to know a little more about you. Your hobbies, family, that kind of thing."

"Oh... well, my father lives in Miami, I lived with my mother in Connecticut."

"And what does your mother do?"

"She's an accountant."

I nod, crossing my arms, trying not to picture the fit Vivienne is probably throwing outside this office. "And your father?"

"He jumps from job to job. I don't speak to him much... It's only really been my mother and I."

"Alright... Well, tell me what made you interested in fashion."

"Well-"

"I don't care if she's busy! I have the right to wait here until she's done! I flew thousands of miles to see her!"

My eyes close in rage at the sound of my biological mother's voice. "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to see to this."

"Of course."

With a sigh, I stand up, grasping the door. I practically hear every chair swivel in my direction as I walk out into the hallway.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but you're going to have to leave..."

"Right now," I snap, walking to one of my intern's, Angelica's, desk.

"I need to speak to you," my raven-haired mother proclaims, stubbornly. Angelica looks up at me, obviously uncomfortable as I grab her office phone, dialing the number for security.

"I had Olivia come out and tell you I am busy in an interview. I'm calling security."

"Please, Iris."

A deep voice "Security."

"No." I mutter to her before I raise the phone to my ear. "Yes, I need someone removed immediately. She is not to be allowed into this building again."

"Yes, ma'am."

I slam the phone down and turn to head back to my office.

"Iris! Please! It's important!"

"Do not come here again," I call over my shoulder, grabbing my office door handle.

"Iris!"

...

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" I shout, clutching my face tiredly. Staying this late, I thought I has escaped the endless questions. "Come in!"

"You sound chipper," Stellan states, opening the door wide. I look up from my hands, gaping.

"Oh, god. I'm sorry- I thought you were one of them. I haven't had a piece of quiet yet."

"Well, you're in luck. They're all gone and I brought food."

I smile softly, relieved. "That's nice of you."

He sets down the bags onto my desk, nodding. "Yeah, well, I figured since it was already eight, you were going to be here late..."

"Yeah, I didn't mean to-"

"So, I stopped down the street, picked something up and came here." He turns, shrugging off his jacket. "What I truly didn't expect was to meet your mother downstairs."

Fuck. I stare at his back, speechless. He turns then, shrugging and sticks his hands into his pockets. The look of disappointment on his face is apparent. I look down, pursing my lips.

"Just tell me why you did it... You told me your parents were dead, Iris. We- don't lie to each other."

"I know," I utter lamely, avoiding his harsh gaze.

"I've trusted you with every fragment of my life, Iris... Is your father alive as well?"

"No, he's dead."

"I don't understand. I truly do not understand why you would even say that she was dead."

"You know how they abandoned me."

"Yes but that doesn't mean she's dead, Iris! Jesus!"

"To me, she might as well be!" I shout, finally pissed enough to look at him. His mouth shuts at my bitter words and he simply stares. "I don't want anything to do with her. She found out about me a couple years ago- searched for me. I've been trying to get her to leave me alone since then."

"Why? She might have an explanation- maybe there was a reason..."

"She told me! I sat down with her a week ago and she told me. She said that she couldn't face the people in the hospital and she knew I'd be found in the bathroom. She was a coward! She said she wanted me but didn't want me to die on the street. She knew I'd be better suited with someone else- so she left me there, Stellan."

I stand up in a rush, needing to move. "She left me there- with no clue who was going to get me. No clue of the type of person who would find me. No clue how long I'd sit there without food- no clue if I was cold."

Closing his eyes tightly, he nods toward the ground. Chest heaving, I stare at him, arms crossed protectively over my body.

"Your parents didn't leave you on purpose- they loved you, Stellan... Mine didn't love me enough."

In order to fix my gaze on something- anything else, I reach down, toying with the white daisy on my desk. I have no tears- just anger. Deep, hidden anger I've carried with me my entire life.

He comes around the desk and stands before me. I force myself to look up, not wishing to see the pity on his face but ashamed I lied to him. This is my punishment. But his eyes aren't sullen or angry, they show no pity. He moves forward and surprisingly, he embraces me, wrapping his arms around my body with such force, I gasp, blinking.

I place my hands on his back, relieved as he presses his lips to my hair softly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you have to live with that on your shoulders."

"I don't think of it much. Only when she's around."

He pulls back, sighing. "You've been through a lot these past couple of weeks."

"I'm hanging in there," I murmur, smiling softly.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right? You can tell me anything."

I stare at him, knowing this is the moment I should utter that I'm expecting his child but my mouth won't comply. I nod, pressing my face to his chest again.

"W-what did she say to you- outside?"

"She said she knew that I was your fiancée. She had seen the press conference. Her exact words were, I don't know if you're a good man for my daughter but I pray that your situation can be resolved soon so we can be happy. And that she had something she needed you to know- about the girl that was in your office today? Or something like that?"

I lean back from him, confused. "The girl I interviewed? My new assistant?"

"Yes. I tried to get her to tell me but she said she wanted to speak with you directly."

"That's strange... She came in here, causing a mess in front of everyone and I threw her out. She's banned from this building. Shit."

"I told her I'd speak to you and asked for where to reach her." He lets go of me and reaches into his back pocket, removing a receipt. I take it and find a number scribbled on the back.

"You think of everything," I confess warmly, glancing up from the paper to him. He places his hand on my hip firmly, breathing deeply. Setting down the receipt onto the desk, I apologize. "I'm sorry I lied to you about her."

"It's alright... I just want you to feel at home with me. I don't want us to keep things from each other."

Jesus, it's like he knows or something. I look away uncomfortably, swallowing nervously. He lets me go when I turn to grab my bag and the receipt.

"I'd rather eat this at home... Is that okay?"

"Of course, let's go." I take his hand, waiting while he grabs the bag off the desk and we walk out together. I feel eyes on me as we walk out onto the street towards Eric and the limo. I don't know if it's my paranoia but I don't like it.

I look around as Stellan gestures me into the vehicle.

"I half expected her to still be waiting there."

I nod, agreeing. "I know. Me too."

He leans back beside me, resting his arm out against the leather. I kick off my heels and turn into him, resting my legs over his thighs, awaiting comfort. I get it, as I always do from him because he knows always when I need it.

"I have something for you," he whispers softly, kissing my hair.

"Something?" I ask, pulling back slightly. He nods, staring at me for a moment before he reaches into the inner part of his jacket. My jaw slackens when he pulls out a dark ring box, pressing his full lips together nervously. He sets it on my lap gently.

"I found it in a vintage store. I felt like it was... very you."

Smiling softly, I grab it, glancing over at him apprehensively before I pop the gold clasp open.

"Oh, Stellan..." I gasp, grazing my hand over the intricate cut of a emerald ring. Tiny diamonds surround the larger, green rock- it's absolutely stunning.

"The owner told me a older gentleman brought it into the store a couple months ago. He said the man had fallen in love with his wife as teenagers when she visited America from France and they spent two weeks together before she went back." He grins slightly when I look up from the ring to his face. "The family didn't want him with her but he bought this ring the day after she left and told the clerk that he followed her home and that they spent the rest of their lives together."

"That's... so beautiful. I don't know, it kind of sounds like us."

"I thought so." He smiles, running a hand through his hair falling before his eyes. "I thought it was a good omen, you know? They defied everything, family, reason, language barriers- even an ocean. That was the price in order to be together and he loved her enough to follow her anywhere."

He stares at me, his eyes emotional and reaches up, grasping my face. I close my eyes as he caresses my jawline with the pad of his thumb. "I'll follow you anywhere, Iris."

My lips tremble as I smile, finding it hard not to cry at his words. With a noise of disbelief, I crush my lips to his, smiling while I do it. "I love you."

We pull back, chuckling breathlessly. I think both of us were nervous for this one. He pulls out the ring and slides it onto my ring finger. I beam when it fits perfectly.

"Perfect fit," he murmurs, lifting my hand to press his lips to the promise of our love.