Mock Wedding?

"You went AWOL this weekend. Is everything okay?" Michael asked Grace as soon as the two interns left.

He wasn't surprised to see how she was dressed at work because, well.. This was Grace. She liked to be comfortable in her private space unless she was going to an important meeting.

"I was busy." She replied absentmindedly and continued to look through a file even though she was no longer paying attention to it. She had expected this confrontation sooner or later after leaving his party like that without saying a word to him.

"You should have at least told me. The party hadn't even officially begun before you left. I was looking all over for you before Mrs. Anderson told me you were gone." He said softly and sat down across from her.

"Sorry for making you worried." She said this without looking up at him. There was no ounce of sincerity in her voice.

"Grace Anderson!"

He called sternly and got her attention when her head jerked up and she locked eyes with him. Whenever he addressed her by her full name, it was never good.

"Seriously, what's wrong with you? Do we need to see a doctor? A therapist? You are making me worried. You rarely eat good food or sleep well. You look thin and lately, you've been very distant. I... am worried."

Michael sounded very worried, and it was obvious in the way he stared at her. She wished she could assure him that she truly was okay so he would get off her back, but she knew Michael as much as he knew her. He was going to know she was lying to him.

She tried to think of the best answer to give him because apparently, telling him she was avoiding him because he was getting married to Alex wasn't something she was ever going to say to him in the life. Or next.

"Is it because it's almost your birthday soon?" He asked.

She understood why he asked her that. Her birthday was the worst day of her life. She wished that day would never come, but unfortunately, the 5th day of September was always going to come whether she liked it or not.

She sighed deeply. "I am just worried about many things. The company, especially. I feel like no matter how much effort I put into it, it is still going to end up with Vincent taking over someday."

"What? Of course not! You have been doing a great job and I believe it is going to be yours. You deserve it. And not just because your mother was a major founder, but because you are the best person for the position. Have you seen what you are capable of doing? Damn girl!"

Grace chuckled. "You don't have to flatter me too much. This is a serious issue."

"I am not flattering you." He said seriously. "Whenever there is a big problem the company is facing, who is the person they ask to fix it?"

She rolled her eyes. "Because I am a nerd to them."

He shook his head. "Because you are best at this. And trust me, you may not know this, but many people love you."

He assured her, making her chuckled. She wished it was so.

"Speaking of people who love you..." He smiled. "I got you something." He handed her the bag he had kept on the desk. "I wanted to give it to you at the party, but you left early."

She took the bag from him and opened it to find a wrapped gift. She unwrapped the box and opened it to reveal a tiny diamond necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at it. It was beautiful.

"I was shopping for rings when I saw it and thought, 'this is going to look very nice on Gracias, so I bought it." He said with a proud smile.

As much as she was touched, she returned to reality when he mentioned he had bought it when he had been shopping for rings.

For himself and Alex, obviously.

"Is this an early birthday gift?" She asked, pushing the heaviness away from her heart.

"Pfft, no! When you see a birthday gift, you'll know it."

"So you just want to throw money around?" She scowled at him.

"I have enough. Why can't I do that?" He asked with a cheeky grin. "Now shut up and wear that. I want to see if I am right about it."

"Wear this in this outfit? She looked down at herself. "Of course, I won't do that."