MORE THAN I KNEW

The wedding had been everything Velma imagined and more. White roses lined the pews, soft jazz floated through the air, and the smiles on every face told a story of love worth waiting for. Daniel stood tall beside her, his hand never letting go of hers even as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife.

Now, the ceremony was over. The reception had melted into a gentle night, and Lagos hummed quietly outside the tinted windows of their car. Velma leaned her head against the leather headrest, the sparkle of her gown catching the streetlights.

Daniel drove, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lightly on her knee. There was an ease in his touch that made her heart flutter—calm, confident, like a man who had found everything he'd ever wanted.

"Before we head home," he said softly, "I need to branch the office. It'll be quick, just to pick up a file. I won't be going in for the next two days, and I can't risk forgetting it."

Velma blinked slowly. "Your office?"

He nodded, eyes still on the road. "Just ten minutes, I promise."

She sat up slightly. "I didn't even realize you were still going in up until the wedding."

Daniel smiled. "I wasn't. But this is something I have to pick up myself."

Velma didn't press further. She had always admired how Daniel carried himself—grounded, calm, never loud about what he did. Still, she realized she didn't know much about his work beyond what he'd vaguely mentioned. It had never really come up in depth. She had assumed it wasn't a big deal—or at least nothing extravagant. He wasn't the bragging type.

When the car pulled into a sleek compound surrounded by glass walls and security gates, her eyes widened slightly.

"This is it?" she asked, voice catching.

"Yep," he said casually, turning off the engine. "Come inside. I won't be long."

The building rose like a modern sculpture, clean and impressive. She followed him through the security gate, her heels clicking against the polished tiles. The receptionist stood up immediately.

"Good evening, sir. Congratulations, and welcome, ma'am," the young woman said with a wide grin.

Velma smiled back, a bit startled.

"Thank you, zayne," Daniel replied. "We won't be long."

They took the private elevator to the top floor. The ride was silent, though Velma's mind wasn't. She stared at the glowing numbers, then at Daniel, who looked relaxed as ever. The elevator dinged, and as the doors slid open, a burst of clapping and cheers filled the air.

"Surprise!" came a chorus of voices.

Velma froze.

"Welcome, Mrs. Daniel!" one woman called out with a laugh. "We've been waiting to meet you!"

Around a dozen smartly dressed people stood waiting in a tastefully decorated office space, holding balloons and a cake that read Congratulations, Boss & Bride.

Velma's eyes widened. She turned to Daniel slowly. "Boss?"

He gave a sheepish smile. "I was going to wait till Monday, but they insisted."

One of the men stepped forward. "Ma'am, you've just married the CEO of this company. He's kept you a mystery, but we've heard nothing but wonderful things."

A woman in a navy-blue suit added, "He never lets anything distract him at work, but you—apparently—you're the exception."

Velma blinked, processing the words. "You're the CEO?"

Daniel nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "I wanted you to marry me, not the title. It never felt like something that should come before us."

She stared at him, astonished. "Daniel… You never even told me."

"I didn't lie," he said gently. "I just didn't want to impress you with it. You were never interested in flashy things anyway."

She turned toward the staff who had now circled around, excited and smiling.

"I'm so confused," she laughed finally, still stunned. "This is… a lot."

"I know," he said. "I just wanted to grab the folder and go, but—well—my team had other plans."

He took her hand and led her through the glass double doors into his office. It was large and minimalistic, with panoramic views of the city skyline. A sleek black desk sat in the center, flanked by shelves and awards Velma hadn't imagined he'd have.

Her fingers ran lightly over a plaque.

"Young Business Leader of the Year," it read.

"You built all this?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"With a few friends," he said. "I started as one of the co-founders eight years ago. We built from scratch, failed a few times, learned fast, and somehow, it worked."

She turned to face him fully, eyes brimming. "You're incredible, Daniel."

He chuckled. "I've always been. You're just seeing the corporate side now."

Velma laughed and shook her head. "You always hid this from me."

"Not hid," he corrected, "just didn't let it take center stage. I didn't want our love to compete with ambition. I needed to know that what we had was real."

She stepped closer, taking his face in her hands. "It is. It always was."

He leaned in and kissed her gently. The applause outside the office started again.

When they walked back out, the staff were cutting the cake and offering glasses of champagne. Someone handed Velma a flute. She accepted it, now fully smiling.

"To the real boss," someone toasted. "The one who finally stole Daniel's heart."

She blushed. Daniel laughed. "I don't mind being second in command now."

They stayed a little longer than planned. Velma met the department heads, shook hands with senior staff, and laughed at a few inside jokes she was slowly becoming part of. The warmth in the room was unexpected, and it made her admire Daniel more—not just as a husband, but as a leader. These people didn't just respect him; they genuinely liked him.

When they finally left, she climbed into the car with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"That was… unexpected," she murmured as they drove out of the compound.

He glanced at her. "Still want to be married to me?"

She grinned. "Now I just feel like I married a movie character."

He laughed, shaking his head.

"But seriously," she continued, "you could have told me."

"I wanted to. I just never found the right moment. And then it became our inside joke—I'd say something vague about work, and you never pushed."

"I thought you were some financial analyst or consultant," she admitted.

He chuckled. "Close enough."

The city lights passed in a golden blur outside their windows. Silence settled between them again, but it was a peaceful one. Velma reached for his hand and held it.

"I loved you before I knew you were a CEO," she said softly. "But now I love you even more—not because of that, but because you stayed so true to yourself. You didn't let it change you."

Daniel looked at her, his heart full. "I didn't need anything more once I had you."

They pulled into their new home a few minutes later—a quiet, tasteful duplex on a quiet street with soft lights glowing on the porch.

Daniel helped her out of the car, then paused and said, "Ready for forever?"

Velma smiled, taking his arm.

"With you? I've been ready."

They stepped inside together, two hearts in sync, two lives now one. And as the door closed behind them, the world outside faded, leaving only the sound of laughter and the promise of a lifetime.

---

Word Count: Approx. 1,500 words

Let me know if you want this turned into a PDF, printed version, or adapte