Morning sunlight filtered gently through the tall windows of the Grimshaw mansion.
Soft light stretched across the polished floors.
The house was quiet.
Peaceful.
Down the long hallway, behind a large wooden door, Izana Grimshaw sat in his office.
Several reports were spread neatly across his desk.
Financial statements.
Security briefings.
Updates from different territories.
His red eyes moved calmly across the pages.
Focused.
Precise.
A pen rested between his fingers as he signed his name on the final line of a document.
The soft scratch of ink on paper was the only sound in the room.
Izana placed the finished report into a neat stack.
Then reached for the next one.
His expression remained calm.
Unreadable.
Just as he began scanning the next page—
Knock.
Soft.
Polite.
Izana didn't even look up.
He already knew who it was.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Leah stepped inside.
She quietly closed the door behind her.
But instead of walking forward immediately…
She stopped near the entrance.
Her hands were clasped together in front of her.
She looked… unsure.
A little nervous.
Izana finally looked up.
The moment his eyes landed on her…
He noticed.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"You look like you're about to ask me for something."
Leah blinked.
Then gave a small awkward smile.
"…Maybe."
Izana leaned back slightly in his chair.
His red eyes studied her carefully.
"You're nervous."
Leah shifted her weight.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yes."
Leah sighed quietly.
"Well… I guess there's no point pretending then."
Izana set his pen down.
Then slowly lifted one hand.
He gestured toward himself.
"Come here."
Leah walked toward the desk.
Slowly.
When she reached the front of it, she stopped.
Izana tapped his leg once.
"Sit."
Leah tilted her head.
"…Sit where?"
Izana looked completely unbothered.
He casually patted his lap.
"Here."
Leah's cheeks immediately turned pink.
"Izana."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"You can't just say that like it's normal."
"It is normal."
Leah tried to hide her smile.
"You're impossible."
Izana waited patiently.
After a moment…
Leah stepped closer.
Then carefully sat down on his lap.
Izana's arm naturally wrapped around her waist.
Holding her steady.
Secure.
Leah still looked slightly flustered.
"You're very direct."
"Yes."
Izana looked at her again.
His voice softened slightly.
"So."
"What is it?"
Leah hesitated.
Her fingers slowly lifted.
She stared at the ring on her hand.
The diamond sparkled gently in the sunlight.
Izana noticed immediately.
"You're thinking about the wedding."
Leah looked up at him.
"…Yes."
Izana brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"And?"
Leah took a small breath.
"I was wondering something."
"Ask."
Leah fidgeted slightly.
Then she said quietly,
"When should the wedding be?"
Izana didn't even pause.
"Whenever you want."
Leah blinked.
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
"You're not going to say we need months of planning?"
"No."
Leah stared at him for a moment.
"You're serious?"
Izana nodded once.
"I am."
Leah relaxed slightly.
"That's… a relief."
Izana tilted his head slightly.
"What were you expecting?"
Leah shrugged.
"I thought you might say something like six months or a year."
"I see no reason to wait that long."
Leah smiled softly.
"Well…"
She hesitated again.
Then spoke carefully.
"Would it be okay if we did it in a month?"
Izana looked at her.
Then he chuckled quietly.
"A month?"
Leah immediately hid her face against his shoulder.
"You're laughing."
"I am."
"That means it's too soon."
"No."
Leah peeked up at him.
"Really?"
Izana nodded.
"Yes."
Then he added calmly,
"You're eager."
Leah groaned softly.
"Stop saying it like that."
Izana's hand rested comfortably against her back.
"It is not a criticism."
Leah looked down at the ring again.
"I just… don't want to wait."
Izana studied her expression.
Then he asked quietly,
"Why?"
Leah thought for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Because the sooner we do it…"
She lifted her hand slightly.
"…the sooner this becomes real."
Izana's gaze softened.
"It was always real."
Leah shook her head slightly.
"Not like this."
Izana said nothing for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
"Very well."
Leah blinked.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"So… one month?"
"Yes."
Leah's smile grew brighter.
"Okay."
Izana watched her carefully.
Then Leah suddenly straightened slightly.
"There's something else."
Izana raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Leah gestured toward the window behind him.
"The garden."
Izana already understood.
"You want the ceremony there."
Leah nodded eagerly.
"The big garden behind the mansion."
"The one with the fountain."
"Yes."
Izana answered immediately.
"That is fine."
Leah blinked again.
"You didn't even think about it."
"There is nothing to think about."
Leah laughed softly.
"You're making this very easy."
Izana shrugged slightly.
"You are the one getting married."
Leah gave him a playful look.
"You're also getting married."
"Yes."
"But somehow I feel like I'm the only one excited."
Izana looked at her calmly.
"That is incorrect."
Leah smiled at that.
Then suddenly—
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you."
Izana didn't react with surprise.
Instead he gently turned his head.
Then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"You don't need to thank me."
Leah smiled.
"I still want to."
She didn't move away.
Instead she relaxed more comfortably against him.
Her head rested against his chest.
Izana picked up his pen again.
Leah watched him.
"You're really going back to work?"
"Yes."
Leah pouted slightly.
"You're supposed to be romantic right now."
"I already proposed."
Leah laughed.
"That was yesterday."
Izana continued writing.
"That was sufficient."
Leah lightly poked his chest.
"You're terrible."
Izana glanced down at her.
"Yet you agreed to marry me."
Leah grinned.
"Twice."
"Yes."
A few seconds passed.
Leah stayed right where she was.
Her fingers slowly traced the fabric of his shirt.
"Izana."
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?"
Izana paused.
"About what?"
"The wedding."
He shook his head.
"No."
Leah looked up at him.
"Not even a little?"
"No."
Leah tilted her head.
"Why not?"
Izana answered calmly.
"Because I already know the outcome."
Leah smiled.
"And what outcome is that?"
"You."
Leah's cheeks turned pink again.
"You're surprisingly smooth sometimes."
"I am honest."
Leah laughed softly.
She rested her head against his chest again.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was calm.
Comforting.
After a moment she spoke again.
"Izana."
"Yes."
"I'm really going to marry you again."
Izana looked down at her.
His expression softened slightly.
"You never stopped."
Leah smiled.
"I guess that's true."
She closed her eyes.
Relaxing completely.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Izana continued writing.
But slower now.
Calmer.
One of his hands occasionally brushed gently through her hair.
Leah sighed contentedly.
"This is nice."
"Yes."
"You should take more breaks."
"I am currently taking one."
Leah smiled against his chest.
"Good."
The office remained quiet.
Peaceful.
For once…
There were no urgent phone calls.
No enemies demanding attention.
No chaos waiting outside the door.
Just a quiet morning.
Leah stayed exactly where she was.
Curled comfortably against him.
Listening to his heartbeat.
Her fingers lightly resting against his chest.
Izana finished another document.
Then placed the pen down.
His arm remained wrapped around her.
Holding her close.
Leah didn't move.
Didn't leave.
She simply stayed there.
Warm.
Safe.
Happy.
And for the first time in a long time…
Izana Grimshaw allowed himself to relax.