Beautiful Rose (Elixir Billionaires #1)

58. Rose

58

ROSE

“Rose.”

Dad joins me, sitting down on the gray upholstered armchair by our beautiful fireplace. Zander didn’t even tell me about this—like so many other additions he implemented in our place.

“Congratulations, my Rose girl! You’ve built an amazing place.”

My heart does that happy dance whenever he calls me his Rose girl.

“Thanks. But I can’t take all the credit.”

He grabs my hand, forcing me to look at his beaming face.

“We got you something.” He clears his throat before adding, “Your mom and me. It means a lot to us. Especially her.”

I hate the heaviness seeping into his voice. I don’t know why, but Sophia and I are drifting apart instead of getting closer, and I know this growing distance between us is killing Dad. Every time I look at her, I try to find my mom, the one from the journal, but all I see is Sophia from my childhood, rejecting me, keeping me at arm’s length. Even though I know now she was doing all this to keep us safe, the hurt doesn’t go away overnight.

“I would love to see it, Dad.” I try to dwindle his sadness with my words, and thank God it works. A small smile graces his lips.

He leads me to the back of the house. I still need to see the entire property. Zander gave me a quick tour when we arrived, as everyone was eagerly waiting for lunch. But now I notice that under the giant window overlooking the woods sits a grand piano. Walking closer, I realize it’s not new.

Maybe a vintage.

As I place my finger on C major, the brassy sound echoes in the room.

“It’s your mom’s,” Dad says. My hand on the keys trembles at the knowledge, but he continues. “This was my wedding gift to her. We have spent countless nights sitting at this piano. It’s where your mom taught me how to play.” I sit on the stool as he reminisces, and my fingers play a melody on autopilot.

“Rose!” Sophia whispers from the corner, where she’s hiding behind a wall.

Only then do I realize I’ve played the notes she tucked into the yellow pages of the journal. Her heavy voice draws my attention to her. Tears are rolling down her face, mirroring my own.

“I found it in your journal,” I explain, suddenly feeling nervous. “W-what’s it called?”

She looks at me in surprise.

“I know you don’t like notes without a title.” My heart clenches at the admission. As much as I don’t like to admit it, Sophia isn’t a stranger. She has been in my life since I can remember, or since my life mattered.

“ Lost Love ,” she whispers as more tears race down her cheeks.

For the first time, she doesn’t look like the strong, confident woman I know her to be, but a mom grieving for her lost but cherished child. My mom.

Her teary eyes widen, and I realize I’ve spoken the last words out loud.

“M-mom,” I say, consciously this time. The word doesn’t come out easily.

“Rose,” she whispers my name as if saying a silent prayer. “I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry.” She breaks into heavy sobs and runs toward me. Throwing her arms around me, she hugs me tight.

“I am…sorry too,” I whisper into her welcoming warmth.

“Don’t you say that, my baby.”

“I’m sorry for taking so long, Mom.” I hide my face in her neck and breathe my mother’s flowery smell.

“You could have taken an eternity, and it would still be justified. There is no forgiveness for my sins. I’m so sorry.”

She continues to apologize for all the things she did and did not do.

Her tears, her words, slowly heal the long, deep wounds etched onto my heart. Several moments pass by. I don’t know how long, but Dad walks over and engulfs us in a huge hug.

“Today is the happiest day of my life. I got all my girls back.”

“How are you?” Zander asks as we wave the last of our guests, Zane and Lukas, goodbye.

“Good. I’m tired,” I correct myself when he raises his eyebrow at me. He pulls me into his arms, and I inhale the calming woodsy smell. “It was a good housewarming party.”

“A good memory?” He kisses my forehead.

“Definitely.” My eyes close as I try to relax myself after an emotionally tiring day .

“Shall we try to make it better?”

“Somebody is eager to go to bed.” I smile, proud of my ability to find an apt, playful reply.

“I’m always eager to go to bed with you, babe.” He laughs. “But I didn’t mean that.”

“Oh,” I mutter and my disappointed, drooping shoulders only make him chuckle.

“Now I’m second-guessing, couch girl. Should I take you to bed or show you your surprise?”

I squeal in his arms. “My surprise? There’s more?”

He nods. “I hope you like it.”

The hint of nervousness in his voice piques my interest. I used to hate surprises until Zander, but over the last year, he has given me some of the best memories, and now I’m no longer scared of the unfamiliar.

“Show me.”

Taking my hand, Zander leads me to the back of our house. It’s not the same barren land anymore, but there’s a fence bordering our wide property. Zander and I walk further in, and I suck in a quick breath. On the other side of the flowing creek sits a gazebo.

Oh my God!

A real gazebo plucked out from some postcard or painting, with a turquoise roof and shining white pillars. There’s a white wooden bridge that connects the gazebo to a garden, which is filled with roses of different colors. It’s a rose garden.

“Zander.” His name falls as a whisper from my lips as my heart races against my chest.

“How is the surprise?”

“I… I don’t know what to say.” My legs shake as I’m hit by overwhelming emotions. “How? I…didn’t even know so…many colors existed.” I caress a soft rose petal between my fingers. It has pink insides and deep red edges. So pretty.

“I learned to graft from my father. I made this in his memory, for you.” Zander pulls on his tie, looking around nervously before his gaze finally settles on me.

I suck in a breath. “You made this? On your own?” Is he for real? Do guys do things like this? Gifts, I understand. But making someone a garden?

“With some help.”

“But when?” When did he even have time for all this?

“I might have played hooky a few times over the past few months. Don’t tell anyone. It doesn’t make a good impression when employees learn that their CEO is gardening during office hours.” He winks playfully, but his nervous voice isn’t fooling me. “You want to look around?” He holds my hand after placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

We walk hand in hand through our garden and finally through the heavenly footbridge to the gazebo. My heart skips a beat at the sight of a couch and a coffee table, where there’s an ice bucket with champagne and two flutes.

How did I get so lucky?

My throat chokes with emotions, but I tap them down. I want to smile and laugh today, not cry.

Zander opens the champagne bottle and fills the glasses with the bubbly pink liquid. But before handing me the drink, he bends down and grabs an envelope from under the table.

“Congratulations on our new house, couch girl.”

“What’s this?” I look at the envelope he just placed in my hands.

“Open it,” he mouths, and I pull out a few A4-sized papers, which look like legal documents. My eyes quickly scan the words, and my stomach ties in knots as I realize what I’m reading.

He named our home. My house .

The Rose House.

His over-the-top, beyond-thoughtful gift feels like a hundred-ton weight has been put on my shoulders .

“What’s this?” The so-familiar-but-recently-forgotten feeling of loneliness surrounds me. My throat thickens, signaling an onset of silent tears.

“I—I thought you would like it.” Zander quickly places the champagne bottle on the coffee table before looking at me carefully, already aware that I’m no fan of this surprise.

“I don’t like it at all.” My voice breaks. “Why do I own the house?”

“Rose, because it’s ours?”

“Then why do I own it alone?” I sniff into my shirt cuffs. “Haven’t I done enough alone already?”

“Oh, couch girl, I didn’t think—” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “I thought it would be reassuring for you, for our future.” His voice thickens, and he pulls me into his arms.

As always, I go willingly.

“You are all the assurance I need. Don’t make me own anything alone,” I plead. “I want to share everything with you—our home, our life, our future. I just don’t want to be alone anymore.”

He hugs me tight and flops onto the couch, taking me with him. “I’m so sorry, babe. I didn’t think this through.” Pressing gentle kisses on my forehead, he says, “When Henry asked whose name to make the deed out in, your name slipped off my tongue.” Pulling me away from where I’m hiding in his chest, he holds my face with his hands. “I want to give you the world, Rose, and all the happiness that exists.”

I hold his gaze with my blurry eyes. “And you do by just being you.”

He lifts my chin up and kisses me softly, sighing deeply.

“I promise to share everything with you. I’ll ask Henry to include both our names on the deed.”

“Thank you.” I return his promise with a kiss. “I love you.”

“And I you.”

I lie peacefully in his arms until I remember something .

“I also have something for you,” I whisper and pull out a check from the back pocket of my jeans.

“What is this?” His body tenses beneath me, and it’s his turn to be the recipient of an unwanted and unhappy gift.

“M-my contribution,” I stammer as his narrowed eyes bore into me. I have never seen him look at me with so much—is it anger? “Toward the…house?” I ask because suddenly I’m not sure. Zander never talked about the cost.

Isn’t it natural for me to pay for some part of it?

“This is too much,” he says, and in this very moment, his voice sounds unfamiliar to me. This is the voice he uses at work. For the first time, he doesn’t feel like my fiancé or boyfriend or friend. He sounds like my boss.

“It’s…all my savings.”

“And you’re giving it to me?” His voice and face remain impassive.

“Zander.” My scalp prickles with unease. I don’t like this side of him one bit.

He sighs loudly, as if he doesn’t know what to do with me.

“Rose,” he finally says in a voice that he reserves exclusively for me.

Thank God.

“I don’t want this. It’s the same as you not wanting to own the house alone. I want to make a place for you and our family. I want to do this for you. I have to do this for you.”

“Okay,” I acquiesce. When he says it like that, how could I not agree?

“Thank you. I can’t take any more emotional discussions for today.” He strokes my cheek with his fingers. “I would just like to enjoy some time with my girl here and later make love to her in our new bedroom and christen our bed. Do you have any objection to that?” He raises an eyebrow at me playfully.

I giggle. “None. ”

“Good.” And just like that, my smiling, affectionate fiancé is back.

“How long will the flowers bloom?” I ask, looking at the colorful blossoms.

He grazes his long fingers over my arms, and the simple act gets me going. I can’t help but think about all the things those fingers can do. I release a sigh, and Zander chuckles. His hands rest over my wrists, where I’m sure he can feel my rising pulse.

“Are you ready to go to bed?” he whispers in my ear.

I press myself closer to his chest. “Not yet.” My voice is hoarse, causing him to laugh again. I hit his chest, hiding my smile from him. Remembering what I just asked him, I repeat my question.

“Unfortunately, not much longer. Summer will be over soon, so they’ll only be here for a few more weeks.”

“Oh.”

I can feel the smile in his voice. “Don’t be so sad, couch girl. Next year, from spring until fall, we’ll have an amazing view.”

“I would love to have this background in our wedding photographs,” I whisper wistfully.

His body jerks as he sits upright, taking me with him. “This”—he cocks his head forward—“isn’t large enough to hold a big gathering.”

“You want a big celebration?” My voice quivers at the thought of hundreds of people staring at me.

“I want what you want, Rose. Like I said, I want to give you the world.”

My insides tingle at his words. “I want us to get married here. Just family and friends.”

“Family and friends sounds right. When?” His heart thumps under my hand, mimicking my own .

“What do you think about next week?”

“Next week!” he shrieks before clearing his throat. “You don’t need more time?”

“No. Do you?”

“I don’t. But won’t you…need a dress or two and everything else?” He sweeps his hands around as his gaze excitedly jumps from my face to the garden.

I laugh nervously, my pulse skyrocketing. Are we really doing this? Getting married in less than seven days? “I’m sure Clementine can get me a dress tomorrow.”

“Next week,” he repeats. “You sure?” His eyes sparkle with excitement.

I nod, and without missing a beat, Zander pulls his phone from his pocket. He keeps me tucked into his side while dialing someone.

“Zach. Shut up, you fucker.” He cuts through whatever his brother was saying, and I can’t help my giggle as I imagine Zach’s pout. The middle Teager brother is really growing on me. Zander smiles, looking down at me before he asks Zach to wait. “Let me pull in Zane.” After a pause, he says to his brothers, “I’m getting married next week.”

“No, we haven’t decided on an exact day yet, but I need you both here tomorrow. We need all the help with the arrangements.” I hear his brothers’ muffled voices before Zander replies. “No. It’ll be just family and friends.”

After his call is over, I open my hand to him. “Phone, please. I left mine inside.” I flutter my eyelashes in a cute way. At least I think it’s cute, by the way he smiles back.

Kristy picks up my call in two rings. “Shouldn’t you be curled up around your fiancée in your beautiful home?”

My cheeks turn hot. “It’s me.”

“Shouldn’t you be curled up around your fiancé in your beautiful home?” she smartly repeats.

“I am curled up around my fiancé.” Immediately, Zander tightens his arms around me. “But I need to tell you something.” I take a deep breath. “We are getting married next week.”

She squeals into the phone, and Zander’s body shakes with suppressed laughter.

“Can you believe it, Kris? I’m getting married.” She squeals again, and this time, I join her.

“Congratulations, Rosie. I’m so happy for you. We need to celebrate. I’m gonna throw you the most amazing bridal shower.” Excited words rush out of her mouth.

“I get a bridal shower?” I literally jump onto Zander’s lap, pumped by her excitement.

“Of course! You get everything.”

“But first, I need a dress. A wedding dress!”

My sister jumps into problem-solving mode. “Don’t you worry about that. We’ll meet Clementine tomorrow. I’m gonna talk to her tonight.”

“Thank you, Kris. See you tomorrow.”

We both squeal again before ending the call.

“That’s done. Who else?” I hang my arms around Zander’s neck, sifting through his hair with my fingers.

“Beast? Shit! He’s your dad. Do I need to ask his permission or something?”

I chuckle, watching him panic. “We’re already engaged.” I show him the beautiful ring sitting on my finger.

“Um, yeah, good point. But let’s call them.” He puts the phone on speaker as he hits Beast’s contact info.

“Hello.” My dad’s throaty voice resonates in our gazebo.

Zander nods, giving me the opportunity to speak. “Dad?”

“My Rose girl.” I can hear the shift in his tone as it gets laced with affection. “All okay?”

“Yes. We have news. Is Soph—I mean, is Mom with you?”

“Yeah. Let me put you on speaker.” After a second, he says, “Go on, honey, your mom’s listening.”

“Mom, Dad, we’ve decided to get married next week. ”

“Oh, my baby! That’s lovely news.” Mom’s voice trembles as she congratulates us. “Have you guys decided on a day?”

“Not yet. We’re still thinking.” My heart bounces against my chest in giddiness. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my whole life.

It takes my elated brain a second to register the silence. I worry we’ve lost connection. “Hello?”

“Yeah, we’re here,” Dad replies after a beat. “We wanted to share something with you next week.” He pauses again. His hesitation forces Zander and me to sit upright. “How does Wednesday sound? For the wedding?”

Before I can reply, he adds, “Of course, if it makes sense to you guys.”

“Is there a reason for such a specific day, Beast?” Zander asks while I’m lost for words.

“It’s…it’s Rose’s birthday.”

Everything goes dead silent for a minute as Zander stiffens beside me. My ears can’t even hear the chirping of birds anymore as the words hit home.

My birthday.

“Are you sure?” I hear Zander’s voice coming from afar.

“Sophia and I went to the hospital last month to collect whatever information they had from that day.” He pauses again. “We weren’t hiding it from you, my Rose girl. We were planning to tell you next week. Hoping to make this day special for all of us.”

“My birthday?” I whisper.

I hear Mom’s sniffles as Dad hums in agreement.

“But nothing could be more special than your wedding day. A day when you’re starting a new life in so many ways.” Mom’s croaky voice makes my heart and head hurt.

I thought the mystery of my life was solved, but it appears not. For so long, I wondered if I’d ever learn what my real birthday is. But I never imagined how I’d feel if that day came .

I guess confused and conflicted is the answer to that question.

“We’ll think about it and let you know,” Zander tells my parents when I can’t seem to find the right words. His grip around me hasn’t loosened a bit.

“Yes. Of course.” Mom’s wobbly voice reaches my ears, and I hate to hear her this heartbroken.

“Mom, I’m meeting Kristy and Clem tomorrow to go wedding dress shopping. Would you like to join us?”

“I would love to.” She sniffs into the phone.

“Oh, Mom, please don’t cry. I’ll text you the details.”

Zander ends the call.

Our earlier excitement to head inside and christen the bed gets lost in the new information.

I slouch back, resting against Zander and thinking about a wedding in this beautiful garden.

Can that be next Wednesday?