185
Amanda brushed her lips over Ericka's cheek one last time before pulling back.
"Let me change real quick," she whispered, breath still a little unsteady. "If you're staying in that dress—and you are—then I'm not walking in next to you in a wrinkled T-shirt."
Ericka smirked.
"That's very considerate of my assistant."
Amanda swatted her hip.
"Keep it up and I'm sending you a calendar invite for round three."
Ericka blushed and bit her lip.
Amanda changed fast—slipping into a sleek black suit with a deep red silk blouse underneath, perfectly matching Ericka's dress. She buttoned the jacket, fixed her collar, smoothed her hair, checked the mirror once... twice.
"Okay," she said, offering her hand to Ericka. "Now we look like we didn't just ruin a couch."
Ericka took her hand, smiling as she lifted her chin with quiet confidence.
"Let's face the chaos."
They walked into the private elevator, fingers intertwined, still glowing, still a little breathless, still hopelessly in love.
The elevator doors slid open to the penthouse—
And instantly—
"HELLOOOO?!"
Danielle was the first one to spot them. She stood up from the couch, eyes immediately widening.
"That is NOT the outfit you two left in," she said loudly, pointing accusingly at both of them. "NOT EVEN CLOSE. But—OMG—you guys look amazing."
Amanda burst out laughing.
Ericka pinched the bridge of her nose.
Before either could respond, the rest of the penthouse erupted.
Leah, Carter, Jamie, and Maria were all there—already holding plates, hovering around the catering setup.
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!" they all shouted at once.
Carter raised a glass. "To the newly engaged power couple!"
Maria squealed and nearly tackled Amanda with a hug.
"Oh my God, your suit—Ericka's dress—you two look like a Vogue cover."
Jamie nodded approvingly. "Serving. Completely serving. Both of you."
Leah crossed her arms with a teasing grin. "So... you two went to 'check something in the studio,' huh?"
Amanda pressed a hand to her heart, dramatic.
"We were doing official work things."
Ericka shot her a glare so warning and so adorable that even Danielle cackled.
"Mhm," Leah said. "Totally believable. Especially since your hair looks freshly... um... tousled."
Amanda reached up instinctively, patting her hair.
Danielle clapped. "GUILTY!"
Ericka covered her face for a second, shoulders shaking from trying not to laugh.
Ericka's mom and dad walked over next, warm and smiling.
Her mom cupped Ericka's face gently. "You're glowing, sweetheart."
Her dad shook Amanda's hand, then pulled her into a side hug.
"Welcome to the family. Officially."
Then her mom hugged Amanda too, softer, lingering.
"We're so happy for you two."
Amanda whispered into her shoulder, "Thank you... really."
Samantha popped her head out from the kitchen with a bottle of champagne in each hand.
"Okay, the party can finally start. The engaged couple is here!"
Danielle pointed at the bottles. "Samantha. You know Ericka can't—"
Samantha rolled her eyes. "This one's nonalcoholic, calm down. The other one's for the thirsty people."
Maria, already pouring herself a glass:
"That's me. I'm the thirsty people."
Everyone burst out laughing.
The catering trays had been unpacked beautifully—pasta, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, salads, desserts, little signs labeling everything. Someone (definitely Samantha) even put rose petals around the plates.
It felt warm. Loud. Bright.
A home full of love and the people who mattered.
Jamie rushed over to Ericka.
"Can we see the ring again? Please?"
Ericka lifted her hand, and everyone gathered around to admire it—sparkling under the ceiling lights.
Danielle leaned close to Amanda and whispered,
"You did good."
Amanda whispered back,
"I know."
Ericka turned to Amanda then, cheeks flushed, eyes soft.
She took Amanda's hand and squeezed.
Amanda stepped closer—just an inch—just enough to feel her warmth.
"You okay?" she murmured.
Ericka nodded... then whispered back,
"I am now."
Ericka glanced around the room—the laughter, the clinking glasses, the buzz of conversation—and then her gaze landed on Danielle.
Danielle caught the look immediately.
"Why are you staring at me like you're about to assign me a mission?" she whispered, sliding closer.
Ericka tilted her head subtly toward Amanda, who was standing near the window talking with Leah and Carter.
"Because I am about to assign you a mission," Ericka murmured quietly, her voice soft and low so only Danielle could hear.
Danielle's eyebrows shot up.
"Oooooh, I love missions."
Ericka leaned in even closer, pretending to admire a dessert platter so it didn't look obvious.
"Listen carefully," she whispered. "I'm about to pull Amanda aside for a private moment. It's going to look flirty—on purpose."
Danielle gasped like she was being gifted a puppy.
"Okay, okay, I'm ready."
Ericka continued,
"When I do... I want you to sneak a picture of us. Make it cute. Natural. Something soft. And I'm giving you permission to post it."
Danielle nearly screamed but clapped a hand over her own mouth.
"WAIT. POST IT? TO WHERE?!"
Ericka gave her a pointed look, amused.
"One of the fan pages that already ships us. The ones who call us... what is it? 'Erimanda'? 'Mathewser?'"
Danielle snorted.
"It's Erimanda, and yes—they're OBSESSED."
"Good," Ericka whispered, smoothing her dress like the CEO she was even in a romance-heavy moment. "We need positive engagement before the interview. A gentle, non-official push. Something sweet. Authentic."
Danielle nodded so hard her ponytail bounced.
"I can do that. Omg, I can so do that."
Ericka touched her arm, serious for a moment.
"Make it tasteful. Respectful. Just... loving."
Danielle smirked brightly.
"I got you. Trust me—I ship you two harder than anyone."
Ericka laughed softly, relieved.
"Thank you."
Then, Danielle's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.
"Wait—should I caption it?! Should I add emojis—?"
Ericka held up a hand, fighting a smile.
"Danielle. One step at a time."
Danielle nodded dramatically.
"Right. You go be flirty. I'll be sneaky."
Ericka inhaled slowly, squared her shoulders, then whispered conspiratorially—
"Watch for my signal."
Danielle saluted.
"Yes, ma'am."
Ericka rolled her eyes affectionately and made her way across the room toward Amanda, already letting her expression soften—letting her eyes warm—letting her entire body slip into the kind of intimacy she knew would photograph beautifully.
Behind her, Danielle whispered under her breath:
"This is going to break the internet."
Amanda felt Ericka before she actually saw her.
There was a shift in the air—warmth, attention, that quiet pull she'd come to recognize as Ericka moving toward her with intent. Amanda turned her head just slightly...
And froze.
Ericka wasn't just walking.
She was approaching.
Slow. Confident. Purposeful.
Red dress hugging every curve like it was designed for this exact moment.
Hair soft around her shoulders.
Smile warm and just a little wicked.
Eyes locked directly onto Amanda like she was the only person existing.
Amanda's heart thudded so hard she felt it in her throat.
Carter followed her gaze.
"Damn... she's coming in hot," he muttered.
Leah elbowed him. "Look at Amanda—she's literally melting."
Amanda wasn't even pretending not to stare.
She took Ericka in inch by inch:
the sway of her hips,
the soft flush on her cheeks,
the way her fingers brushed the skirt of her dress as she walked,
the quiet power in every move she made.
By the time Ericka reached her, Amanda had forgotten how to breathe.
Ericka leaned in, close enough that Amanda felt her perfume lift off her skin.
"Baby," she murmured, voice low, silky.
"Can I pull you away for a second?"
Amanda swallowed, her voice a soft rush.
"Of course you can."
Ericka smiled—small, gorgeous, full of heat.
She placed a gentle hand on Amanda's waist and guided her away from the group like she was leading her into a dance.
Danielle spotted the moment instantly and almost vibrated off the couch.
"Oh. MY. GOD. Sam. Sam. SAM—LOOK."
Samantha turned, squinted, then gasped dramatically.
"Oh, she's doing the WALK. The Ericka Mathews 'I'm-about-to-be-soft' walk."
Danielle slapped Samantha's arm repeatedly.
"GET YOUR PHONE OUT—NOW—GO—GO—HURRY."
Samantha pulled her phone so fast it nearly flew across the room.
"Okay, okay — I got it. But YOU take the zoom angle. I'm going wide shot."
Danielle crouched behind a tall plant.
Samantha dove behind the couch.
Maria looked confused.
Leah rolled her eyes.
Carter whispered, "Operation Soft CEO is in effect."
Ericka guided Amanda to the corner near the floor-to-ceiling windows — the area bathed in soft gold from the city lights below. The reflection of the skyline shimmered behind them like the world was bowing out so they could have a moment.
Ericka gently placed Amanda's hand on her waist.
Amanda melted immediately.
"Sweetheart," Amanda said softly, "what's going on?"
Ericka's expression softened even more — the tender, vulnerable version that rarely appeared.
"I just wanted..." She reached up, brushing Amanda's cheek with feather-light fingers. "...to remind you that I love you."
Amanda's breath hitched.
Ericka leaned closer, her forehead brushing Amanda's, her eyes fluttering half-closed.
"And because—" her voice lowered into a teasing smile, "—you look ridiculously good in that suit. Distractingly good."
Amanda laughed under her breath, cheeks warming.
"You're one to talk."
Ericka slid her hands around Amanda's waist, fingers tracing slow circles along her suit jacket.
"You okay?" Amanda asked, even softer now.
Ericka nodded... then whispered, "I am now."
Amanda's heart squeezed — painfully, beautifully — and she cupped the back of Ericka's neck, bringing her closer.
Ericka let out a tiny, involuntary sigh — the kind Amanda only ever heard in private.
Ericka's lips ghosted Amanda's cheek.
Amanda turned her head, brushing their lips together — slow, warm, the kind of kiss that made time stutter.
They kissed again—
longer, deeper, soft laughter mingling with their breath.
The red dress rustled.
Amanda's hand slid up her back.
Ericka pressed a hand to Amanda's chest, grounding herself.
It was intimate.
Flirty.
Loving.
Tender.
Exactly what they both needed.
Danielle whispered harshly:
"GET CLOSER, SAM, YOU'RE TOO FAR."
Samantha hissed back, "I CAN'T, MY KNEE JUST POPPED."
Danielle zoomed so violently her nails clicked the screen.
"OH MY GOD, THEY'RE KISSING—SAM—SAM—THEY'RE REALLY KISSING—"
"I'M RECORDING—WAIT, NO—PICS—NO—PICS—THE LIGHTING IS PERFECT—"
Danielle froze mid-snap.
"THIS IS THE ONE. THIS IS THE SHOT. THIS IS THE MOST ROMANTIC PICTURE I'VE EVER TAKEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE."
Samantha looked over her shoulder.
"Girl—POST IT."
Danielle's grin turned feral.
"Oh, I'm posting it... to exactly one fan page."
Click.
Upload.
Caption:
"CEOMathews x ParkerEnergy ??? #PowerCouple"
Posted.
"Mission accomplished," Danielle whispered like a spy in a movie.
Ericka pulled back just slightly, brushing her thumb along Amanda's lip.
"You have no idea how much I love you," she murmured.
Amanda kissed her thumb.
"I think I do."
Ericka smiled — soft and a little shy — the smile she only ever let Amanda see.
"I needed this moment," she admitted. "With you."
"You can have as many as you want," Amanda whispered.
Ericka pressed her forehead to Amanda's again.
And behind them, Danielle hissed to Samantha:
"PRESS POST. PRESS POST. IT'S POSTED. OH MY GOD IT'S SO PRETTY."