23. Ian
23
IAN
“That wraps up our time for questions,” the conference chairman said, taking the mic at the end of my keynote. “Let’s all give Ian Hastings a big round of applause for the incredible insights he just shared with us. I know my mind was blown more than once.”
The crowd erupted into applause, the sound swelling until people began rising to their feet.
A standing ovation.
I let the satisfaction settle in my chest, scanning the nearly thousand faces looking back at me with enthusiasm. I’d worked hard to prepare for this moment, and it seemed like the effort had paid off.
But as people swarmed toward me, shaking my hand, offering thanks, and peppering me with follow-up questions, my focus shifted to just one thing: Maddie.
Where was she?
Strange, wasn’t it? How quickly she’d become so integral to my life. In such a short time, Maddie had wedged herself into my world, her presence so natural it was hard to imagine her not being part of my future.
I spotted her weaving through the crowd a moment later, her face lit with the kind of smile that made my heart lurch.
“Make some room, please,” I said, gesturing for the crowd to part.
The sea of people parted, and when Maddie finally reached me, I didn’t hesitate. I pulled her into my arms, ignoring the curious glances from those still lingering around us.
“You were incredible!” she gushed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she looked up at me. “Seriously, Ian. That was amazing. I’m so proud of you.”
She’s proud of me.
And while the standing ovation had felt amazing, hearing her say those words meant somehow more to me. Leaving me feeling unsteady, like the ground beneath me had shifted.
We pulled apart, but I kept her hand in mine, needing the connection as I turned back to the crowd. There were still people waiting, their expectant expressions reminding me that I wasn’t off the hook just yet.
“I’ve got about ten more minutes,” I announced, “and then my fiancée and I have lunch plans.”
A ripple of surprise rolled through the group, followed by a flurry of glances aimed at Maddie. A few people openly searched for a ring, and for a brief moment, I questioned my choice of words.
Should I have thrown that out there when our engagement isn’t even real?
But the thought faded almost as quickly as it came. It was out there now, and surprisingly, I didn’t mind.
In fact, it felt…good. Like reclaiming something I’d thought I didn’t need but had missed more than I realized—having a life partner.
I fielded a few more questions, handing out business cards to those asking for them, saying, “The best way to stay updated is to follow me. I’ll be sharing many more business insights and strategies on my various social media pages soon.”
Once the crowd finally began to disperse, Maddie and I slipped away to head to our lunch meeting with one of my dad’s long-time clients.
“So, it looks like you’ve officially decided to make this social-media-content-creation thing real then, huh?” Maddie glanced up at me, her smile teasing as we made our way toward the hotel restaurant where we would be meeting Mrs. Torres.
“Apparently,” I said, pulling my phone from my pocket. “Guess I should let Kacie post one of those video’s she’s been stockpiling for me now, shouldn’t I?”
“Absolutely.” Her grin widened, her confidence in me settling something in my chest.
I tapped out a quick text to Kacie, my thumb hovering over the send button for a split second longer than necessary. Then I sent it, nerves buzzing faintly under my skin.
As I slipped my phone back into my pocket, Maddie looped her arm through mine, leaning into me as we walked.
“You’re going to be amazing,” she said softly, her voice filled with quiet certainty.
And as I glanced down at her, warmth spreading through me, I thought maybe she was right.
That maybe, with Maddie by my side, I might actually become the kind of man I’d always hoped I could be.
We were sitting at the restaurant, waiting for Mrs. Torres—the CEO of Opulent Beauty, a high-end makeup brand—to arrive when a thought suddenly struck me.
“You know,” I said to Maddie, a casual smile tugging at my lips as I watched her fingers idly trace the edge of her water glass, “we’ve been cooped up in the hotel the last couple of days. I was thinking, after this lunch, maybe we could go out and explore Boston a bit.”
“Really?” Maddie looked up, her expression brightening slightly.
“Yeah,” I said. “You’ve never been here before, right? I thought it might be nice to go out, maybe do a little shopping.”
“Oh…shopping,” she said with a small nod. “Th-that sounds nice.”
But there was some hesitation in her eyes, so I asked, “Do you not like shopping?” tilting my head, trying to get a read on her.
“I guess it’s all right.” She shrugged, her fingers stilling against the glass. “But I mostly shop for basic things, you know? Groceries, clothes for Grant, stuff like that. I’m sure it’s not quite as exciting as the kind of shopping you do.”
I frowned slightly, realization dawning on me. For me, shopping was often an indulgence, a way to celebrate or kill time. But for Maddie, it was more of a necessary evil—a chore and not a luxury since money had probably always been tight for her, especially as a young mom.
“Well,” I said, shifting gears and leaning forward, “since I just announced our engagement to a ton of people back there, and you’ve been such a good sport about this whole thing, I think I owe you a bit of a shopping spree.”
“Oh, no. You don’t need to do that.” Her eyes widened, and she shook her head quickly. “I’m fine, really. It hasn’t been hard at all. Quite the opposite.”
“No, I insist,” I said firmly, holding her gaze. “It’s the least I can do.”
She opened her mouth to protest again, but I raised a hand to stop her. “In fact,” I continued, a sly grin forming, “I think it can only help with our little ruse. Think about it. Margot knows I have money. She knows I love to pamper the women in my life. If you don’t dress the part of the fiancée of a billionaire at that mixer tonight and the gala tomorrow, she’s going to wonder if this is real.”
“I don’t know…” Maddie’s lips pressed together, her brows drawing in slightly as she considered my words. “I feel like what I’ve worn so far has been fine…” She lifted her hand. “And this huge rock on my finger isn’t exactly tiny.”
“I know,” I interrupted gently, leaning closer. “And I absolutely love your style. You dress beautifully, and it’s perfect for work and for you—so please don’t take this the wrong way. But for the events tonight and tomorrow, I think it might be fun to really lean into the part. Maybe something over the top. Gaudy, even. Let’s stand out a little.”
“Gaudy?” Her eyes narrowed playfully.
“Okay, maybe not gaudy.” I chuckled, liking the spark of amusement in her tone. “But dramatic. The kind of dress that screams, ‘My man has a Black Amex, and he loves to spoil me with it.’”
She laughed, though I could tell she was still trying to find a way to politely decline. “Ian, I really don’t need?—”
“Maddie, come on.” I held up my hands. “It’s all for the act. For Margot. This is a tactical move.”
Let me spoil you just a little.
“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes even though a small smile tugged at her lips. “I guess I’ll let you buy me a fancy dress.” Then holding up a scolding finger, she added, “But only because you’re forcing it on me.”
“Good girl,” I said, leaning back with a satisfied grin. “And don’t worry, you’re in good hands.”
She shook her head, but I caught a hint of a blush on her cheeks. Like, even though she was trying not to look excited for this shopping trip, she might actually be.
Which, yeah, was so endearing.
Man, she was so different from all the other women I’d dated.
Most women I knew would have snatched the card out of my hand the moment I offered.
But not her. She was different—a refreshingly good kind of different.
And I couldn’t wait to see what she picked out.
Because I had a strong feeling that this soccer mom who wore a T-shirt and cutoffs when she wasn’t at work could also secretly rock a ten-thousand-dollar cocktail dress.