CRUSHING ON MY FRIEND'S BILLIONAIRE BOSS

Ariana Brooks sat in her glass-walled office at Sawyer Enterprises, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard of her laptop. The late afternoon sun spilled golden light. She was deep in concentration when a knock echoed against the door, breaking her rhythm.

"Who's it?" Ariana called out without looking up, her voice smooth and commanding.

"Ma'am, it's your fiance, Gabriel," came the familiar voice of Leonard, her personal assistant.

Ariana's lips curved into a small smile. "Let him in, Leonard," she said, her tone softening. As Leonard opened the door, she added under her breath, "I've told you to let Gabe in whenever he comes...no need to ask."

Leonard, however, was already halfway down the hallway and didn't catch her words.

The door creaked open to reveal Gabriel Carlton. He stood tall at 6'2", with dark blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires and neatly styled dark brown hair that framed his chiseled features. His custom-tailored suit clung to him perfectly, emphasizing his powerful built body, he could easily steal the air from any room he entered.

"Oh... Gabe," Ariana exhaled softly, her heart fluttering.

Gabriel Carlton is a billionaire magnate, CEO of a multimillion-dollar tech firm, and her lover, he strode into the room with a magnetic smile that could weaken even the strongest resolve.

"My love... my darling... my reason for living... my hardworking and beautiful wife-to-be," Gabriel said, his voice rich and full of adoration. He took Ariana's delicate hand in his own and placed a lingering kiss on her knuckles, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.

"I've missed you," he said as he pulled a chair close to her desk and sat down, his eyes never leaving hers. "I couldn't stop thinking about you during the meeting. I counted the seconds until I could be here with you."

Ariana chuckled, closing her laptop with a satisfying click. "Same here. I was actually just wrapping up work for the day. I'm working on our next big project, but it's not a problem, Dominick can handle it."

She began gathering her belongings when she called out, "Leonard! Leonard!"

Almost immediately, the door opened again, revealing Leonard; a tall, athletic man with warm brown eyes and neatly trimmed hair. His professionalism was written all over his crisp suit and attentive demeanor.

"Yes, ma'am?" he asked.

"I'm heading out. I need you to pack up the rest of my files. Send any unfinished work to Dominick so he can finish it up. I won't be coming back today, please take charge until tomorrow," Ariana instructed with her usual blend of firmness and politeness.

"Yes, ma'am," Leonard nodded.

With that, Ariana looped her arm into Gabriel's, the two looking every bit like a power couple walking down the corridors. She moved with effortless grace, her hips swaying subtly, her beauty turning heads even among her own employees. Gabriel matched her stride perfectly, his hand resting protectively over hers.

As they reached the parking lot, Ariana pulled away slightly. "Just a second, Gabe," she said to him.

She walked over to her parked luxury car where her personal driver, Reed, stood waiting.

"You can go home, Reed," Ariana told him. "Tell my father I'm going out with Gabriel."

"Yes, ma'am," Reed replied before getting into the car and driving off.

Ariana returned to Gabriel, who was waiting beside his car already holding the passenger door open for her. She slipped inside with a grateful smile, and moments later, Gabriel slid in beside her, shutting the door.

"Where are we going?" Ariana asked as Gabriel's driver Sam started the car

"Where else, if not our usual hangout and then, to my place," Gabriel said, winking at her before reaching over to kiss her hand again.

The drive was filled with easy laughter and soft conversations until they pulled up to Bizz Big, an exclusive and luxurious bar that only the elite frequented. The lights sparkled against the evening sky, and the valet hurried forward to take their car.

Inside, they found their favorite table by the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Familiar waiters greeted them, they were known not just for their wealth but for the undeniable love that radiated between them.

They ordered food and drinks, chatting and laughing like two people with not a care in the world.

As Ariana ate, she couldn't help but reflect on how her life had changed. She had met Gabriel three years ago when she was only twenty-two. During a business trip, her car had accidentally collided with Gabriel's. His driver had been furious, accusing Ariana's driver of negligence, but Gabriel himself had handled the situation with grace and charm, apologizing profusely for the inconvenience and calming everyone down.

It was during that encounter Gabriel had introduced himself, he newly moved into Canada, having just established his own firm. They had exchanged numbers, kept meeting under the guise of casual encounters, and before Ariana realized it, she was swept into a whirlwind of romance.

When Gabriel had asked her to be his girlfriend, Ariana had hesitated only for a moment before saying yes. It felt right. Now, three years later, they were still inseparable and hopelessly in love.

Gabriel leaned across the table, feeding her a piece of shrimp with a boyish grin. The staff watched them fondly, everyone knew them as "the lovebirds."

"I bless the day I met you," Gabriel said suddenly, his voice low and full of emotion. His gaze locked onto Ariana's golden-brown eyes, which glowed under the lights.

"Gabriel, you're being cheesy again," Ariana teased, laughing.

"I'm serious, Ari. You're an angel and I'm lucky to have you," he said, standing up to kiss her forehead tenderly. "I love you."

Ariana's heart melted. "I love you too, Gabe," she whispered back.

Their lips met briefly in a sweet, lingering kiss before they returned to their dinner, sipping their wine and enjoying the comfortable silence between them.

Yet, despite the three wonderful years they had shared, Gabriel had yet to propose. Her father, a respected businessman himself, had already warned her he wouldn't fully entrust his company to her until her relationship became official.

Gabriel had promised he would marry her, had spoken of his fear of the heavy responsibilities that marriage could bring but Ariana had reassured him countless times that she would always stand by his side but still, the ring hadn't come.

Her father, growing older, had eventually handed the company reins to Ariana based on her proven talent and dedication, despite his concerns. Ariana remained hopeful, choosing to trust Gabriel's words that the proposal was just around the corner.

After finishing their meal, Gabriel, slightly tipsy from the wine, insisted on paying the bill. Ariana, equally tipsy but giddy with happiness, let him lead her out of the restaurant. He practically carried her to the car, laughing along with her as she giggled at nothing and clung to him.

They drove to Gabriel's mansion, a luxurious modern estate.They got down from the car as Ariana giggled.

"You're such a clown, Gabe," she giggled, swaying a little. "But I love you... like that."

"And I love you more, my darling," Gabriel said, catching her with ease.

Gabriel lifted Ariana from where she stood and carried her upstairs, past the gleaming chandeliers and expensive artwork, straight up to the marble staircase to his bedroom. chuckling when she murmured nonsensical things between laughs.

"You need a bath," Gabriel chuckled, setting her down gently.

"Noooo, I wanna sleep," Ariana whined playfully.

Laughing, Gabriel coaxed her into the bathroom. He helped her out of her dress carefully, he filled the tub with warm, fragrant water, lifting her into it like she was the most precious thing in the world. Gabriel smiled tenderly, removing his own clothes and joining her in the tub.