Chapter 203: Best damn idea I’ve ever had

**The Morning After**

Zayn Rivera was not a man who worried about consequences.

He made decisions fast, lived in the moment, and rarely gave a damn about what anyone else thought.

So when he had proposed to Tessa Quinn in the middle of a shouting match, standing in the Apex garage like a complete idiot—

He hadn’t exactly thought about what came next.

Now, as the sun spilled through the blinds, as he felt the weight of her still in his arms, still wearing his ring, the reality of it started to sink in.

They were engaged.

They were actually engaged.

And everyone was about to find out.

Tessa had barely finished her morning coffee before Seraphina noticed the ring.

They were in the Apex break room, where Seraphina was reading through morning reports, seemingly unaware of the chaos brewing in the next room.

But then—

Her eyes flickered to Tessa’s hand.

And stopped.

Seraphina’s brows lifted slightly.

Tessa, halfway through her sip of coffee, froze.

"Well," Seraphina murmured, setting her tablet down. "That’s new."

Tessa cleared her throat.

"It’s—uh—"

Seraphina tilted her head. "Did Zayn actually have the balls to ask you to marry him?"

Tessa scowled. "Why does everyone act like that’s so shocking?"

Seraphina smirked, sipping her coffee.

"Because it’s Zayn."

Tessa groaned, already regretting everything.

And then—

The door opened.

Liam walked in first.

James followed.

They both saw the ring at the same time.

And then—

"HOLY SHIT," Liam blurted.

Tessa nearly choked on her coffee.

James grinned, looking way too entertained.

"Oh, this is good," he murmured.

Liam pointed at the ring, then at Tessa, then back at the ring, his brain visibly short-circuiting.

"You—you—"

"Yes, Liam," Tessa sighed. "I’m engaged."

Liam stared at her.

Then, at Seraphina.

Then, at James—who looked like he was about to cause serious problems.

James grinned wider.

"So, Rivera proposed, huh?"

Tessa sighed. "Yes."

James leaned against the counter, arms crossed, clearly enjoying himself.

"Let me guess. He didn’t get down on one knee, did he?"

Tessa groaned.

"No," she muttered.

Liam looked personally offended.

"You mean to tell me," he said, "that Zayn ‘I Don’t Do Romance’ Rivera proposed and didn’t even do it properly?"

Tessa glared.

"It was a heat-of-the-moment thing."

Liam snorted. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

James sipped his coffee. "Honestly, I’m impressed Quinn didn’t just throw him across the room instead."

Tessa rolled her eyes.

And then—

The worst thing happened.

Zayn walked in.

Zayn had barely stepped into the room when he realized.

He had been set up.

Seraphina. Liam. James.

All of them staring at him.

Tessa sitting there like she wanted to murder someone.

And worst of all?

James was grinning.

"Well, well, well," James mused. "Look who finally showed up."

Zayn sighed.

"What the hell did I just walk into?"

Seraphina smirked. "Your public execution."

Zayn scowled. "What?"

Liam gestured to Tessa. "We know."

Zayn blinked. "Know what?"

James chuckled.

"That you’re an idiot," he said. "And that you’re engaged."

Zayn exhaled sharply.

"Yeah, okay, fine," he muttered. "It happened."

Liam raised a brow. "That’s your official statement?"

Zayn shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"

James smirked. "I don’t know, man. Maybe something romantic? Something touching?"

Zayn groaned.

"God, you’re worse than Quinn."

Tessa glared.

"Excuse me?"

Zayn sighed. "You’re all insufferable."

Liam grinned. "Welcome to married life."

Damon walked in mid-chaos, pausing when he saw the way everyone was gathered.

His gaze flickered to Tessa’s hand.

Then to Zayn’s deeply unamused expression.

Then back to the rest of them.

And, calmly, he said—

"Called it."

Zayn’s eye twitched.

"You didn’t call shit."

Damon smirked. "Oh, but I did."

Liam nodded sagely. "He really did."

Zayn groaned.

And then—

The worst possible person walked in.

Dominic Hale.

Unlike the others, he didn’t say anything immediately.

He simply looked.

At Zayn.

Then at Tessa.

Then at the ring.

And then—

He nodded once.

"About damn time," he muttered.

Zayn stared.

"Wait. You knew?"

Dominic smirked.

"I figured it out when you started looking like a man about to have a nervous breakdown every time Quinn walked in the room."

Tessa snorted.

Zayn glared at her.

"You’re enjoying this too much," he muttered.

Tessa smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

James grinned, lifting his coffee cup. "To Rivera finally growing a pair."

Zayn flipped him off.

But even he couldn’t hide the small smirk tugging at his lips.

Because, honestly?

He had won.

And he wasn’t about to let anyone take that away from him.

Tessa leaned against the balcony railing, watching the city lights below, the cool night air brushing against her skin.

Zayn stood beside her, arms crossed, silent.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then—

"You still thinking about leaving?" he asked quietly.

Tessa exhaled.

"No," she admitted. "Not anymore."

Zayn glanced at her.

At the ring on her hand.

At the way she had stayed.

And for the first time in his life—

He felt like he wasn’t running anymore either.

Tessa smirked. "You still think this was a good idea?"

Zayn tilted his head.

Then—he kissed her.

Slow. Steady.

Like he had waited a lifetime to do it properly.

When he pulled back, his smirk matched hers.

"Best damn idea I’ve ever had," he murmured.

And this time—

Tessa didn’t argue.