The sun streamed through the immense windows of the master bedroom of their sprawling mansion, illuminating a scene of stark contrast. Seraphina Steele, freshly composed after her Pilates, sat on the veranda, sipping green tea and radiating serenity.
Sterling Steele arrived, looking like a man who had lost his entire portfolio overnight. He practically dropped onto the cushioned outdoor sofa next to her.
Seraphina gently set her porcelain cup down. "What is it, darling? Your face looks like a balance sheet disaster."
"Sera, darling, it's been six months," he announced, his voice tight with controlled panic. "Six months! And he hasn't proposed yet. I'm afraid my initial fear is proving true."
"Ster, give him a few months more," Seraphina said, reaching out to rub his arm. "He is genuinely stuck in the work. He has a lot going on right now."
"Exactly! It's presentation after presentation, redesign after redesign, review after review. He is truly packed up, and Vesta is buried in that new AI project at Pixel Play too. They barely have time to breathe, let alone date properly!"
"Then don't worry about it too much. Go to the office," Seraphina said, rising to give him a gentle push toward the waiting car. She needed him gone before he spontaneously combusted.
"This won't do," Sterling muttered to himself, settling into the backseat. "I need to have an indirect chat with him."
He arrived at ChronoNexus and marched straight to Dash's floor, stopping abruptly before Ace's desk. Ace, Dash's efficient secretary, looked up with her standard, polite deference.
"Mr. Steele, how may I help you?"
"Is Dash busy? Can I go in?" he asked, already moving past her barrier.
Ace checked her tablet swiftly. "He is in a virtual conference right now, sir, with Mr. Vordu. It will be over in about ten minutes."
Sterling ignored the warning and pushed the door open, stepping into the sleek, quiet office. Dash stood before a holographic display, utterly absorbed in his pitch.
"...and this is the final evolution of the base chassis," Dash was saying, his voice resonating with conviction as the virtual truck model spun between his hands. "By utilizing the QCUM (Quick-Connect Utility Matrix), the Apex-M Basebecomes, essentially, future-proof. It allows for eight to nine years of non-obsolescence. This is not a product; it's an ecosystem that ensures recurring revenue through certified module sales, not just a one-time purchase."
The holographic image of the truck dissolved, replaced by the cool, skeptical face of Mr. Vordu, a major venture capitalist.
"Mr. Bolt, the vision is compelling," Mr. Vordu asked, his voice sharp with doubt. "But I see a glaring fault in your revenue model. If the core chassis is designed to last a decade, where is the consistent, high-volume income? Modules are niche. You are asking us to invest in longevity, which contradicts our short-term returns expectation."
Dash opened his mouth, ready to deliver his rebuttal, but Sterling, unable to resist rescuing his perceived ally, cut him off. He strode forward, moving into the view of the laptop camera, and turned the screen to face himself.
"Mr. Vordu," Sterling announced, a broad, misplaced smile fixed on his face. "On behalf of Dash and the ChronoNexus family, I can reassure you. Dash's plan is flawless, and we are solving that revenue problem by integrating his unique technology across all new ChronoNexus Auto designs. We will absolutely ensure initial sales targets are met. You have our word."
Dash's eyes widened, a flicker of pure, unadulterated shock passing over his features. He grabbed the laptop and quickly turned the screen back toward him, his posture masking Sterling from the camera.
"Thank you, Mr. Steele, but I was about to address Mr. Vordu's excellent point," Dash said quickly, resuming his pitch without missing a beat. "The consistent volume, sir, comes from licensing the ADCC and the QCUM standard to other utility manufacturers—not just our modules. We become the industry standard for modularity, collecting royalties on every approved third-party component sold worldwide. It is a technology play, not a simple vehicle sale."
Mr. Vordu nodded, clearly satisfied by Dash's actual answer. "That is a far more robust proposition, Mr. Bolt. Proceed."
Dash watched the screen go dark, the virtual meeting concluded. He slowly turned to Sterling, his expression an exercise in controlled fury.
Sterling, oblivious to the near catastrophe, beamed. "See, Dash? Just a little confidence is all they need! Sometimes you need a seasoned partner to step in."
Dash merely blinked, swallowing his professional rage. Sterling took the moment to launch his 'indirect chat.'
"Dash," Sterling began, adjusting his tie with an unnecessary flourish. "You've achieved so much in six months—the merger, the Apex-M, everything is solid. It makes a man feel... secure. At six months, you start thinking about securing your personal life too. Don't you think?"
"Securing the compliance process for the QCUM is the next priority, Mr. Steele," Dash replied, picking up a pen and making a note in a leather-bound folio.
Sterling pressed, trying to inject some emotional context into his corporate language. "Yes, yes, compliance. But Dash, what about personal compliance? Your five-year plan. Six months is a good time to move Step One into Step Two, wouldn't you say? Especially when you have something perfectly constructed, robust, and beautiful right in front of you."
"The aesthetic modules are only phase three, Mr. Steele. We focus on the functional utility modules first," Dash said, still making notes, a slight frown of genuine confusion now creasing his forehead. "What does any of this have to do with the Apex-M timeline?"
Sterling stared at Dash, the truth dawning with agonizing clarity: Dash either didn't understand him or was intentionally dodging the topic. He threw his hands up in utter defeat.
"Nothing, Dash. Carry on with your functional modules," Sterling bit out, turning on his heel.
He walked straight to his own executive office and immediately called Seraphina.
"Sera, it's me. He didn't propose. Worse—I tried to have an indirect chat and he thought I was talking about the Apex-M truck! He thinks I was asking about the 'functional modules' of his vehicle!"
Seraphina let out a long, slow sigh. "Oh, Sterling. Then your fear is true. He sees her as a successful partner, but maybe not his forever. He is simply too married to his dynasty."
Sterling's voice cracked with definitive sorrow. "I agree. I can't let her waste her life waiting for a man who is married to a metal chassis. We need to save her."
"I know," Seraphina agreed, her voice tight with maternal regret. "We both need to tell Vesta to give up on Dash and stop dreaming about him."
Sterling nodded, his eyes fixed on the door. "Sera, listen. Don't hang up. Why don't we both try to explain it to her in my office right here?" he said, his voice clipped as he shifted into tactical mode. "I'll text her to come to me in another hour. You also come so that we can break the news to her directly."
Seraphina agreed, her expression tight with regret for the pain they were about to inflict, but believing it was necessary.
An hour later, Vesta walked into her father's expansive office, finding both her parents seated there, their expressions solemn.
"Mom? Dad? What is this?" she asked, sensing the immediate, heavy atmosphere.
Sterling took a breath, his corporate composure faltering slightly. "Vesta, darling, this is difficult, but your mother and I are worried about you."
Seraphina gently continued, "We love you, Vesta, and we adore Dash, but we think you need to pull back from this relationship. Now."
Vesta felt a sudden chill. "Pull back? Why? We just celebrated six months."
"Because he's not serious," Sterling stated flatly. "He's married to ChronoNexus. I tried to speak to him today—subtly, about your future—and he thought I was talking about the truck's design timeline. He has no emotional bandwidth for marriage. He's a visionary; he can only see nine years ahead in business, not in his personal life."
"He doesn't intend to propose, honey," Seraphina finished, her eyes brimming with sympathy. "You need to stop dreaming about him and move on before you get hurt."
Vesta stood frozen, her world dissolving into the polished steel floor. She nodded slowly, numbly, unable to speak. The parents, believing they had performed a painful but necessary service, let her go without another word.
Vesta walked out of the office, her steps heavy, her mind reeling. She was lost in thought, rewinding back to Dash's first words about their relationship: "Own pace."
Own pace, she thought, the words echoing hollowly in her mind. So this is what "own pace" meant? A slow, gentle fade-out until the Apex-M was stable? The emptiness was crushing.
As Vesta rounded the corner near the executive suites, she was suddenly met with Dash, who was leaving his office, radiating a blinding, almost manic happiness.
"Hi, Ves!" he called out, his smile wide enough to transform his face.
She didn't greet him back. Dash, seeing her pallor and the sadness clouding her eyes, quickly ran to her.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong? You look like you just lost a prototype," he asked, his hands instantly moving to cup her cheeks.
Tears welled in Vesta's eyes. She pulled away sharply. "My dad," she choked out, her voice trembling. "He just told me. About the six months. That you were probably just... waiting. Until you found the 'dream wife' to stabilize the merger."
The pain was too sharp, too immediate to allow for reason. She took a step back, her vision blurring. "I hate you so much right now, Dash!" she cried out, turning and sprinting down the hallway, leaving Dash frozen in shock.
Dash was now furious, a white-hot rage washing away his earlier joy. That was not what he was waiting for! He had been agonizing over the right time for this very moment.
He immediately dashed into Sterling's office without knocking, his eyes red with anger. Sterling and Seraphina, who had just returned, looked up in alarm.
"Mr. Steele," Dash roared, his voice thick with suppressed emotion. "I never thought you would do this to me! How could you say those words about me?"
"Dash Bolt, calm down! And whatever I said is right!" Sterling countered, raising his voice, fueled by his conviction. "You don't intend to marry her, so why even continue the relationship?"
"Yes, Dash, why waste my precious daughter's time?" Seraphina intervened, her face strained.
"Okay, then wait for me," Dash said, his voice shaking but controlled. He spun around and dashed out of the office.
He returned in a swift moment, his breath heaving, clutching a small, worn velvet box in his hand.
"See, Mr. and Mrs. Steele," he said, opening the box and holding it out, revealing a glittering, antique ring—the central diamond flanked by two perfect sapphires. "My mom gave this to me after my dad's incident, telling me it was a legacy to give to my future wife." He looked them both dead in the eye. "I have had this since then. I hope this clears my intentions."
Reality hit Sterling and Seraphina like a physical blow. They had completely misunderstood him, their fear blinding them to the truth. They were instantly guilty of a profound mistake.
"Dash, we are really sorry. We didn't mean to—" Seraphina began, tears welling up.
Dash cut her off sharply. "No, it's fine, Mrs. Steele. It is just... I am someone who doesn't deserve happiness. I am always met with sadness. This is just one of those things, too," Dash said, his voice cracking as he looked away, the exhaustion of the past six months—the merger, the projects, the immense pressure—taking a devastating toll.
He turned to leave the office. "Mr. Steele, please take care of Anchor Drive," he said, his voice flat, the implication terrifying.
Panicking, Seraphina and Sterling ran behind him.
"Let me go, Mr. and Mrs. Steele!" Dash insisted, pulling away.
"No, Dash!" Seraphina said, reaching the door and coming in between him and the exit.
"Since we created the problem, we solve it, too, Dash," Sterling said, coming next to Seraphina.
With that, Dash finally broke down. He lowered his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking as he wept, completely broken. The responsibilities were simply too much.
Sterling Steele, a man who rarely expressed emotion, stepped forward and hugged Dash tightly. "It's okay to cry, son. Cry all you want," he murmured into Dash's hair.
Seraphina also hugged Dash, hitting him lightly on the back. "Dash, just because of inconvenience, you don't take drastic steps like this," she said, tears streaming down her own face.
"But this is too much," Dash sobbed into Sterling's shoulder.
"No one will be able to touch you until we all are here," Seraphina said, wiping his tears with a handkerchief.
"Trust in us, Dash. We will do everything in our power," Sterling said, pulling back slightly. "I know how much you have suffered, but there is a flip side too. You will be happy, too."
"Yes, Dash. If there is a down, then there is definitely an up too, and it will definitely come," Seraphina added.
This reassured Dash. He took a deep, shuddering breath.
"Okay. You be in your office. We will make everything alright," Seraphina said, giving him a final squeeze before she and Sterling walked out. Sterling didn't say anything, just patted his head once more—a gesture Dash felt deep into his core.
Dash sat down, trying to stabilize himself.
Seraphina and Sterling rushed to the office wing where Vesta was still distraught. They found her sitting alone, her head in her hands. They quickly explained the whole situation—the six-month anxiety, the misunderstanding, Dash's anguish, and the ring. They apologized profusely for their error.
"You need to go to him, Vesta," Seraphina urged, her eyes red. "You owe him an apology for not trusting him, too."
Vesta's heart hammered with guilt and relief. She ran straight to Dash's office. She burst in, finding him seated and wiping his face. She immediately threw her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"I'm sorry, Dash," Vesta said, cupping his face. "I'm so sorry for not trusting you."
"It's okay, Ves," Dash whispered, holding her just as tightly. "And I do understand your dad's concern. He was just trying to protect his daughter, even though it was overboard."
Sterling and Seraphina, having followed her, stood near the door, watching the embrace.
"We are really sorry, Dash. We never wanted this to happen, too," Seraphina said, her voice filled with regret.
Dash pulled back, looking at Vesta, a new resolve in his eyes.
"Anyway, Vesta, I know this is coming early," he said, a genuine smile returning. "I thought of doing it in the eighth month, but I don't think I can contain my excitement anymore."
He knelt down on one knee, opening the small velvet box with the antique ring.
"I wanted to do this in the amusement park, with rose petals, soft music, under the moonlight, but this is the only way I can reassure you right now."
"Dash, you don't have to do it if you're not fully ready," Sterling said softly, genuinely concerned.
"No, Mr. Steele, I got into this relationship with the intention to get married. The proposal timeline is indeed earlier than expected, but it was supposed to happen after two more months anyway," Dash replied.
"Are you sure you want to do it, Dash? I'm not saying this as Vesta's mom; I'm saying this as your well-wisher,"Seraphina asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Steele, I'm sure. Even if this isn't the extravagant thing I planned, this is very genuine and coming from my heart. Vesta Steele, I know this isn't much, but this is what I'm doing. Will you marry me?"
Vesta screamed in excitement, jumping into his arms and falling down on her knees right in front of him.
"Ves, you need to get up," Dash chuckled.
"No, I'm fine here! And yes, I want to marry you!" she exclaimed. "Actually, even I have something for you."
She quickly pulled out a simple, elegant platinum band from her bag. "Dash, will you marry me?"
Dash hugged her tightly and said, "Yes, I will!" They nuzzled into each other's necks, enveloping the moment.
Tears streamed down Sera's face. Sterling gave Dash a reassuring, proud smile.
Dash broke the hug and held her arms. "But Vesta, we need to wait for six months to get married. I need to settle the work and really secure everything tight."
"That's fine. I will wait for you. I trust you," she said, pecking Dash's lips.
"I'm so happy for both of you," came a quiet voice. They turned to see Ace standing by the door, having witnessed the entire dramatic proposal.
"Congrats, both of you," Sterling said, a tear finally escaping his eye.