Epilogue 1: Three years later

looked between Darius and her. "This is a terrible idea."

Jacob, Darius legal representation nodded his head, "For once, I agree with her."

Darius and Nyla shared a knowing smile. She clasped her fiancés hands in hers and spoke to the lawyers who looked less then impressed. "It was suggested to us both to create a pre-nuptial agreement and this is our version of it."

Sawyer sighed before looking up at the pink sky. "Signing off your company shares to your soon-to-be partner is not the definition of a prenuptial agreement."

Nyla knew they both didn't have the same understanding that Darius and her did. It wasn't something the two of them rushed into—there had been many discussions prior to agreeing. They both felt that they believed in the love they had for each other and thus, giving their company shares to one another was a display of trust and devotion to not only each other but the marriage they were about to commit to.

"I've already signed the papers," Darius said firmly when Jacob and Sawyer continued arguing their point. "As has Nyla. We aren't going to change our mind over this."

Nyla nodded in agreement. Jacob looked as though he was about to throw himself over the pier into the water and Nyla understood how frustrating it could be. Sawyer, however got the message.

"We will forward the documents to you both." She stood up and tugged on Jacobs' shoulder. "We will also let you both enjoy your last night of freedom."

Nyla's mouth tugged into a smile and she watched Sawyer drag Jacob out of the restaurant. Her eye's met Darius and he smiled softly at her. She couldn't believe that they were getting married tomorrow. Most couples would want to spend their time with friends or alone before the wedding, but Nyla found that pointless.

She didn't want to have a bachelorette party and neither did Darius. Instead, the two of them went to Vegas for a couple of days to play at the tables. It was then Nyla realized she was exceptionally good at Poker after winning multiple hands. After Vegas, they had flown to Florida and had been enjoying their time on Darius' yacht. It was relaxing, being away from all the wedding preparations. Nyla knew if she'd stayed home, somehow, she would take over from their wedding planner, something she didn't want to do.

"Ready for the big day tomorrow?" Darius asked her.

Nyla nodded, "I've been ready for quite sometime."

Darius stretched out his hand, "As have I." 

He looked up at the sky and Nyla followed his gaze. Because of the light pollution, she wasn't able to see the stars, but she knew the Raymond was looking down upon her. Many people had tried to end their relationship, but they remained together. Nyla knew that her parents wouldn't be coming to the wedding tomorrow, but she took solace in the fact that her sister and nephews would be there. She had built a new family and she couldn't be more excited to marry Darius. They had accomplished quite a lot in the last few years, but she knew there was more they can do. The light caught a reflection of the now full ring one her finger and she smiled before standing up.

"Let's head back to the boat so I can wipe your ass once more in poker."

Darius merely cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, do you really think you can beat me?"

Nyla gave him a mischievous smile, "I know I can."

Darius pulled her closer before placing a kiss on the shell of her ear. "Then how about we make a bet?"

Nyla shivered but moved into his touch. "And what would this bet be?"

"If I win, we get married tomorrow."

"How about if I win?" Nyla asked breathily.

Darius whispered a few words that made her blush. Excited at the terms, she tugged his arm towards the boat. "You are on," she said.

Laughing, touching, and kissing along the way they walked towards the boat and their long-awaited game of poker. Marriage could wait, right now she had a different game to play and the stakes were as high as ever. She would do everything in her power to turn the tables in her favour. As would Darius she was sure.

"I love you," she said before dealing the cards.

Darius kissed her softly, "I love you as well," he whispered.

They planned cards all night without a care of the world around them, after all they had each other and that was sufficient enough for them.

Epilogue 2: 19 years later

Zara hid her yawn behind her laptop screen. Last night she'd slept much later than she was used to due to the surprise visit by her parents. They'd shown up at her dorm room before taking her out for dinner. While she'd missed living with them, she also valued the fact that she wasn't in the spotlight as much anymore. Her parents had done their best to keep her and her brother out of the spotlight but while they wielded a lot of influence, they couldn't stop everyone who wanted to take a picture of their family.

The buzz around the classroom dimmed as her professor entered the room. As always, he was impeccably groomed in a sharp suit and sweater vest which he wore proudly. His grey hair was combed back and the wrinkles on his forehead did little to ease the fear in students he created. Zara knew he was strict, but he was still one of her favourite professors. Being in the industry for more than thirty years, he was able to share experiences about his life that made the class much more interesting.

He placed down his black briefcase on the desk before looking up at the auditorium of three hundred students. Attaching the mic to his lapel, his voice echoed in the room, "Good morning everyone. I hope you all are awake. We have a special guest lecturer for today's class. He's quite the leader in his industry, having been a CEO for the last twenty-five years. A close friend of mine, he has agreed to lead today's class and provide you invaluable insight."

There was hushed whispers and glances exchanged between students as they all wondered who it might be.

"Normally, he would only be giving lectures at the MBA level so consider yourselves lucky. As a sign of respect, please refrain from talking or leaving the room until the end."

The door swung open and Professor Smith smiled, "With that, I leave you in the hands of Darius Giordano, CEO of G-Health."

Zara watched with a scowl as her Dad entered the room. He hadn't told her that he would be speaking in her class today. His gaze wandered the room, but his face morphed into a smile as he found her in the middle of the class. They shared a brief look before he turned back to Professor Smith.

"That was quite the introduction, Professor Smith. I couldn't help but blush at the compliments."

Chuckles filled the room.

"My God is he hot for a silver fox." The girl in front of her whispered to her friend.

Zara's scowl deepened as her friend nodded in agreement before they began giving moony eyes to her dad.

It was disgusting.

She looked at some other females in the room, but it seemed almost all of them were quite taken by her Dad. Zara desperately wanted to flee to room, but she knew it would only create a bigger scene.

She watched as her dad and Professor Smith exchanged a few words before he turned to grin at the class. "Professor Smith has agreed to let me conduct today's class as it would be at the top MBA programs around the world. That means, you all will experience how cold calling truly feels like in these competitive programs. Although you are in first year, this is will serve as an excellent learning experience. I hope you all did the readings before class." He added.

Zara had briefly skimmed the textbook but because of her parents visit, she hadn't been able to make notes like she did before hand. She truly wished her Dad wouldn't pick her, but his expression didn't give away anything. He looked at the paper roster he had been provided.

"Alexander Steen, could you please explain to me what a horizontal strategy is?"

Zara's eyes turned to see the pale blond boy standing up. She could right away tell that he didn't know what he was saying when he started blabbering a bunch of nonsense.

"That's enough," her dad said. He gave the boy a hard look, "Next time you don't know something, just say that instead of wasting everyone's time."

Zara hadn't seen this side of her dad. The man she knew was loving, kind, and a bit mushy at times but it seemed that this is what her dad was like in the corporate world.

The next student he questioned answered correctly and he gave her a brief smile before moving on.

"Could anyone provide me with real life examples of a horizontal and vertical strategy?"

Nobody raised their hands. Her eyes met her Dad's and he gave her an encouraging nod. She knew examples from her parent's companies. Zara had spent more time in their offices, and she had on the playground. When she'd started high school, her parents had given her the option of interning at their companies and she'd agreed. They hadn't let her in so easily though—like everyone she was subjected to an interview and only when she'd passed had she been allowed to work with them.

Feeling the need to prove herself, Zara raised her hand.

"Name please?" Her dad asked.

Zara remained professionally, "Zara Malhotra-Giordano."

He raised his eyebrow, "That's quite the mouthful."

She shot him a sweet look. "My parents couldn't stop fighting on whose last name I would get so they hyphenated."

"Well that Ms. Malhotra-Giordano, please give us the answer."

"A vertical integration strategy would be considered taking over the supply chain. For example, if Renne decided to buy the makeup stores it sells its products in—it would be a vertical strategy. However, like they recently took over Angel Cosmetics, it's considered horizonal because they are in a similar industry."

Her dad gave her a secret smile. "Well said,"

The rest of the lecture went fairly smoothly. Her dad asked her a couple of more questions when the class struggled but overall it had been a fun lecture—something she hadn't expected. When it was time to go, the class clapped but there was also a sigh of relief. It had been a hard class for some of her peers and Zara couldn't blame them. Her dad was tough, but fair.

Zara began packing away her laptop when she was approached from behind. "You know your stuff."

She spun around to see a fairly tall boy behind her. Zara gave him a tight smile but didn't say anything.

"We could study together sometime if you'd like?"

Zara opened her mouth to say no, but the pleading looks in his eyes made her think differently. "Sure, I'd like that."

His eyes brightened. "Just give me your number and I'll text you later if that's all right?"

They exchanged numbers rather quickly.

"I have a class right after this, so I guess I'll see you around?"

"Yeah," Zara said softly as she watched him exit the auditorium. Now that she thought about it, he was kind of cute.

She made her way to the front of the class where her dad still stood having a conversation with Professor Smith.

"Hey champ," he said.

Zara rolled her eyes at the nickname. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming today Dad?"

He gave her a mischievous smile. "Wasn't it better as a surprise?"

"It was not," she said crossly. She was half kidding. When she looked to the right, she saw Professor Smith's shocked face.

"Smith, this is my daughter Zara," Darius introduced her.

Professor Smith looked between the two of them. "I didn't know she was your daughter."

Darius laughed, "she doesn't like telling anyone she's related to us. She's probably embarrassed by us."

Zara wasn't embarrassed of her parents, but she didn't like the looks people gave her after they found out.

"Speaking of which, who was the boy you were talking to after class? He your boyfriend or something?"

"God Dad," Zara said exasperated. "It's none of your business." This is the last conversation she wanted to be having in front of her professor.

Her dad gave her a smile. "It is my business if a boy is chatting up my daughter."

"I'm not fourteen anymore!"

Her dad looked at her seriously. "I know that but, if you need me to issue polite warnings to any boys, I'm free for a bit."

Zara sighed, "I'm good."

Darius smiled at his daughter. "Well then, let's head out for brunch."

They exchanged goodbyes with Professor Smith who still appeared a bit stunned and left the lecture hall only to run into her mother.

"My goodness, the two of you just won't leave me alone at university, will you?"

Her mother's brown eyes twinkled as she kissed the crown of her forehead. "Did you like your dad's surprise?"

"Yes, it was splendid." Zara said sarcastically.

Her parents exchanged a knowing glance. "Well then, you'll be happy to know that I'll be your guest lecturer for tomorrow."

Zara stopped walked in the hallway. "You can't be serious."

Her mom laughed. "I'm not but you should have seen your face."

Her dad joined in, "I got to admit that was a good one, Nyla."

Zara shook her head before grabbing both her parents by their arms and tugged them forward. "Lets just go to brunch," she said.

And so, they did happily just like a normal family would.

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These were just a couple of short snippets that came to my mind. I truly struggled with the second half as I would write Nyla' name instead of Zara every time. :) Hope you enjoyed this!