When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 164

Amelia

I tugged at the sleeves of my white coat as I walked through the busy reception area of Manhattan Central Hospital. After being back at work for a few days, I was finally settling back into my routine. The familiar antiseptic smell and controlled chaos felt comforting after my time away. A small crowd had gathered at the front desk, voices animated and curious.

"What's going on over there?" I muttered to myself, changing course to investigate.

As I approached, I noticed a tall woman with chestnut hair elegantly twisted into a bun standing in the center of the group. She wore a stylish off-shoulder emerald dress that would look more appropriate at a high-end restaurant than a hospital. Yet she carried herself with such natural confidence that somehow it worked.

When she turned around, my heart skipped a beat. "Rachel?"

Her face lit up with recognition. "Amelia!" She broke away from the admiring circle of nurses to give me a quick hug. "Surprise! I didn't tell you because I wanted to see your face when you found out!"

"Found out what exactly?" I asked, though I was beginning to piece it together.

"I'm the new attending surgeon here," Rachel announced proudly. "Just transferred from Boston General."

The nurses around us looked between us curiously, clearly wondering about our connection.

"We met during a medical conference in Boston," I explained to them, before turning back to Rachel. "Why didn't you tell me you were applying here?"

Rachel shrugged, eyes twinkling. "And miss this reaction? Never." She glanced at her watch. "Do you have time to show me around? I officially start tomorrow, but thought I'd get the lay of the land today."

"Perfect timing. My schedule's light today, mostly follow-ups and paperwork," I said, linking my arm through hers. "Come on, I'll give you the unofficial tour."

We were halfway down the corridor toward the surgical wing when Rachel suddenly stopped, her eyes glued to her phone screen.

"Holy shit," she breathed, grabbing my arm. "Wait, Olivia and Noah are engaged? When were you planning to tell me?"

"What?" I froze, staring at her phone. "That's impossible. She would have told me first."

Rachel thrust her phone into my hands. The screen displayed trending headlines across multiple social media platforms: "Randal Studios Announces Strategic Alliance with Bennett Family" and "Bennett Heiress Captures Playboy Noah Randal's Heart."

"Jesus," I muttered, scrolling through the comments section. "Look at this garbage: 'One-night stand turned commitment? Randal takes responsibility after wild night.' These people are vultures."

My phone buzzed with a text from Noah: [Can you get Olivia to meet us at that French place downtown for lunch? Important.]

Before I could even process this, Olivia's name flashed on my screen. I answered immediately.

"Olivia, what the hell is—"

"Amelia!" Her voice was strained. "Noah hasn't even properly proposed yet, and the internet is full of this... this nonsense! His father announced some business deal with my dad, and now everyone thinks we're engaged!"

I caught Rachel's eye, and she nodded in understanding. "Actually, Rachel and I were just about to grab lunch. Why don't you join us at that French bistro downtown? You love their crème brûlée."

"Perfect," Olivia agreed eagerly. "I need to vent to someone who understands this madness."

After hanging up, I exchanged a knowing look with Rachel. "Noah just texted asking me to get Olivia to that exact restaurant."

Rachel's eyebrows shot up. "Well, well. Looks like someone's planning a proper proposal."

---

An hour later, we were seated at a window table in Le Petit Bistro, sunlight streaming through the blinds onto the crisp white tablecloth. Olivia arrived wearing a beige cashmere sweater with a black pencil skirt, her usual movie star confidence dimmed by exhaustion. Despite her designer sunglasses and face mask, I could tell she'd been crying.

"I was literally reading lines at the studio when my phone exploded," she said, cutting into her steak with unnecessary force. "Then Dad called to tell me Noah had transferred 40% of Randal Studios shares into my name as a 'gesture of commitment.' Forty percent! Do you know what that's worth?"

Rachel whistled low. "That's not just commitment, that's putting his money where his heart is."

"I know what it means," Olivia said, her eyes glistening. "I'm not naive. But..." she hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper, "he hasn't actually asked me to marry him yet. And I'm an actress, for God's sake! I live for the big romantic moments!"

I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Trust me, Olivia. Noah won't disappoint you."

Just as the words left my mouth, the soft notes of a string quartet began filling the restaurant. We turned to see a group of musicians in formal black attire filing in, followed by waiters clearing a path through the center of the restaurant.

"What's happening?" Olivia whispered, her fork suspended midair.

The other diners fell silent, all eyes turning toward the entrance where Noah stood in a tailored white suit, a bouquet of red roses in his hands. His eyes locked on Olivia, as if no one else existed in the room.

The musicians began playing "All of Me," and Noah's rich voice joined in, slightly rough but filled with genuine emotion. I watched Olivia's hand fly to her mouth, tears streaming freely down her face now.

When the song ended, Noah walked to our table and dropped to one knee before Olivia. The entire restaurant held its breath.

"Olivia," he began, his voice steady but vulnerable, "I have to admit, our beginning wasn't exactly traditional. But I've fallen in love with your soul, with everything you are."

He pulled out a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a stunning heart-shaped diamond that caught the light in a thousand tiny rainbows.

"Will you marry me?" His voice trembled slightly on the last word.

Olivia frantically nodded, her face wet with joyful tears. "Yes! Yes, I will!"

Noah slipped the ring onto her finger, then pulled her into a passionate kiss as the restaurant erupted in applause. He stood up and announced to the crowd, "Drinks are on me, everyone!"

The cheers grew even louder as waiters began distributing champagne to all the tables.

---

Olivia returned to our table in a daze, unable to stop staring at her ring. "I can't believe this is happening," she whispered.

Rachel took out her phone to snap a picture. "This ring is absolutely gorgeous!"

"You finally found a man who can handle you," I said, feeling genuinely happy for my friend.

Meanwhile, videos of the proposal were already going viral on Instagram and TikTok. The trending headlines were quickly changing from cynical speculation to romantic celebration: "From Morning Rumor to Midday Proposal: Randal Heir's Restaurant Serenade."

"To Olivia, finding true love!" I raised my glass, watching the tiny bubbles in the champagne shimmer like stars. Seeing Olivia so genuinely happy made me feel like we’d all somehow won.

"To Olivia, finding true love!" I raised my glass, watching the bubbles shimmer like stars. Seeing her so happy made me secretly hope Ethan would someday kneel before me, asking me to be his forever.