Page 52 of The Billionaire's Heart

“I don’t know, but you’re not wrong. Some of the most vile things I see are usually committed by one woman to another woman.” Brinna says.

I shake my head as Ian walks in and stands next to me. He puts his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him, absorbing his strength.

“Here you go. I found it on my side of the bed.” He says as he hands me a ring.

Taking it, I try to contain my breathing and reaction in front of Brianna. It’s the most elegant and beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. It’s exactly what I would want if I truly was getting married.

“Oh, Mia. It’s beautiful!” Brinna says as she takes my hand and looks at the ring. “Ian, you did a great job getting this for her.”

As I stare down at the ring, I can feel Ian watching me and I wish I could show him how much I appreciate it, but I can’t because of Brinna standing there.

This is all getting really real really quick.

“Ian and Mia, I want to thank you both for giving us a peek into your lives.” Says Sofia Pope, the host of theToday Showand the one that has been interviewing Ian and I for the last few hours.

“Thank you for coming.” I answer back as Ian holds my hand and the three of us wander around the gardens with the camera crew filming us.

“One last question. Mia,” Sofia looks at me, “everyone wants to know why Ian. What is it about him that made you fall in love with him and be willing to be in the public eye?”

We all stop walking and Sofia has one arm across her waist and her other arm propping up her chin, creating a pensive look. It’s all for the cameras to make herself look like she really cares, but I doubt she actually does.

I turn to Ian and look at him and then back to Sofia, “Because he’s the peanut butter to my jelly.” I shrug.

“And who doesn’t love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” Sofia laughs and looks directly into the camera. “Well, folks, there you have it. Love in its purest form. Ian Gallo and Mia McIntosh. In love and getting married.” She turns back to us. “Do we have a date set for the wedding yet?”

Ian laughs, “One thing at a time, Sofia.”

“Fair enough.” Sofia looks back at the camera again. “Thank you for watching. I’m Sofia Pope for theToday Show. Stay tuned for your local weather.”

“And we’re out. Good show, Sofia.” The producer says as the cameras and the guys with the microphones that were hanging over our heads walk away.

“As if you and I had nothing to do with it.” Ian whispers in my ear, and I try to contain my laughter.

“Thanks again, Ian,” Sofia says over her shoulder as she’s walking away. And just like that, the entire thing is over.

“That was easier than I thought.”

“Wait until dinner. That’s going to feel like the Spanish Inquisition compared to this,” Ian says as he guides us through the lawn and back up to the house. “Come inside. I got you something."

"What? When? Oh, and by the way, this ring. Where did you get it?”

“I had my jeweler bring it by this morning. Do you like it?” Ian asks with anticipation in his voice, as if my opinion really matters to him.

“Ian, it’s so beautiful. Thank you. I’ll take good care of it while I have it.” I smile as I look down at the ring on my finger. It feels funny wearing a ring on my left hand and I play with it a bit. “It fits perfectly. How’d you know my ring size?”

“I guessed. You really like it? When I saw it, I immediately knew it was for you.”

I nod. “It’s beautiful and the girl that gets this ring for real will be the luckiest girl in the world.” I look up at Ian and he has a funny look on his face that I can’t seem to decipher. “What?”

He shakes his head, “Nothing. Come. Let me show you what I got you.”

We walk through the great room and down the hall to his home office. He picks up two small, white rectangular boxes and hand them both to me. “Be honest. If you hate them, no harm, no foul, okay?”

I take the boxes and nod. “Okay.” I open one of them and see a line of business cards and I pull one out. It says:

Mia McIntosh

CEO/President

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