Chapter 49: Love in the Spotlight

The rooftop lounge buzzed with energy as Aaron and Kimberly’s closest friends gathered to celebrate their engagement. The warm glow of string lights reflected off the polished wood floors, creating an intimate atmosphere. Marcus, Kelvin, Chloé, and Kehlani were all there, each bringing their unique energy to the gathering.

Kelvin was the first to toast, raising his glass dramatically. "To Aaron and Kimberly: the power couple we didn’t know we needed but can’t live without!"

Everyone laughed, clinking glasses, while Aaron smirked. "You’re just saying that because you want a bigger role in the wedding party."

"Obviously," Kelvin quipped. "Best Man Kelvin has a nice ring to it."

"Nice try," Marcus interjected with a grin. "But I’ve got history on my side. Seniority wins."

Chloé rolled her eyes, leaning into Kimberly. "Are they really arguing over the wedding already?"

Kimberly laughed softly. "Honestly, it’s kind of sweet. They’re more excited than we are."

Kehlani sidled up to the group, holding a plate of hors d’oeuvres. "I’m just here for the food and the vibes. But seriously, Kimberly, that ring is insane. Let me see it again!"

Kimberly extended her hand, the diamond catching the light. Kehlani let out a low whistle. "Aaron, you did good. Really good."

"Thank you," Aaron said, his deep voice carrying just a hint of pride. "But it’s the least she deserves."

As the evening unfolded, the group laughed, reminisced, and toasted to love. Marcus recounted hilarious stories from their college days, while Chloé and Kehlani debated which designer Kimberly should wear for the wedding.

"Listen," Kehlani said, swirling her wine. "I’m just saying, if you don’t do a custom look, you’re missing out."

"Kehlani’s right," Chloé added. "This is your moment, Kimberly. You deserve to shine."

Kimberly nodded, taking it all in. "You two are officially my style consultants. Aaron, take notes."

Aaron laughed. "Noted. But can we agree that I’m still picking the honeymoon destination?"

"You’d better," Kelvin chimed in. "Because if she picks, you’re going to end up at some wellness retreat doing yoga all day."

Kimberly shot him a mock glare. "Don’t tempt me."

The night felt perfect, a balance of laughter, love, and friendship. But outside the lounge, a different scene was unfolding.

The paparazzi had somehow caught wind of the gathering. By the time the group stepped onto the street to leave, they were greeted by a chaotic scene of flashing cameras and shouted questions.

"Aaron! Kimberly! Is it true you’re engaged?"

"Kimberly, what’s the wedding date?"

"Marcus, are you the best man?"

Marcus waved them off with a playful smirk. "No comment!"

Kelvin and Kehlani flanked Kimberly, shielding her from the chaos, while Aaron’s protective hand found hers. "Keep moving," he said calmly, leading her toward the waiting car.

Once inside, Kimberly let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "That escalated quickly."

Aaron squeezed her hand. "We’ll handle it. Together."

Back at Aaron’s apartment, the group regrouped, decompressing from the unexpected encounter.

"Well," Kelvin said, pouring another glass of wine. "Guess the world knows now."

"Let them talk," Chloé said confidently. "What matters is you two are happy."

Kimberly leaned into Aaron, her head resting on his shoulder. "She’s right. We’ve got everything we need right here."

Aaron kissed her forehead, his voice steady. "And that’s all that matters."

The night ended with more laughter and plans for the future, but Kimberly and Aaron knew one thing for certain: their love was strong enough to weather whatever came their way, even the relentless glare of the spotlight.

The next morning, the aftermath of their night made its way to the headlines. News outlets buzzed with photos of Aaron and Kimberly leaving the rooftop lounge, their hands intertwined and their smiles glowing. The engagement was the top story on every entertainment site, accompanied by captions like “Hollywood’s New Power Couple” and “Actor Aaron Pierre and personal assistant Kimberly Monet Are Officially Engaged!”

Kimberly sat at the kitchen counter in Aaron’s apartment, her tablet propped up as she scrolled through the coverage. “This is… a lot,” she said, her tone somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

Aaron appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Welcome to the circus,” he murmured, his deep voice laced with humor.

She turned to look at him. “You’re taking this pretty well.”

He shrugged, his expression calm. “It’s part of the job. And besides, they’re not wrong. We are Hollywood’s power couple.”

Kimberly laughed, swatting at him playfully. “You’re impossible.”

Her phone buzzed, drawing her attention. It was a text from Chloé:

OMG, you’re trending #1! “Kimberly Monet” is everywhere! Call me when you can!

Before she could respond, a call from Marcus came through. She answered, putting it on speaker.

“Y’all really know how to steal the show,” Marcus teased. “I’ve already had three reporters call me asking if I’m the best man.”

Aaron laughed. “Told you, seniority doesn’t guarantee the title.”

“You keep playing, and I’ll leak embarrassing stories about you,” Marcus warned, but his tone was light.

Kimberly chimed in. “Thanks for handling them, Marcus. I don’t even know where to start with all this.”

“You don’t need to do anything,” Marcus reassured her. “Let the world talk. You two just enjoy the moment.”

After hanging up, Aaron turned Kimberly toward him, his hands resting on her hips. “He’s right, you know. This is our time. Let’s not let the noise ruin it.”

Kimberly looked up at him, her heart softening at his steady presence. “I don’t care about the noise. As long as we’re good, that’s all that matters.”

“We’re better than good,” he said, leaning down to kiss her gently.

Their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. Aaron frowned, glancing toward the hallway. “Expecting someone?”

“No,” Kimberly replied, just as puzzled.

Aaron went to answer, finding Kelvin and Kehlani on the other side, holding a tray of coffee and pastries.

“We figured you two might need some reinforcements,” Kelvin said with a grin, pushing his way inside.

Kehlani followed, setting the tray on the counter. “The internet is losing its mind over you two. Thought we’d come by and help you decompress.”

“More like you wanted to be nosy,” Aaron teased, shaking his head.

“Maybe a little,” Kelvin admitted, grabbing a pastry. “But seriously, how are you holding up?”

Kimberly smiled. “Honestly? Better than I thought I would be. It’s a lot, but it’s manageable.”

“You’re handling it like a pro,” Kehlani said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

As the group settled into the living room, they laughed, reminisced, and shared their plans for the day. The conversation shifted to the engagement party, which Kimberly and Aaron were beginning to plan.

“I’m just saying,” Kelvin began, “we need a theme. Something epic. Like… old Hollywood glam.”

“Or maybe something more modern,” Kehlani suggested. “You know, sleek and chic.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow. “You two are acting like you’re the wedding planners now.”

“We’re just invested,” Kehlani shot back. “Let us live.”

Kimberly shook her head, laughing. “We’ll take it under advisement. But for now, let’s just enjoy this.”

And they did. Surrounded by friends, laughter, and the promise of the future, Aaron and Kimberly felt grounded, even as the world buzzed around them. Their love was a steady anchor in the whirlwind, and they knew they could face anything as long as they had each other.