The CEO Chose Her That Night Novel by Astra Marlowe _ Novel



The CEO Chose Her That Night Novel by Astra Marlowe _ Novel

The CEO Chose Her That Night Chapter 01

I stood in line with a dozen other girls in a Seattle ballroom, waiting to be chosen.
As the illegitimate daughter of a billionaire, I knew exactly what was on the line.
If I didn't get a flower and be chosen tonight, I'd be shipped off to New York for an arranged marriage by morning.
Maxton Benton, my childhood sweetheart who had promised me his flower, changed his mind at the last minute. He handed it to Laura Calderon, the poor student he sponsored, who stood right beside him.
He leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"Just let Laurie have her moment in the spotlight. She's had a hard life. Don't worry—as long as I'm around, no one will dare try to arrange a marriage for you."
I looked at him with pleading eyes, but he still let Laura take his arm.
"Laurie is gracious and elegant," he announced. "She has a true nobility that deserves a lily."
His comment about her "nobility" turned me into the joke of the evening.
Yet when I boarded a plane to NYC, alone the next day, Maxton panicked and tried to book every flight out of Seattle to find me.
***
Right now, Laura's hand rested elegantly on Maxton's arm. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect couple.
My stomach knotted with anxiety, but I forced myself to look calm.
Maxton didn't notice my distress at all.
As the crowd began to disperse, I stood there empty-handed.
My fate sealed.
Maxton saw me standing alone and sauntered over with his wine.
"I can't believe these people. I told them to save a flower for you, but they actually ignored my orders."
I looked at the man I'd grown up with and let out a deep sigh.
"Do you even know what this banquet is actually for?"
The flower-gifting ceremony was a marriage proposal ritual. Offering a flower meant declaring intent for a marriage.
As the illegitimate daughter of the Herrera family, no one but Maxton would ever offer me one.
My father's lawful wife had sent me here just to crush my hopes. So I'd agree to the arranged marriage in New York.
I had made a deal with Maxton—I only needed three years of his protection. After that, he could be with whoever he wanted.
Yesterday, he'd promised to give me the flower. But today, when it mattered, he chose someone else.
Over a decade of connection crumbled to dust.
Guilt flashed across Maxton's face, and he waved Laura away.
"You're used to events like this. But Laura is different. "
"She's just a student on a scholarship. This might be the only chance she'll ever have to shine. Consider it a personal favor to me, okay?"
He bent slightly, looking at me with puppy eyes.
"You can let her shine anytime. Why does it have to be today?" I snapped.
When I didn't stop frowning, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"It's her graduation celebration, which means she can't accept my financial support anymore. I promised her a memory she'd never forget."
Great. I would never forget this night either—because thanks to him, I had to accept an arranged marriage.
"Max, you know this ceremony—"
Before I could finish, Laura returned to his side.
"Angeline, did I ruin things for you? Please don't blame Mr. Benton. I begged him to do it..."
Seeing Laura shrink back in embarrassment, Maxton looked annoyed with me.
"Enough, Angy. It's just a flower. I'll get you another one."
He plucked a rose from a passing waiter's vase and handed it to me.
"A rose suits you better anyway. I don't know why you're making such a fuss over a lily. Aren't you always generous?"
The rose was damp, its thorns removed, its stem snapped short.
It looked very much like me—a bird with clipped wings.
The lily, on the other hand, symbolized purity and elegance, the qualities a family heir sought in a future wife.
This bright red rose felt more like an insult.
The whispers around us grew louder.
People didn't even bother to lower their voices when making fun of me.
"She's just a love child and a pathetic simp. Does she really think she's good enough for the Benton family? Did you hear him say the other girl has a noble character? Even a charity case is better than her."
Maxton glared at the gossiper, who shot me a nasty look before shutting up.
"Angeline, I'm sorry," Laura murmured. "You're always the high and mighty one, so I just wanted to feel special for one night. I didn't expect..."
"High and mighty? I'm an illegitimate daughter. Maxton, don't you know how my family treats me?"
Laura's hand slipped, and the small cake she was holding dropped onto her shoe.
Her eyes immediately reddened, and she forced out a few tears.
Maxton frowned. "Well, it can't be undone anyway. Might as well let Laurie enjoy the rest of the night. I'm going to take her to get changed. If you don't have anything else to do, you should just go home."
Home? I didn't have a home anymore.
As I stood alone, Connor Tucker—the notorious playboy—leaned in close and sniffed me.
"You smell nice, Angeline."

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