Chapter 223

ARIA'S POV

The morning of the press conference started very early. The sun had not even risen yet, and the sky outside the window was still a dark, deep blue.

I woke up before my alarm went off, my mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. My stomach was tied in tight knots, and a heavy feeling of anxiety hung over me.

This was not just any ordinary business meeting. It was my very first major press conference as the CEO of my late father’s company.

I wanted to show the world that I could protect his legacy and lead his business into a bright future, but the fear of failure kept creeping into my mind. I wished he was here with me.

He would have known what to do. What if I messed it up? What if something bad happened. A million things could go wrong today. What if I wasn't good enough.

The thoughts plagued my head as I released a breath. I reached to touch Brandon but his side of the bed was already cold. I quietly slid out of bed, and walked down to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

To my surprise, the soft yellow lights of the kitchen were already on. Brandon was standing by the stove, wearing a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants.

The rich, warm scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air. He looked completely at peace, moving around the kitchen with ease.

Hearing my footsteps, he turned around and a warm smile spread across his handsome face.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said softly, setting down a spatula to walk over to me.

He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled me close, pressing a warm kiss to my forehead. "I figured you would be up early today. Your mind never rests before a big event."

"You made breakfast?" I asked, looking past his shoulder at the counter. He had laid out a beautiful spread, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, golden pancakes, and a bowl of fresh fruit.

"Of course," Brandon murmured, leading me over to the kitchen island and pulling out a stool for me. "You need your strength today. I am not letting my queen walk into a den of reporters on an empty stomach."

Just then, we heard the sound of little footsteps pattering down the hallway. Amelia stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her small fists.

She was wearing her favorite cartoon pajamas, her messy curls bouncing around her shoulders.

"Good morning, Mommy. Good morning, Uncle Brandon," she mumbled, yawning widely.

Brandon immediately walked over, lifting her up into his arms with a bright laugh. "Good morning, princess! You are up early too. Come eat some pancakes."

He placed her gently on the stool next to mine, and we sat down to eat together. For the next half hour, the heavy weight of my anxiety seemed to disappear.

We ate like a normal, happy family, laughing as Amelia told us a silly story about a dream she had the night before.

Watching Brandon cut up her pancakes and wipe a smudge of syrup from her chin filled my heart with pure warmth. This was my real life now. This was the family I wanted to protect.

Once breakfast was finished, I went back upstairs to the vanity table to clear my head and start getting ready. As I was sitting there, my phone began to buzz on the counter.

I picked it up, surprised to see Blake’s name flashing on the screen. I pressed answer and put the phone to my ear. "Hello, Blake?"

"Hey, Aria! I hope I am not calling too early," Blake’s cheerful voice rang through the receiver. He sounded tired but genuinely happy. "I just wanted to call and wish you good luck today. I know your big press conference is this morning. I want you to know that I'm rooting for you. You have worked so hard for this, and I know you are going to do an amazing job."

A soft smile finally broke across my face. Hearing his kind words made me feel much better. "Thank you so much, Blake. That means the world to me. Especially today."

"Of course! You deserve the best, Aria. Go crush it," he said warmly before hanging up the phone. I set the device down, feeling a small sense of relief.

It felt nice to know that people were supporting me. Before Julian and I had the fall out, Blake was a good friend. After we cleared up the air on why he helped his father try to steal my company, we weren't that close but he was still there.

A few minutes later, Brandon and I packed up our things. We drove over to drop Amelia off at her morning activities. My hands were slightly shaking on my lap as I stared out the window at the passing city buildings, the nervous energy returning to my chest.

When the car pulled up, I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned around to look at my sweet little girl in her car seat. "You are going to do great today, Mommy!" Amelia said, her little voice full of pure excitement. She gave me a huge, bright smile that instantly warmed my heart. "You look like a superhero in that coat."

I chuckled softly, leaning back to press a warm, lingering kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, my sweet angel. Mommy is going to do her very best. Be good today for your nanny, okay?"

"I will!" she promised, waving her small hands as she walked safely inside. Seeing her smile gave me a sudden burst of much-needed strength. Brandon reached across the center console and took my hand, squeezing it tightly.

He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles, his dark eyes locked onto mine. "See? Your biggest fan already knows you are going to conquer the day. Relax your shoulders, Aria. You are the boss."

By the time we reached the office headquarters, the heavy pressure was back. I stood in front of the tall mirror in my private dressing room, smoothing down the edges of my sharp blazer.

I wanted to look strong, professional, and completely in control. But inside, my heart was still hammering loudly against my ribs. Suddenly, a pair of warm, solid arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

I looked up in the mirror and saw Brandon standing right there, pulling my back against his broad chest. He looked incredibly handsome in his dark, tailored suit, his eyes full of pride as he looked at my reflection.

"You look beautiful, my queen," Brandon whispered, bending down to press a soft kiss against my neck. "And you are completely ready for this. There is no need to be nervous."

I turned around in his arms and rested my hands against his chest, letting out a long, shaky breath. "I just want to make my father proud, Brandon. This company meant everything to him. I want the board members and the public to see that it is in safe hands. I don't want anyone to think I am weak."

Brandon smiled, his thumb gently tracing my jawline. It was the same calm, steady touch that always made my fears melt away.

"They will see your strength, Aria. You have worked so hard for weeks. I will be right there in the front row watching you the entire time. You are not alone."

Hearing his words made the heavy weight in my chest feel much lighter. Brandon had been my rock through everything, supporting me every single step of the way. With him by my side, I felt like I could face any challenge the world threw at me.

An hour later, we arrived at the massive media hall where the press conference was being held. The backstage area was a whirlwind of busy activity. Employees were running around with papers, adjusting microphones, and checking the lighting on the main stage.

Chloe rushed over to me with a tablet in her hand. She looked excited but focused. "Everything is set up, Miss Aria. The reporters from all the major news channels are seated out front. The cameras are rolling, and the live stream is about to start. You are going to do amazing."

"Thank you, Chloe," I said, giving her a small smile. From behind the heavy velvet curtains, I could hear the loud, buzzing murmur of the crowd.

Flashlights from dozens of cameras were already blinking, casting bright streaks of light across the stage. This was my moment. Brandon took my hand one last time, giving it a tight, reassuring squeeze. "Go show them who you are, Aria."

I took a deep, steadying breath, holding my head high. I stepped out from behind the curtain and walked onto the brightly lit stage. The moment the reporters saw me, the room erupted into a sea of flashing lights.

I walked up to the podium, looking out at the crowd of eager faces and professional cameras. I smiled warmly at the crowd, adjusting the microphone in front of me.

"Good morning, everyone," I said, my voice ringing out clearly through the speakers. "Thank you all for being here today. I am honored to welcome you to this new chapter for our company.”