Married

This was absurd, really. Here I was, freaking out about being married in Vegas, and yet there was a part of me that couldn't deny the warmth that bloomed in my chest at the thought of being married to Jasper.

Perhaps it was the unexpectedness of it all, or maybe it was the knowledge that Jasper was someone I could trust implicitly. Whatever the reason, there was a sense of rightness to it, a feeling that maybe, this was where I was meant to be.

Maybe this wasn't such a disaster after all. Maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something… beautiful.

As Jasper rummaged through my pockets, his expression turned from confusion to realization as he pulled out the marriage certificate. There, in my own handwriting, were our names, with Jasper having taken my last name. It was a surreal moment, seeing it all laid out in black and white, a tangible reminder of the impulsive decision we had made in Vegas.

But the surprises didn't end there. As I scrolled through my phone, I stumbled upon a series of videos from the previous night. There we were, laughing and dancing, clearly intoxicated but carefree in our revelry. Jasper's infectious grin lit up the screen as he twirled me around, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

In one video, I could be heard slurring my words as I asked Jasper to kiss me. Without hesitation, he leaned in and planted a fervent kiss on my lips, his affectionate gesture captured for eternity.

But it was the final video that truly took my breath away. There we were, standing in front of the chapel, our laughter echoing through the night air as we stumbled through our vows. In my drunken stupor, I declared loudly that this was all my idea, but I was glad Jasper had agreed. And in response, Jasper, equally inebriated, proclaimed with unwavering certainty, "It's you and me forever, baby!"

The embarrassment washed over me in waves as I watched myself on the screen, my drunken boldness laid bare for all to see. I cringed at my slurred words, my uninhibited laughter, and my shameless declarations of love. How had I let myself get carried away like that so publicly?

But as the initial embarrassment subsided, a flicker of something else began to surface—a sense of amusement, perhaps, at the absurdity of it all. After all, it wasn't every day that one woke up to find themselves married in Vegas, especially after a night of excessive drinking.

"You ok?"

I nodded, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions churning within me. "Just processing," I muttered, hoping to buy myself some time to make sense of it all.

Jasper's concern was evident as he searched my face for any sign of distress. "Do you want to get an annulment?" he asked gently.

I hesitated, weighing the options in my mind. An annulment would certainly undo the impulsive decision we had made in Vegas, but something held me back from agreeing to it. "No," I finally replied, surprising even myself with the conviction in my voice. "Let's… let's just see where this goes."

A flicker of relief passed over Jasper's features at my words, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth at the sight. Despite the unexpected turn of events, there was a strange comfort in knowing that we were in it together, navigating this uncharted territory as a team.

"Who do you think proposed first?" Jasper asked.

"Maybe you. Maybe me."

"Come on, Alex, you know I'm the romantic one," he teased, flashing me a playful grin.

I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a chuckle at his jest. "Oh, please, Jasper. I distinctly remember you getting down on one knee like some kind of knight in shining armor," I countered, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Jasper raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "And here I thought you'd appreciate the grand gesture," he quipped, his playful tone punctuated by a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I shook my head, unable to stifle a laugh at his theatrics. "Nice try, but I have video evidence that it was my idea," I retorted, pulling out my phone to show him the incriminating footage.

Jasper leaned in closer to watch the video, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Ah, yes, the classic 'blame it on the crowd' move," he remarked, his tone teasing yet affectionate.

I narrowed my eyes at him, playfully swatting his arm. "Hey, it's not my fault everyone was cheering us on," I protested, unable to hide the amusement in my voice.

Jasper chuckled, reaching out to take my hand in his. "Well, regardless of who proposed first, I think we can both agree that I took the lead in consummating the marriage," he said, his gaze admiring his handiwork on my body.

I couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort wash over me in his presence. "Yeah, I guess you did," I replied.

"The real question is how you feel about this being public information."

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a surge of uncertainty sweep through me at the thought of making our marriage public knowledge. It wasn't that I was ashamed of our impromptu Vegas wedding, but the idea of facing the scrutiny and judgment of others made me uneasy.

"Well, I hadn't really given it much thought," I admitted, shifting uncomfortably under Jasper's expectant gaze.

Jasper nodded understandingly, his expression thoughtful as he mulled over the situation. "I get it. It's not exactly the traditional way of tying the knot," he remarked, his tone gentle yet probing.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I wrestled with my conflicting emotions. "Yeah, that's one way to put it," I muttered, feeling a twinge of guilt for not having considered the implications of our marriage sooner.

Jasper reached out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me amidst the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my mind. "Listen, Alex, we don't have to rush into anything. We can take our time and figure out the best way to approach this," he reassured me, his voice calm and reassuring.

I nodded, grateful for his understanding and support. "Thanks, Jasper. I appreciate it," I said, offering him a small smile of gratitude.

He returned the smile, his eyes warm with affection as he squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "Anytime, Alex. We're in this together, remember?" he said, his words echoing the sentiment we had shared earlier.

Indeed, the marital status of executives can have a profound impact on the perception and valuation of a company, particularly in the eyes of investors and stakeholders. The image and reputation of company leaders are often closely intertwined with the overall brand and performance of the organization.

In many cases, the personal lives of executives are scrutinized just as closely as their professional accomplishments. A divorce or annulment can be seen as a reflection of instability or turmoil within the leadership ranks, which can erode investor confidence and negatively affect the company's stock market performance.

With the realization of how our marriage could positively impact the perception of the company, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction with my newly acquired asset. Jasper's commitment to me not only strengthened our personal relationship but could also bolster our professional standing in the eyes of investors and stakeholders.

"Jasper," I began, my voice filled with anticipation. "Maybe we should announce our marriage to the public sooner rather than later."

He looked at me, his expression curious. "Oh? Why's that?" he asked.

I leaned forward, feeling a rush of excitement coursing through me. "Well, think about it," I said. "It could generate a lot of buzz and publicity for us. People love a good love story, especially when it's unexpected like ours."

Jasper considered my words for a moment before nodding slowly. "Hmm, you might be onto something there. That means it could help boost profits for the company, right?"

I grinned, feeling a surge of validation at his agreement. "Exactly! And besides, I'm kind of excited to share our news with everyone. It's like a real-life fairytale, don't you think?"

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, it is pretty exciting, isn't it? I never thought I'd find myself married in Las Vegas of all places."

My heart swelled with affection for him, grateful to have found someone who embraced life's unexpected twists and turns with such grace. "Me neither, but I honestly wouldn't change a thing," I said softly. "This is a shock but it's really nice because I feel like you bring me lots of joy."

Jasper's smile widened, and he reached out to take my hand in his. "Well, if it'll make you happy, then I'm all for it," he said sincerely. "Plus, I kind of like the idea of being able to help out with the announcement."

I felt a surge of warmth at his words, overwhelmed by the depth of his support and love for me. "Really? You're okay with it?" I asked, unable to contain my excitement.

He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering affection. "More than okay," he said. "I want to be by your side every step of the way, Alex. And if that means announcing our marriage to the world right now, then count me in."

"You're the best, Jasper," I said softly.

He smiled, his gaze tender. "No, Sugar, you're the best one," he said. "Let's make this announcement something to remember."