What Happens in Vegas...: The Heiress and CEO's Shotgun Wedding

Cora Hayes sat cross-legged on the living room floor, surrounded by portfolios of artists' work. She'd spent the entire morning sorting through submissions, her excitement growing with each piece she reviewed.

"This one is incredible," Cora said, holding up a painting of a cityscape done in bold, vibrant colors. "It's raw, it's emotional, it's… alive."

Jace Hart glanced up from his laptop, his expression skeptical. "Who's the artist?"

"Her name's Lila Torres," Cora said, flipping through the portfolio. "She's only 22, and this is her first major submission. Can you believe it?"

Jace raised an eyebrow. "A beginner?"

"Yes, a beginner," Cora said, her tone defensive. "And she's amazing. Her work deserves to be seen."

Jace sighed and set his laptop aside. "Cora, I get that you want to support new artists, but you need to think about the gallery's reputation. If you fill it with unknowns, people aren't going to take you seriously."

Cora frowned, her excitement fading. "So, what? I should just ignore talent because they're not 'established'?"

"I'm not saying ignore them," Jace said, his tone calm but firm. "I'm saying you need to balance it. Feature a few established artists to draw people in, and then showcase the newcomers. That way, you get the best of both worlds."

Cora crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "That's not what I want. This gallery is supposed to be about giving people a chance, not catering to the same old names everyone already knows."

Jace leaned forward, his expression serious. "Cora, I'm trying to help you. If you want this gallery to succeed, you need to think strategically."

"And I'm telling you," Cora said, her voice rising, "that I don't care about strategy. I care about art. Real art. Not just what's trendy or marketable."

There was a long silence as they stared at each other, the tension in the room palpable.

"You're being naive," Jace said finally, his tone sharp.

"And you're being controlling," Cora shot back, her eyes flashing.

"I'm being realistic," Jace said, his voice rising. "You can't just throw money at something and expect it to work. You need a plan."

"I have a plan!" Cora said, throwing her hands up. "My plan is to support artists who deserve it, not just the ones who already have a name."

"And how do you expect to pay for that?" Jace asked, his tone biting. "Artists don't come cheap, Cora. Neither do galleries."

Cora felt a flicker of doubt, but she quickly pushed it aside. "I'll figure it out. I always do."

"That's not good enough," Jace said, standing up and pacing the room. "You can't just wing this, Cora. You need to think about the long-term."

"I am thinking about the long-term!" Cora said, her voice rising. "I'm thinking about building something that matters, not just another soulless business."

Jace stopped pacing and turned to face her, his expression dark. "And what happens when it fails? What happens when no one shows up because you didn't listen to anyone but yourself?"

Cora stood up, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "It won't fail. Because I believe in it. And if you can't see that, then maybe you shouldn't be here."

There was a long silence as they stared at each other, the air between them crackling with tension.

And then, without warning, Jace closed the distance between them, his hands cupping her face as he kissed her.

Cora froze for a moment, her mind racing, but then she kissed him back, her hands gripping the front of his shirt as she pulled him closer.

The kiss was fierce, passionate, and full of all the frustration and tension that had been building between them. It was messy and unplanned, and it left them both breathless.

When they finally pulled apart, they stared at each other, their chests heaving and their faces flushed.

"What was that?" Cora asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jace shook his head, his expression unreadable. "I don't know why I did this, I'm… I'm sorry."

There was a long silence as they stood there, the weight of what had just happened hanging between them.

Finally, Cora took a step back, running a hand through her hair. "I… I need some air."

Jace nodded, his expression still unreadable. "Yeah. Me too."

Cora grabbed her jacket and headed for the door, her mind racing. She didn't know what had just happened, but one thing was clear: things between her and Jace were about to get a lot more complicated.