Chapter 1

Everyone says my boyfriend risked his life climbing a mountain to propose to me.

Then an avalanche hits.

I unlock his laptop to help the rescue team and find the proposal he wrote for his assistant.

The woman whose college tuition my foundation paid.

An hour earlier, I'm standing outside the lodge, trying Adrian's number again.

The call won't connect.

Nina Ellis stands beside me, holding a radio against her chest.

“He knows what he's doing,” she says.

Adrian has climbed for years. That was his answer this morning when I asked him to postpone.

“You don't have to prove anything to me.”

He kissed me.

“Just wait until you see what I have planned.”

Now a rescue coordinator needs the route files Adrian left on his laptop.

“The guide says they split up before the slide. We need to establish where he was heading.”

Nina looks at me.

“His computer's in your room.”

I run upstairs.

My hands shake so badly I mistype the password.

Our anniversary.

He's used it for years. I've teased him about it while booking flights on this same machine.

The second attempt works.

A folder sits open on the desktop.

SUMMIT PROPOSAL.

I click it.

There are route files, camera notes, and a video labeled PRACTICE.

I open the document beside it, looking for a schedule.

Nina,

Seven years with the wrong woman taught me what I actually want.

You.

I stop reading.

Then I start again.

Claire thinks this trip is for her.

By the time we come down, the Bennett deal will be signed. I won't need to keep pretending.

I don't cry.

I open the video.

Adrian sits on the edge of our bed in the lodge. He's wearing the sweater I packed for him.

“Nina,” he says, smiling at the camera. “I wanted to ask you somewhere nobody could come between us.”

He stops, laughs, and looks away.

“Too much?”

Her voice answers from behind the camera.

“I like it.”

Someone knocks on the door.

“Ms. Bennett? Have you found the files?”

I pause the video.

“Yes.”

The coordinator comes in. I point him toward the route folder.

He copies the files onto his drive while I stand beside the desk.

“Is this the latest version?”

“I don't know. Take all of them.”

He thanks me and leaves.

I sit down.

Seven years.

I introduced Adrian to lenders. Brought him into projects. Spent nights reviewing proposals when his company was struggling.

Everyone called us a team.

I open his messages.

The conversation with Nina is already synced.

She sent him a photograph yesterday.

Her hand. A pink diamond ring.

I still can't believe this is mine.

His answer:

After tomorrow, you won't have to hide it.

I photograph the screen, then copy the proposal, video, and messages onto my own drive.

Nina appears in the doorway.

“Did you get in?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you still sitting here?”

“The rescue team has the files.”

“They need the right files, Claire. If you gave them something old—”

“Ask them what else they need.”

She steps toward the laptop.

I close it.

Her eyes flick to my hand.

“You're acting strange.”

“My boyfriend is missing.”

“Then act like you care.”

Something rings inside her coat.

She freezes.

“Answer it.”

“It's probably nothing.”

The ringing continues.

She pulls out the satellite phone they rented at the lodge.

“Hello?”

A man's voice comes through, loud enough for me to hear.

“Nina? It's Ben. Tell the rescue team he took the eastern approach. The filming spot you sent him.”

I stand.

Nina backs toward the door.

“You knew he changed the route.”

“Claire, I—”

I hold out my hand.

“Give me the phone.”