Chapter 1

My fiancée was coming home after five years abroad. I went to meet her at the airport, and when I stepped forward to hold her, the risk analyst at her side shoved me back.

"Dark circles under his eyes. Risk rating up ten."

"No cologne, no tie. Risk rating up ten."

"His company is worth less than Ms. Henson's. Mismatched in standing. Risk rating up eighty."

"Overall assessment: highest possible risk. Marrying this man would severely damage your reputation, Ms. Henson. Recommendation: cancel the engagement."

I frowned slightly and turned to Linda Henson. "You're really going to let him run his mouth like this?"

She was the one who'd asked me last night to rush an assessment on a partnership and write up a risk report. The least she could do was say something on my behalf.

Instead she spread her hands and smiled. "Roy Sullivan's a professional. He's never been wrong."

Once the surprise passed, I almost wanted to laugh.

If sincerity earned me nothing back, then there'd be no wedding. And I'd pull back every bit of support I'd quietly been giving Linda while I was at it.

...

"From today on, kindly keep three yards away from Ms. Henson."

Roy went to shove me again.

Like I'd caught some contagious disease.

I caught his wrist and said coldly, "Remember this. You're just an employee."

"But I'm also the person Ms. Henson trusts most."

A provoking little smirk curled at his lips, and he turned to Linda for confirmation.

"Roy's the confidant my father brought to me. He would never do anything to hurt me."

Linda nodded right along with him.

"Ha."

The anger curdled into a laugh. I pressed Linda. "So you think I'm the one out to hurt you?"

"I wouldn't go that far."

That was all she said.

Watching her stand there so cool, so detached, so eerily steady, my chest went tight.

Five years ago, before Linda left the country, she'd leaned into my arms and said, "Jarvis, as long as you're with me, I'm not afraid of anything, not even the worst storm."

"Wait five years for me."

"And then we'll have a huge wedding."

I'd truly believed time couldn't break a love that burned like ours.

I used to daydream about how happy our life would be after we married.

But now reality had spelled it out for me. Five years of aching, waiting, and all it bought me was one line. "I wouldn't go that far."

I drew a deep breath and looked at Linda again.

"Seven years between us, and you'll let some risk analyst who showed up half a year ago decide what it's worth?"

"When the Hensons were on the edge of bankruptcy and everyone else steered clear, I was the only one who stood by you. I helped clear the family's debts."

"Even the chance for the Hensons to expand overseas, I gave that up for you—"

But this time.

Before I could finish, Roy cut in with a raised hand. "Isn't that exactly what a boyfriend is supposed to do?"

"Don't blame me for the warning. Ms. Henson is the dream woman of countless men."

"If you really loved her, you'd find a way to lower your risk rating, not drag up all this stale old history."

"Starting with a little disinfecting."

Mocking me, he pulled out a bottle of alcohol and sprayed it at my face.

Crack.

My hand came up and I slapped him, saying coldly, "You dream about her too, don't you?"

"That's why you're standing here trying to drive us apart."

The next second.

Before Roy could even react, Linda rushed over and pressed a blade to my throat.

"Jarvis Gilbert!"

"Who do you think you are, hitting my man?"

I froze. But the shock passed quickly.

Five years was long enough to change a person completely, head to foot, inside and out.

The Linda who once believed in love, who once knew how to meet me halfway, was long dead.

The Linda in front of me was cold, unfeeling, with profit above all.

"Fine."

"Don't let it happen again."

Just like that, Linda drew the knife back and frowned as she lectured me. "Roy was right just now."

"Given where I stand now, you really do need to work on yourself before you're worthy of me."

"The wedding is postponed for now. I'll announce it three days from now, at the signing ceremony with all the partner companies."

I took a deep breath. "Maybe we should just—"

I didn't get the word out. Break up.

Linda spoke over me. "No matter how much you say, it won't change my mind."

"Roy, let's go."

She and Roy got in the car and drove off.

I shook my head, took out my phone, and made a call. "Within three days, halt every deal with Henson Group."