Chapter 2

After I gave the secretary order, I went home and slept, and the next morning I woke to my phone ringing.

"Jarvis Gilbert!"

"I've called you a dozen times. Why aren't you picking up?"

The second I answered, Linda's cold demand came through.

"I was asleep."

I said it around a yawn.

"What?!"

Her voice shot up, indignant. "Is the risk report finished? And you're sleeping? Don't you know I need to show it to the shareholders at today's meeting?"

Yesterday I wasn't accomplished enough, too high a marriage risk.

This morning she was hounding me for the risk report.

I couldn't understand how she managed to sound so righteous about it.

"Isn't Roy the professional risk analyst? Let him do it," I said, and gave a short laugh. "I'm sure he'll hand in an excellent report."

"Enough! Stop digging a pit for him to fall into!"

Her tone grew more and more impatient. "Roy doesn't know the domestic market well, and business isn't his specialty. Besides, he just got back and he's still jet-lagged."

"He was only looking out for me when he said those things about you. Do you really have to hold a grudge over it?"

"You know I don't like a petty man."

For her, I'd given everything without a second thought.

And I got called petty.

Meanwhile Roy just moved his lips a little, handed out a score.

And she defended him at every turn.

The double standard was too glaring to miss.

"Have the risk report here before ten."

"Or I'll take Roy's advice and call off the engagement."

Linda kept going.

"Fine."

"Then let's call it off."

I agreed.

The line went silent for half a minute before her voice came again.

"I don't have time to play games with you."

"Roy says if you complete this task, your risk rating can drop two levels."

Then Linda hung up.

It seemed that in her mind I was some kind of product, waiting to be judged over and over.

Tagged with all sorts of labels.

Always one step from being pulled off the shelf.

I washed up quickly and went to the office, picked up the nearly finished assessment report on my desk.

And dropped it straight into the trash.

"Mr. Gilbert."

The secretary came in and handed me a few documents. "These are the projects where the Gilberts work directly with Henson Group. Once they're terminated, there's no bringing them back."

"Several of the city's biggest companies have called too, asking whether you really mean to cut ties with the Hensons."

"Do you want to reconsider?"

I couldn't blame them for hesitating.

The whole city knew how fiercely, how spectacularly I'd loved Linda.

So they were all afraid I loved her so much I was just

lashing out in a fit of temper.

"No need to reconsider. Do it the way I said. Terminate everything."

I waved a hand and went to my meeting.

Normally I never turned my phone off, no matter the hour, and I'd set a personal ringtone just for Linda.

I was afraid she wouldn't be able to reach me.

Because I knew a long-distance relationship wasn't easy to keep.

At first, Linda messaged me often, sharing her days and her work.

I always answered carefully.

I shared my own life too.

But as time went on, her messages grew fewer.

She said work was busy.

By the time Roy was at her side, the chat was almost all my messages.

She replied maybe once a week.

I'd asked about it.

She still said she was too busy, and hoped I'd understand.

Until last night, when I finally saw it. She wasn't busy. She simply couldn't stand me.

And whatever Roy said, she let it ride.

So I should cancel her personal ringtone and her special treatment too.

At dusk, the meeting ended.

When I turned my phone back on, I found Linda had sent me a pile of messages.