Chapter 47

Peyton had a ten-and-a-half hour flight to France, five lonely nights in the city of love, and another ten-plus hour flight back to the States to think about nothing but Xavier Gaines.

She'd broken her own rule and had read the magazine article while drinking an espresso at a café table. Daniel had quoted both of them about various topics from their discussion. But his own take and summary was what had thrown her for a loop.

I fully expected to walk into my interview with this corporate giant and be met with crisp, concise answers and clipped disregard. Instead, I got a glimpse of a man who doesn't solely see opportunities to make money, but ways to enhance the compassion inside us all and force others to take a stand for what's right. It's apparent in the way his staff look and speak to him that there is respect and, perhaps, a little fear motivating them. One can't run an enterprise such as his without those elements. But under the spit and polish, I found something completely lack