Chapter 1

Kalina's POV

"Ms. Lawson, please have the driver turn around at the next exit. Mr. Hemsworth won't be going to Norland today." Brian Hemsworth's executive assistant, Madson Brent, sounded perfectly calm.

I slowly opened my eyes, still leaning against the back seat.

We were already on the highway to the airport. My passport, luggage, and all eight outfits I'd bought for the Northern Lights trip were packed in the trunk.

"Is something wrong with the plane?"

"No." Madson hesitated. "The private jet has been rerouted to Montreval. Ms. Parker needs a snowy mountain backdrop for her graduation project, so Mr. Hemsworth has decided to accompany her."

I watched the road signs flash past the window. "Oh."

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

He probably expected me to ask when Brian would be back, when we would reschedule our Norland trip, or maybe even throw a fit and demand that the plane turn around.

But I'd already seen the answer on social media.

Ten minutes earlier, Fiona Parker had posted a photo of herself standing in front of Brian's private jet, holding a cup of hot chocolate and grinning like she'd just won the lottery.

The caption read, "My biggest wish before graduation actually came true. I can't believe someone made it happen for me."

Someone in the comments asked if she was flying economy.

She replied, "He said he didn't want me to have to deal with that."

How touching. The trip I'd spent six months looking forward to had apparently become the perfect opportunity to make her graduation dream come true.

Madson was still waiting for my response. "Ms. Lawson, Mr. Hemsworth said Norland isn't going anywhere. He'll arrange another trip for you."

"Got it."

"He's also arranged for a luxury boutique to send you an antique brooch as an apology."

"I'd rather have the cash."

The other end went silent for two seconds. "I'll let Mr. Hemsworth know."

I hung up, pulled my calendar from my bag, and crossed off today's date. I'd had 20 days left on my three-year contract. Now I had 19.

The driver asked cautiously, "Ms. Lawson, should I take you back to Clearwater Bay?"

"Take me to Willowbrook."

Clearwater Bay was Brian's villa. Willowbrook was the home I'd chosen for myself.

The apartment wasn't particularly big, but there was a breakfast cafe downstairs, a park across the street, and a south-facing balcony.

I'd grown an entire wall of white jasmine there. I'd also adopted a long-haired cat named Muffin.

He had a terrible temper, wasn't particularly affectionate, and rarely bothered to respond when anyone called him. We got along perfectly.

The elevator doors opened 40 minutes later.

Cardboard boxes were piled up in the hallway. Two movers were carrying out my gray sofa, while a brand-new butter-yellow one blocked the doorway. Fiona's canvas tote bag hung from one of its armrests.

I stood there for a moment.

One of the movers called out, "Excuse me, could you move aside? Ms. Parker has a flight to catch."

Quick footsteps came from inside the apartment. Fiona hurried out in a white puffer jacket, holding my spare key.

Her smile faltered when she saw me. "Ms. Lawson, what are you doing back?"

"They didn't save me a seat on the plane."

Fiona looked a little embarrassed. "Mr. Hemsworth said you'd probably go back to Clearwater Bay to rest. He also said this place was empty anyway, so I could move in for a while."

I looked past her into the apartment. The paintings had been taken down. My black floor lamp had been tossed into a corner.

The wool rug I'd spent so long choosing was rolled up, with several boxes labeled "Fiona's Clothes" stacked on top of it.

"How long are you staying?"

"Two months at most."

My contract ended in 19 days. Apparently, she'd be staying longer than I would.

Fiona quickly explained, "My dorm is being renovated, and Mr. Hemsworth was worried about me staying in a hotel alone. I'm only borrowing the place. I promise I won't ruin anything."

She gestured toward the new couch with an eager smile. "It's just that the old couch was a little too dark. It made the room look gloomy, so I thought something brighter would be better. You don't mind, do you?"

Before I could answer, the bedroom door opened. Brian stepped out with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, carrying a suitcase Fiona hadn't finished packing.

He frowned when he saw me. "Didn't I tell the driver to take you back to Clearwater Bay?"

"I came to get my cat."

"Just leave him here." Brian handed the suitcase to one of the movers, as casual as ever. "Fiona will be living here alone. A cat will keep her company."

As if on cue, Muffin leaped from his cat tree into my arms and hissed at Brian.

Fiona flinched and stepped back. "Does he not like me?"

"He doesn't like anyone." I stroked Muffin's head. "Nothing unusual there."

Fiona started to approach us but suddenly sneezed several times in a row. Her eyes quickly turned red. "I'm sorry. I think I might be allergic to cats. It's fine. I can just take some allergy medicine."

Despite her words, she'd already ducked behind Brian.

Brian glanced at Muffin. "Take him back to Clearwater Bay."

"Okay." I didn't argue.

Willowbrook already had a new occupant. Muffin clearly wasn't welcome anymore. I carried him toward the balcony to collect his food bowl and toys.

I'd barely opened the glass door when Fiona sneezed again. "Why are there so many flowers out here?"

She rubbed her nose, struggling to breathe. "I think I'm allergic to pollen, too."

The white jasmine on the balcony was in full bloom.

Two years ago, after I'd managed to kill my first potted plant, Brian had 20 jasmine plants shipped in from the south overnight.

He'd told me that if I couldn't keep them alive, he'd just keep replacing them until I found one I could grow.

Eventually, I'd succeeded.

When the jasmine first bloomed, Brian even had someone take a picture and put it on display in his office. Now, he barely gave the flowers a second glance.

"Call the property manager and have someone get rid of them."

I turned to him. "She's only staying for two months."

"Allergies are serious."

"Then she can stay somewhere else."

Brian's expression hardened. "Kalina, they're just a few plants. Fiona has a flight to catch. Do you really have to make things difficult for her right now?"

I met his gaze. "This is my apartment."

"The deed hasn't been transferred yet," Brian reminded me flatly.

According to our contract, the apartment wouldn't officially be mine until 20 days later. Until then, it was still in his name.

So that was how he wanted to play it.

I held Muffin a little closer and nodded. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

Brian seemed taken aback by how easily I'd given in, but his expression didn't soften. "I'll make it up to you for Norland."

"Okay."

"Stop acting like you don't care about anything."

Fiona quickly tugged at his sleeve. "Mr. Hemsworth, we're going to be late."

"Ms. Lawson already said it's fine. Please don't be so hard on her."

Brian picked up her suitcase and headed for the door. Before leaving, he looked back at me. "I'll pick you up for the auction. Those antique pearls you wanted will be there, too."

"Okay."

Satisfied, he left with Fiona.

Once the elevator doors closed, one of the movers picked up a pair of pruning shears. The first jasmine vine fell with a sharp snip.

I stood by the balcony door and watched for a while without trying to stop him.

In 19 days, I wouldn't even want this apartment anymore. They were just a few plants, after all. Hardly worth getting upset over.