Chapter 3

There wasn't a hint of sincerity in Axel's voice. He was obviously convinced I'd come crawling back to him in no time and start obsessing over him again.

For the first time, I found him incredibly annoying.

When I didn't answer, Rosalie jumped in. "Valerie, you're really not going to say yes? You better take him up on it while you can. I put a lot of money on you crawling back to him today, so don't make me lose."

I turned to her. "How much did you bet?"

Rosalie blinked, clearly not expecting me to ask.

Then she lifted her chin proudly. "A million dollars. Mom and Dad just gave it to me. They were worried the fire had scared me, so they gave me some money to make me feel better. What? Jealous?"

I ignored her and walked straight past her to the betting table. I dropped a card in front of the dealer and took a tray of dark, high-value chips.

With everyone watching, I tipped the whole tray onto the table. The chips clattered down, piling up over the one option in the corner that no one else had touched.

It read, "Break up for good."

"30 million dollars on that."

Then I turned and walked out. I didn't want to stay another second.

The room buzzed with whispers.

Rosalie was clearly furious that I'd embarrassed her. She bit her lip and turned to Axel.

"Axel, did you see that attitude? You can't go easy on her this time. Leave her hanging for a while. Better yet, make her kneel outside your house for a week or two next time. Axel?"

Axel didn't answer. He was still staring after me, lost in thought.

There had been something different in the way I'd looked at him. He knew that much. He just couldn't figure out exactly what had changed.

"Axel! What are you thinking about? I'm talking to you!"

That finally snapped him out of it. He barely seemed to be listening.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just let her do what she wants."

Rosalie pouted, lost interest, and ended the party early.

But after that night, I really did stop chasing Axel. Even when we happened to run into each other at parties or dinners with people from our circle, I only gave him a brief nod. I never went over to say hello.

It wasn't that I was deliberately avoiding him. I really was busy. My company was expanding, and more importantly, I was getting married.

I looked up from the pile of paperwork on my desk and glanced at Jasper Orton. "What have you been doing over there? You've been hunched over the coffee table writing all morning."

Jasper straightened up, then frowned when the movement pulled at the wound in his side. Still, he looked as cheerful as ever.

"I'm writing the invitations by hand. They're going to family and close friends. It feels more personal that way."

I blinked, momentarily thrown by how seriously he was taking this.

"Why not just write one and have the rest printed? It's only a fake marriage. You don't have to put this much effort into it. And if you tear that wound open again, the doctors at my hospital are going to lecture you.

"If you've got that much time, why don't you take a look at the partnership plan I just finished instead? 40% of the profits for me, 60% for you."

I thought for a moment, then added, "If you're not happy with that, we can make it 30% for me and 70% for you. I'm already getting the better end of this deal anyway.

"The Orton name carries a lot of weight. If this were a normal business deal, a small company like mine probably wouldn't even get the chance to put a proposal in front of you."

Jasper just smiled and ignored everything I'd said. "Nothing for me. You can have it all. Come with me right now to pick out the wedding dress and suit?"

I figured he was bored, and I'd be an idiot to turn down a deal that good.

I pushed back from my desk and stood. "Deal!"

We had barely arrived at the couture boutique when my phone started buzzing nonstop.

I didn't feel like answering, so I switched on Do Not Disturb and tossed it aside. It stayed quiet for all of a few minutes before the notification sounds started going off one after another.

Even Jasper glanced over.

"You're not going to check?"

I shook my head and kept looking at the jewelry in the display cases.

"It's my parents. They've been hounding me about some stupid dinner on a private island. They already tricked me once, and I'm not falling for it again. I'd rather ignore the messages than read them and get annoyed."

Jasper's expression shifted. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "They've done that before? I promise it won't happen this time. The island's mine, and my family's hosting the dinner. Why don't you come with me?

"No one in our circle knows we're getting married yet, and I'm guessing your family doesn't either. This would be a good chance to tell them. They'll have to find out eventually."

I didn't answer. I still didn't really want to go.

Jasper seemed to read my mind.

"I heard Tobias Lyon from Dravelle will be there. Want me to introduce you?"

My eyes lit up. "I'll be there on time!"