chap.3

CADE POV

I stood by the window, waiting for her to reach my office. I knew exactly why she’d come all this way.

I won’t deny that their presentation was solid. I turned it down partly because of what she’d done earlier, and partly because I felt it was missing something—something that would make it stand out.

There was a knock on the door. I gave the command, and it opened. She walked in.

She was still dressed in her simple shirt and trousers, which only emphasized her slim figure. Her blonde curls were soft and fluffy, and her turquoise eyes seemed to sparkle—she looked like a deer, delicate and striking. She’s beautiful.

I couldn’t deny it. Even with barely any makeup, she was stunning. I found myself staring, thinking how much more breathtaking she’d be with a little more effort.

"Have a seat, Miss Reyes," I said softly. She sat down, and I remained standing, my eyes still on her.

"You must have chased after me the second I left your company," I said.

"I had to. I can’t just let this go," she replied, her voice firm with determination.

"But you seemed resigned when I told you I didn’t want your firm. What changed your mind?" I asked.

"My family, my colleagues, my boss, my job. I came here only to ask you to give us another chance," she said.

"Really? After showing me work I didn’t like, what makes you think I’d give you a second shot?" I challenged.

"Because I know you’re a fair man," she said. I laughed.

"Fair? Did you just call me fair?" I asked, amused.

"I’m a good judge of character, Mr. Callaghan," she added crisply.

"Well, you judged wrong this time. I’m not a fair person, Miss Reyes. I play dirty when it comes to getting what I want," I said.

"Dirty—like illegal stuff?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

"Oh, no—don’t get me wrong. I play dirty, but I don’t break the law. I do things cleanly," I said. That made her smile.

It was the first time I’d seen her smile, and I couldn’t look away. She was even more beautiful like this.

"What can I do to get you to give us a second chance?" she asked suddenly.

Is she crazy? Why would she ask a man like me that? Doesn’t she know I’d demand something big in return?

"I didn’t mean I’d give myself to you for this chance—that’s the last thing I’d ever do," she said quickly, making it clear she didn’t find me attractive. That was a first for me.

Women usually fell for me instantly. Why was she different? I stared at her, intrigued.

I was about to respond when my secretary burst in without knocking.

"Sorry, boss—but your mom is on the line. She said if you don’t pick up, she’ll take the next flight out here," she said, breathless.

Knowing my mom always kept her threats, I grabbed the phone immediately, forgetting all about Luna sitting in the room.

"Hello, Mom."

"Finally you picked up. Your secretary told you I’d come, right?"

"Mom, I’m in a very important meeting right now—can we—"

"Stop right there. What I have to say is just as important, and you’re not hanging up until I’m done," she interrupted sharply.

"What is it now, Mom?" I asked, exasperated.

"Come home. Your fiancée can’t wait any longer," she said.

"I’m not ready for that yet!" I snapped.

"Why? Why aren’t you ready? It’s been three years since you put a ring on her finger. You barely come home to see her, and when you do, you never treat her like your fiancée," she said, her voice rising.

"That’s because I don’t want her! You’ve known all along I never wanted her!" I yelled into the phone, completely forgetting Luna was still in the room.

"But she is your fiancée! And you know you are who you are today because of her father. You respect him—you even treat him like your real dad, even though you treat me like your enemy," she shot back.

"Don’t use him as an excuse!" I said.

"I will use him! That man whose daughter you’re rejecting gave you a kidney when you were dying. He sent you to one of the best schools, made you who you are today—and you refuse to do this one small thing for him? How ungrateful can you be?" she shouted into the line.

"I love and respect him like my own father, and I’ll be grateful to him forever—but—"

"But what, Cade? What’s stopping you? Marrying his daughter?" she pressed.

"If you don’t have a reason, then get on a plane to the island and do your duty by his daughter. You owe him that," she added when I fell silent.

"Well, I do have a reason, Mom. I have someone else. I love someone else," I said, without thinking.

"You what? That’s a lie! You’ve always told me you’d never love anyone—so how is this possible?" she demanded.

"I found her. And she just… melted me. I love her, and I’m going to marry her," I said, my voice steady....to her, and as soon as I can, I’ll take her back to the island with me," I said.

"You’ve gone insane, Cade! I won’t let this happen—I won’t let you marry someone who isn’t fit to be a Callaghan!" she screamed at me.

"Do whatever you want, Mom. I don’t care," I said, and hung up.

It was only when I heard her voice that I remembered Luna was still there.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Were you listening to my conversation?" I snapped, still feeling the heat of anger.

"I’m sorry, but you didn’t ask me to leave. I stayed until the call ended," she said calmly.

"So you heard everything?" I asked.

"If you want, I can pretend I never heard a thing. I’m really good at that," she offered with a small smile.

I stood there, thinking about her words, and then it hit me—what I’d said to my mom in my rage.

"Well I do have a reason Mom and that reason is that I have someone okay, I love someone else."

Just remembering the words made me sink back into my chair, shocked. What mess have I gotten myself into?

How am I going to get out of this? I’m supposed to go back to the island in a few days and present my "wife" to my parents. If I show up alone, they’ll force me to marry Isabel for sure.

I’m grateful for everything her father did for me—more than grateful—but I won’t marry her just out of duty.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked, and I looked up at her.

Why am I so agitated when I have this beautiful woman right here? I thought. She’ll do whatever I ask, and in exchange, I can give her company the contract. After all, that’s what she wants.

I kept staring at her, my mind made up.

"Have a seat, Luna. You and I have a lot to talk about," I said. She looked at me with a confused expression, but she sat down anyway.