Liz
I stood by Leo through three hard years. At last, his company launched.
But at the celebration dinner, he didn't propose. He handed me a check for $30,000 instead.
"Elena, take this money and go back to your little town. Stop clinging to me."
Leo looked down at me with the smug pity of a man who thought he'd made it.
"I'm going to marry Chloe, the governor's daughter. It's my ticket to Rockwell Ranch."
He pinched my chin and said cruelly, "You're a penniless orphan. You didn't think sleeping with me for three years would buy you a place at the top, did you?"
I looked at him and suddenly felt like laughing.
I'd helped Leo build his studio from nothing. We couldn't afford staff, so I did everything and worked late every night. Once, my blood sugar dropped so low that I fainted and ended up in the hospital.
Three years of love. Three years of giving him everything I had. And in Leo's eyes, a mere $30,000 was enough to settle it all.
I studied him for a few seconds, then took the check.
"Fine. Since Mr. Green is so generous, let me be the first to congratulate you on your marriage."
He thought I was forcing a smile and strutted off to mingle with the important guests.
Outside the banquet hall, I climbed into the black bulletproof sedan waiting for me.
In the back seat, my father, the governor, was leafing through Leo's bid proposal.
"Elena, you ran away from home and hid who you were for three years, all to test this man?
"If you're done playing, come home. The papers transferring Rockwell Ranch to you are waiting for your signature."