Chapter 1
I was just about to confess my feelings to Nathan Sterling when he shoved his best friend, Ryan Bennett, my way instead.
Nathan was slouched back, cigarette hanging between his fingers, head tilted lazily, looking bored and totally unconcerned.
Nathan said, "He's a good catch. Suits you."
I looked over.
Ryan was seriously good-looking.
He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs; just standing there, he was the definition of gorgeous.
I went along with it, smiling, and from then on, I stopped chasing after Nathan.
Later, when news got out that Ryan and I were about to tie the knot, Nathan showed up at my door like a madman.
Nathan said, "Vera, I was wrong. Please... don't marry him."
I just smiled, shook my head, and peeled his fingers off mine one by one. "No."
*****
Nathan and I had known each other since we were kids. Not exactly childhood sweethearts, more like childhood friends.
We had been around each other for over twenty years, growing up side by side.
But whenever he mentioned me, he always made sure to add words that we were just friends, the plain, boring kind.
Nathan had his own crowd, spoiled rich kids and trust fund babies who always stuck together.
He never said it, but I could tell Nathan thought my family wasn't good enough for him.
My dad was seriously lucky.
A regular factory worker caught my stunning mother's eye because of his good looks. They got married, and two years later, I was born. On the day I was discharged, my dad was so overjoyed that he carried me straight to a lottery booth.
He ended up winning a million.
He used some of the money to buy a second-hand house, saved some, and invested the rest in a small company.
The next year, that small company blew up and became a big deal, and my dad ended up as one of the major shareholders.
The year after that, the old house got demolished, and I suddenly became one of those lucky kids whose family struck it rich from the demolition.
With all that demolition cash, we moved to Riverton and bought ourselves a fancy villa.
Since we lived nearby, I got to know the real elite, Nathan, the genuine heir to a wealthy family.
I was drawn in by that arrogant confidence he carried, and before I knew it, I was completely obsessed.
His eyes always felt like they could see straight through me.
Nathan just sat back and watched me try to get close to him, never making a move himself, always with that indifferent look in his eyes.
By the time I hit twenty-four, my family started pushing me to settle down and find someone.
Looking at Nathan, with that ridiculously handsome face of his, I was ready to finally tell him how I felt, right there in front of all his friends.
As soon as I opened my mouth, I said to Nathan, "Nathan, there's something I want to tell you.
"With everyone here today, it's kind of like having witnesses."
But Nathan gave a low, dismissive laugh, like he had seen it coming from a mile away.
The contempt and mockery in his eyes were plain as day.
The cigarette flickered between his fingers, but he didn't even bother to move, just waiting for me to get it over with.
It was like he was weighing the best way to shut me down without causing drama.
The private room was dead silent; the dishes had been brought out.
Nathan didn't say a word, and nobody even touched their food.
No one dared look at Nathan, so instead, they shot me these curious glances, like they were trying to size me up.
Those looks weren't exactly friendly.
It felt like everyone was wondering where I found the nerve to pull this off.
Suddenly, the door to the private room was pushed open.
The nerve-wracking silence was shattered.
Nathan slowly curled his lips into a smirk, raised an eyebrow, and lazily tilted his chin toward the newcomer.
Nathan said, "He's a good catch. Suits you.
"Vera, make sure you're really sure before you say it."
I followed Nathan's gesture and glanced over in the direction he indicated.
My eyes locked with the newcomer, the handsome guy who just walked in.
He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs.
Just standing there, he was the definition of gorgeous.
I was so stunned that I couldn't look away. Nathan's friends really were on another level.
Honestly, he was even more jaw-dropping than Nathan was the first time I saw him.
How had I never seen him before?
With all eyes on him, the handsome guy slid into the empty seat right next to me.
He flashed a friendly smile, jumping in to break the tension and help me out of a tight spot.
He said, his voice warm and relaxed, "Hey, Ms. Carter, I'm Ryan.
"Word is you're not just beautiful, but pretty witty, too. Mind giving me a chance to get to know you?"