Chapter 4

On Monday, I went to work like any other day.

My full-time job was as a business specialist at a trading company. I had gotten in through a campus recruitment fair during my senior year, and I'd worked my way up from intern to permanent staff. It was steady, reliable work.

On top of that, I had a string of side jobs. I'd been hustling since junior year of college, and now I waited tables at a restaurant on weekday evenings and picked up several gigs on the weekends.

It was exhausting, but I had paid Emily back in full and even managed to build up a small savings. I loved my apartment, and for the first time in a long time, I actually felt good about where my life was headed.

That afternoon, our department gathered for a meeting, and the director walked in with someone behind him.

I saw William, and my whole body froze.

The director smiled and gestured toward him. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet our new Vice President, William Carter."

William didn't look at me. He scanned the room and greeted the team with a polished smile. "Hey, everyone. I'm William Carter. I'll be overseeing business procurement and sales going forward, so I look forward to working with all of you."

Then his eyes found me.

I dropped my gaze immediately. I didn't want to look at him.

Why was he here? Of all the companies in this city, why mine? Had he come here because of me?

My heart raced, and a knot of worry tightened in my stomach. But after a moment, I forced myself to let it go.

I was here to earn a paycheck, nothing more. All I had to do was keep my head down and do my job.

After the meeting broke up, I overheard a few coworkers whispering nearby. One of them leaned in and said, "I heard the new VP is buddies with our boss."

Our company's boss was a man named Ethan Quinn. I had never heard of him back when I was part of the Linley family, so he probably wasn't from old money.

But some people at the office said he had relatives in high society and had studied abroad before returning to start his own business. He got lucky, and it took off.

Still, our company wasn't big. We had fewer than a hundred employees total.

One of the girls whispered, "But he's way more handsome than Boss."

Another one chimed in, "Right? I wonder if he has a girlfriend. I want to go after him."

Her friend nudged her and said, "Just ask around. He's going to be working with us from now on, so there'll be plenty of time to get close."

The first girl shot back, "Well, I'm going after him too. Sophie Green, we're officially rivals now."

I pulled myself out of their conversation and stopped listening. It didn't matter to me anyway.

William and I were ancient history.

After work, I rushed to get to my part-time job, but my coworker, Henry Alden, stopped me in the hallway.

Henry held out a bag and said, "Charlotte, I picked up some cookies while I was out on a field visit this afternoon. They're really good. Here, take them."

He pushed the bag toward me and added, "I know you've got your part-time job and you won't have time for dinner. And don't worry, I've taken the hint. I'm not going to ask you to dinner again. This is just a little something. Take it."

Henry had asked me to dinner many times before, and I had turned him down every single time. It wasn't personal. I didn't have the time. Every free hour I had went toward picking up extra shifts to make money.

The last time Emily and I had grabbed a meal together was six months ago.

I looked at the bag in his hand, but I didn't want to take it.

He had never come out and said how he felt, but I could read between the lines, and I had zero interest.

I shook my head and was about to turn him down when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me back a step.

I spun around. It was William.

William stared at Henry, his expression cold and hard. He said, "She doesn't like these. Take them back."

Henry faltered, confused. He asked, "Mr. Carter, what's going on?"

William didn't bother explaining. He warned him, "Don't give her things. Don't go near her. Or you'll answer to me."

Then he grabbed my arm and walked away, dragging me with him.

I struggled against his grip and shouted, "Let go of me!"

I tried to pull free and yelled, "Where are you taking me? I have to get to work!"

William didn't answer, and he didn't let go. He pulled me into a nearby storage room and locked the door behind us.

I felt a flash of anger, and I snapped, "William, what the hell do you want?"

He stared at me with an intensity that left nothing to the imagination. His voice dropped low as he said, "You really don't know what I want?"

He stepped closer and pressed, "That guy has feelings for you, doesn't he? And you feel the same way? Is that why you keep turning me down?"

I let out a tired sigh. "I don't have feelings for him. I don't have feelings for anyone right now. I just want to live my life in peace."

After everything I had been through, all the darkness and the pain, a quiet and ordinary life felt like a luxury I could only dream of.

William's expression softened slightly.

But I had no interest in dragging this conversation out, so I said, "I need to go. My shift starts soon."

William blocked my path again and said, "I can pay for your time. I already have your restaurant boss' contact from last time. If you're late or miss a shift, I'll cover it."

His approach didn't surprise me, because I used to be exactly the same way.

When you grow up surrounded by privilege and wealth, you develop a deep-rooted belief that money can fix anything.

William's confidence didn't waver, and he continued, "I'll take you to dinner after this. That restaurant you used to love is still open, so we can go there."

He added, "After dinner, we'll go see the city lights. You used to love standing on the bridge downtown and watching them."

I listened, and I felt nothing.

Those old favorites had vanished the moment my life fell apart. Every preference, every joy I once had, was gone now.

All I felt, hearing him talk like this, was that he was wasting my time.