Chapter 1
I secretly transferred to my CEO husband's company to surprise him.
The next day at the all-hands meeting, I sat quietly in the back row.
Instead of the warm reunion I expected, he walked onto the stage holding another woman's hand.
"From now on, she is the company's new Executive Vice President!" he announced to the crowd.
I just smiled.
Standing up slowly, I clapped louder than anyone else in the room.
The moment he saw me, his whole world came crashing down.
I flashed him a bright smile. "Surprise, honey?"
*****
I walked away from a one-million-dollar salary.
I kept it a total secret from everyone, especially my husband, Finn Grayson.
I wanted to give him the ultimate surprise.
Today was Crestwood Group's annual town hall meeting.
It was also my first day parachuting into the company as the Director of Strategic Development.
Finn and I had been married for three years, but we lived on opposite coasts.
He was the founder and CEO of Crestwood Group, a wildly successful corporate prodigy.
Meanwhile, I had worked my way up to senior partner at a top-tier investment bank in another city.
We were college sweethearts who made it all the way to the altar, and everyone envied our relationship.
Our only real problem was the distance.
So, I decided to put an end to it.
I pulled some strings, expedited all my transfer paperwork, and landed a spot right at his headquarters.
He had absolutely no idea.
I kept picturing the sheer shock and ecstasy on his face the second he saw me.
Stepping into Crestwood Group's massive auditorium, I bypassed the VIP seating up front.
Instead, I tucked myself away in an inconspicuous corner in the back row.
Dressed in an understated Chanel suit, I had taken off my massive diamond wedding band.
With my hair pinned up and a pair of gold wire-rimmed glasses hiding half my face, I looked like an ordinary new hire.
I glanced at the photo of Finn and me on my phone and couldn't help but smile.
In the picture, his arms were wrapped tightly around me, his eyes overflowing with adoration.
We had talked on the phone last night.
He told me how much he missed me and promised to fly out as soon as things settled down at work.
Biting back my laughter, I softly told him that sounded perfect.
Well, Grayson, we wouldn't have to be apart anymore.
I was about to personally deliver the grand romantic gesture I had been plotting for months.
The auditorium lights began to dim, and a bright spotlight hit the main stage.
The host kicked things off with an energetic opening monologue, and my heart fluttered with anticipation.
Soon enough, the host used his most booming voice to introduce the man of the hour.
He said, "Please put your hands together and give a warm welcome to the man at the helm of Crestwood Group, our CEO, Mr. Grayson!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
I watched the man I loved step out into the spotlight, commanding the attention of thousands.
Dressed in a sharply tailored black suit, he looked tall, handsome, and undeniably magnetic.
That was my husband. The same man who held me in the dead of night and called me baby.
I stared at him, practically bursting with affection and pride.
Finn took the microphone, his deep voice echoing through the massive room.
He recapped the company's milestones and laid out his vision for the future.
Every word he spoke was dripping with power and foresight.
I sat there like any other awestruck employee, completely captivated by him.
Pride and affection made my heart flutter for him.
When his speech finally wrapped up, it was time for the executive appointments.
My transfer announcement was supposed to be in this lineup.
I shifted in my seat, bracing myself for our big romantic reveal.
The host stepped back up with a knowing smile. "Next up is a truly exciting moment.
"Mr. Grayson will personally announce a massive addition to our leadership team.
"This new executive is going to breathe fresh life into Crestwood Group!"
My heart hammered against my ribs.
This was it.
A tender, familiar smile crept onto Finn's face.
It was the smile I knew by heart.
He reached his hand out toward the side of the stage.
My eyes darted over, fully expecting him to start listing off my glowing resume before calling my name.
I was dead wrong.
A woman stepped out of the shadows.
She was wearing a flowing white dress, her long hair cascading down her back, and she moved with effortless grace.