Chapter 2

Once I'd given my instructions.

I went back to bed and slept, until the phone woke me the next morning.

"Eliana Fox!"

"I've called you a dozen times. Why won't you pick up?"

The moment I answered, Clifford's angry voice came through.

"Sleeping."

I answered around a yawn.

"What?!"

His voice shot up, thick with displeasure. "Is the risk report done? And you're sleeping? Don't you know I have a meeting today and I need to show it to the shareholders?"

Yesterday I wasn't accomplished enough, and marrying me was too risky.

This morning he was hounding me for the risk report.

I don't know how he managed to sound so righteous about it.

"Isn't Charlotte Harding a professional risk analyst? Let her do it."

I smiled a little. "I'm sure she'll turn in something you'll be happy with."

"That's enough! Stop digging a pit for her!"

Clifford's tone grew more and more impatient. "Charlotte doesn't know much about the domestic market, business isn't her specialty, and she just got back and she's still jet-lagged."

"She was only looking out for me when she said those things about you. Do you really have to hold a grudge over it?"

"You know I don't like petty women."

For him, I gave everything without hesitation.

And I got called petty.

Charlotte, on the other hand, only had to move her lips and hand out scores.

And she got defended at every turn.

The difference in how he treated us was too glaring.

"Have the risk report to me before ten."

"Otherwise I'll take Charlotte's advice and cancel the engagement."

Clifford went on.

"Fine."

"Then cancel it."

I agreed.

The line went silent for half a minute before Clifford spoke again.

"I don't have time to play games with you."

"Charlotte says that if you complete this task, your risk rating can drop two levels."

And with that.

Clifford hung up.

It seemed that in his mind, I was some kind of product, waiting to be judged over and over.

Slapped with every kind of label.

Always at risk of being pulled from the shelf.

I washed up quickly and went to the office, where I picked up that nearly finished assessment report on my desk.

And dropped it straight into the trash.

"Ms. Fox."

The secretary came into the office and handed me a few documents. "These are the projects where the Foxes work directly with the Farleys. Once they're terminated, there's no bringing them back."

"Several of the top companies in the city have called too, confirming whether you really mean to cut ties with the Farleys."

"Do you want to reconsider?"

I couldn't blame them for hesitating.

After all, the whole city knew how fiercely I loved Clifford.

So they were all afraid I was so hopelessly in love with him that I was just acting out of a moment's temper.

"No need to reconsider. Do as I said before. Terminate everything."

I waved a hand and went off to the meeting.

Normally I never turned my phone off, no matter the hour, and I'd given Clifford his own ringtone.

Just so he could always reach me.

Because I knew a long-distance relationship was hard to keep alive.

At first, Clifford messaged me often, sharing his days and his work.

I answered every one with care.

I shared my own life too.

But as time went on, his messages grew fewer and fewer.

He said he was busy with work.

By the time Charlotte was at his side, the chat window was almost all my messages.

He replied maybe once a week.

I asked him about it.

He still said he was too busy and hoped I'd understand.

Until last night, when I finally saw that he wasn't busy at all. He just found me tiresome in every way.

And whatever Charlotte said, he let it stand.

So I should take back the special ringtone and the special treatment I'd given him too.

In the evening, the meeting ended.

When I turned my phone back on, I found Clifford had sent me a pile of messages.