Chapter 4

Silence dropped over the room in an instant.

Then Charlotte narrowed her eyes and spoke. "Refusing the best advice on the table means a stubborn temper and a short fuse."

"Add a hundred points to her marriage risk rating!"

Ned Farley's smile vanished, replaced by a frown. "Eliana, do you hear yourself? After everything I've tried to do for you."

"It seems Charlotte's risk assessment of you was exactly right."

"Clifford should never marry you."

I stood. "If two people's feelings need a third party pointing fingers to survive, then no, they shouldn't."

I said it, and turned to leave.

Clifford's voice came from behind me. "Eliana, you'd better think this through."

Ned's tone went hard too. "A company your size, going up against the Farleys? Your life won't be easy after this."

I only smiled.

"Suit yourselves."

I was stopped at an intersection, waiting on the red light, when my secretary called.

"Miss Fox, the Farleys have canceled every partnership with us."

"Fast work."

I let out a cold laugh. "Get the word out. Let's see who still dares sign with the Farleys at the ceremony two days from now."

I had just hung up when a car came tearing in from the left.

There was no time to swerve.

A deafening crash, and pain shot through every bone in my body. My head slammed into something, the world spinning, and through the blur I made out Clifford's car passing by.

He saw me. The shock broke out of him. "Eliana?!"

Our eyes met.

Seven years, I thought. Seven years I'd bled myself dry for the Farley Group, given him everything. If he had a shred of feeling left for what we'd been, he would save me.

But the moment Clifford moved to get out, Charlotte grabbed him from the passenger seat.

"Don't!"

"Getting out now is a hundred-point risk! People will spread rumors and drag down your reputation and your image."

Another risk assessment from Charlotte.

Clifford hesitated. In the end he turned his face away, hit the gas, and was gone in seconds.

I gave a bitter laugh and slowly closed my eyes.

So that was it.

I couldn't even measure up to Charlotte.

And next to Clifford's precious face and image, I was worth nothing at all.

Seven years.

Even a dog you'd raised for seven years would grab your sleeve in its teeth and try to pull you clear, wouldn't it?

Instead I'd raised an ingrate.

My consciousness slipped away.

When I woke again it was the next morning, and the door of my hospital room was crowded with people.

Every one of them a well-known local business leader.

"Miss Fox, you're finally awake!"

"That Clifford Farley is worthless. He watched you get into a wreck and didn't lift a finger to help."

"Without you, he's nothing! What a two-faced ingrate!"

One after another, they took my side.

I wanted to see how the Farleys would carry off their grand signing ceremony tomorrow.

The next day, at the signing venue.

"Clifford, by my assessment the risk for this ceremony is zero," Charlotte said with a smile.

"The Farley Group will surely land favorable deals with every local business."

Clifford and Ned nodded and said in one voice, "With you here, we can rest easy."

As the business leaders took their seats, Clifford stepped up to the stage. "The agreements are in front of each of you. Once everyone has signed, we'll begin the banquet."

"Here's to a pleasant partnership."

But the room stayed dead silent. Not a single person picked up a pen.