Chapter 1

For four years of dating, Zachery never let me make our relationship public at his company.

The reason was always the same one. Too many people at the office, too many mouths. Once they got the marriage license tomorrow, he'd bring me around to meet his coworkers.

So for four years, I was the one who stood downstairs at his company and never got to come up.

I brought him a contract on a night of pouring rain. I left the file at the front desk and walked away.

Less than a minute after I posted our engagement photo, he called and told me to delete it.

The night of the gala, he won the annual project award.

I hadn't planned to go in. I only wanted to bring the cufflink box my mother left me to the backstage area.

The staff member at the family entrance stopped me, checked the list, then looked up at me.

"Manager James's family has already checked in."

I followed her gaze.

Madge Swanson stood beside Zachery wearing the family badge, smiling as she welcomed his coworkers on his behalf.

She was holding my file envelope. When she saw me, she gave it a light little wave.

"Miss Fox, I thought you weren't coming tonight."

"Zachery said you don't like the hassle, so I filled it in for him."

Zachery came over fast and put himself between us.

"It's just a badge."

"This many people are watching. Not now."

I looked at the family badge on Madge's chest.

And suddenly I wasn't sure the person getting the marriage license with him tomorrow was me.

......

By the time Zachery had walked me to the far end of the hallway, the applause inside the gala hall still hadn't stopped.

The staff at the door had collected the list Madge just signed and was filling in a seat card for the family table.

I saw what was written on the little card. Zachery James's family, Madge Swanson.

Zachery followed my gaze and reached out first, pressing the card down under a folder.

"Don't change it tonight."

His voice dropped low, his eyes fixed on the hall doors.

I looked up at him.

"Why can't it be changed?"

"Madge already sat down over there. Swapping people at the last minute looks bad."

The words had barely left his mouth when Madge came out of the hall carrying two gift bags.

One was hers. The other had Zachery's name taped to the top.

She saw me and her steps slowed.

"Miss Fox, Zachery had me pick his up for him."

Zachery didn't deny it.

He only glanced at the cufflink box in my arms.

"Give it here, I'll put it away later."

I didn't let go.

That box was the one my mother left me.

Before I came, I'd wiped it down again in the car, worried the lid might catch dust.

I'd thought it would be the first blessing from family he'd receive before we got the license tomorrow.

But now his family bag was in Madge's hands.

His family badge was on Madge's chest.

Even his family seat already had Madge's name on it.

I asked, "Then where do I sit?"

Zachery didn't answer right away.

The staff member happened to hand over another blank seat card. "Manager James, do you still need this one?"

He took it and, without even looking, pressed it under the paperwork.

"No need."

Zachery frowned.

"Go wait for me in the lounge first."

"I'm getting the marriage license with you tomorrow."

"Because we're getting the license tomorrow, that's exactly why you shouldn't make a scene tonight."

He reached out for my file envelope.

"I'll look at the paperwork later. Madge knows the process, leave it with her for now."

"That's what we need for the license tomorrow."

"I know."

As those two words landed, his hand was already reaching toward the hall doors.

I took a step back.

Madge said softly, "Zachery, the group photo list is due any minute."

Zachery turned to look at her.

"Go in first, line up by the list from before."

Madge nodded and turned back into the hall.

The instant the door opened, I heard someone laugh and call her his wife.

Zachery heard it too.

He didn't turn around to correct it.

He only lowered his voice. "Gail Fox, leave me a little dignity."

I looked at him.

Before, the moment he said dignity, I would back down.

The meal left at the front desk. The engagement photo deleted.

Even standing outside the door tonight, I'd been thinking first of how to spare him any embarrassment.

This time, I clipped the cufflink box back into my bag.

Zachery's face finally changed.

"What are you taking it back for?"

I didn't answer.

Inside the hall, the host had started calling the annual project team up for a group photo.

Madge stood in the front row in the family spot, straightening the sash across Zachery's chest.

I stood outside the door and watched a staff member set the seat card with her name back on the table.

Another staff member walked past holding a camera and asked whether Zachery's family would be going up onstage together soon.

Someone inside answered, "Miss Swanson's right here."

The staff member turned back and asked, "Then should I seat this one at the door with the regular guests?"

Zachery glanced at me.

"No need for now, she's not really comfortable at these things."

That sentence put me further away than the lounge.

I stood at the spot closest to the hall doors, holding his license paperwork, and one line from him had set me outside even the regular guests.

Madge poked her head out from inside the door.

"Zachery, the boss is asking whether your family will come toast with everyone."

Zachery answered, "I'll be right there."

He didn't spare a single glance for the fact that I was still standing outside the door.

Inside my bag, the cufflink box knocked lightly against the file envelope.

Only then did it hit me that Zachery still hadn't looked at the paperwork we needed for the license tomorrow.

The first thing he'd confirmed tonight was where Madge would sit, where she would stand, and whether she'd be in the photos.