Chapter 4

The room went silent.

Then Roy narrowed his eyes and said, "Refusing the best advice on the table means a stubborn temperament and a hot temper."

"Marriage risk rating, plus a hundred!"

Lowell's smile faded, and his brow drew together. "Jarvis, do you hear yourself? After all the trouble I've gone to for you."

"It seems Roy's read on your risk was right after all."

"Linda shouldn't marry you."

I stood up. "If two people's feelings need a third person pointing fingers to work, then no, we shouldn't get married."

That said.

I turned and walked out.

Behind me, Linda's voice followed. "Jarvis Gilbert, you'd better think this through."

Lowell's tone dropped too. "A company your size, going against the Hensons, you won't have an easy time of it."

I only smiled.

"Suit yourselves."

I was stopped at an intersection, waiting on the light.

My secretary called. "Mr. Gilbert, the Hensons just canceled every bit of cooperation with us."

"Fast work."

I let out a cold laugh. "Put the word out. Let's see who still has the nerve to sign with the Hensons at the ceremony the day after tomorrow."

I'd barely 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 me. My head hit something, the world spun, and through the blur I made out Linda's car driving past.

She saw me. The gasp broke out of her. "Jarvis?!"

Our eyes met.

I lay there thinking.

Seven years bleeding myself dry for the Hensons, all of it for her. Even for the sake of what we once had, she should save me.

But the moment Linda moved to get out, Roy stopped her from the passenger seat.

"Don't!"

"Getting out now is a risk rating of a hundred! People will spread rumors and hurt your reputation, your image."

Once again Roy ran his risk assessment.

Linda hesitated. In the end she turned her face away, floored it, and was gone in an instant.

I smiled, a wretched thing, and slowly closed my eyes.

So this was it.

I didn't just come up short against Roy.

Set beside Linda's so-called face and image, I wasn't worth a thing.

Seven years.

Even a dog you'd kept that long would grab your sleeve in its teeth and drag you clear, wouldn't it?

And I'd raised an ingrate instead.

Consciousness slipped away.

When I woke again it was the next morning, and the doorway of the ward was packed with people.

All of them prominent local business owners.

"Mr. Gilbert, you're finally awake!"

"That Linda Henson is a piece of work, watching you crash right in front of her and not lifting a finger."

"Without you she's nothing! Chewing the hand that fed her, that's what she is!"

One after another they took up my cause.

I was curious to see how the Hensons would pull off their grand signing ceremony tomorrow.

The next day, at the signing.

"Linda, by my assessment, the risk for this signing ceremony is zero."

"Henson Group is certain to reach favorable deals with every local business."

Roy said it with a smile.

Linda and Lowell nodded, and said as one, "With you here, we can rest easy."

As the business owners took their seats, Linda stepped up to the podium. "The agreements are in front of each of you. Once everyone's signed, we'll start the banquet."

"Here's to a pleasant partnership."

But the room stayed silent. No one picked up a pen.