Chapter 3 - The Bride’s Real Proposal
The ballroom erupted in applause when Roman returned.
Chloe Bishop waited beneath a chandelier in a silver gown.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Perfectly composed.
She slipped her arm through Roman’s.
“Where were you?”
“Business.”
“Tonight?”
“Especially tonight.”
Her smile remained.
Her eyes did not.
Across the room, Tessa entered carrying a laptop case.
Chloe noticed immediately.
“Is she leaving?”
Roman took champagne from a waiter.
“Yes.”
Chloe looked genuinely pleased.
“You finally agreed?”
Roman turned toward her.
“Agreed?”
“She’s too involved in your affairs.”
Roman’s voice became colder.
“You’ve mentioned that before.”
“Because it’s true.”
The orchestra quieted.
Marco approached.
“Time for the toast.”
Roman stepped toward the microphone.
Four hundred faces turned toward him.
He looked across the ballroom.
Tessa stood beside the exit.
Watching.
Roman lifted his glass.
“Tonight was intended to celebrate an alliance between two families.”
Chloe smiled.
Her father, Senator Malcolm Bishop, raised his glass.
Roman continued.
“Business requires change. Sometimes unexpected change.”
His eyes moved toward Tessa.
“After five years of service, Tessa Hayes has submitted her resignation.”
Murmurs spread through the room.
Chloe’s smile deepened.
Tessa turned and walked out.
Roman finished the speech without remembering another word.
Three minutes later, Chloe excused herself.
Roman saw it.
So did Marco.
Marco whispered, “She took the bait.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“Follow at distance.”
“You?”
“I’m staying here.”
Marco looked surprised.
Roman’s eyes remained on the door.
“If I move, her father notices.”
Upstairs, Tessa entered the executive corridor.
She deliberately held the encrypted drive in her hand.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
“Tessa.”
She stopped.
Chloe.
Tessa turned.
“Mrs. Castell.”
“Not yet.”
“Right.”
Chloe approached.
“I heard you resigned.”
“You seem pleased.”
“I think it’s healthier.”
“For whom?”
Chloe smiled.
“For everyone.”
Tessa shifted the drive into her other hand.
Chloe noticed.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing that concerns you anymore.”
Tessa entered the records room.
Chloe followed.
“Tessa.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve been incredibly loyal to Roman.”
“I have.”
“Then you understand that marriages like ours require restructuring.”
“Restructuring.”
“Certain employees become… inappropriate.”
Tessa slowly placed the drive beside her laptop.
“Employees?”
Chloe leaned against the table.
“You love him.”
Silence.
Tessa’s expression never changed.
Chloe laughed softly.
“You thought nobody noticed?”
“My feelings have never interfered with my work.”
“They interfere with mine.”
“You don’t love Roman.”
Chloe’s smile vanished.
“Love is irrelevant.”
“So is marriage, apparently.”
Chloe stepped closer.
“You should take your severance and disappear.”
Tessa studied her.
“Why?”
“Because once I’m Roman’s wife, I control who gets close to him.”
“And Elias Mercer?”
For the first time, Chloe lost control.
Only for a second.
But Tessa saw it.
“Who?”
“Interesting.”
Tessa reached for the drive.
Chloe grabbed it first.
Tessa let her.
Chloe looked down.
“What is this?”
Tessa’s voice became quiet.
“The reason you followed me.”
Chloe froze.
The door opened.
Roman stood there.
Behind him was Marco.
Chloe’s face drained of color.
Roman looked at the drive in her hand.
Then at Tessa.
“Is that enough?”
Tessa nodded.
“It’s enough for me.”
Chloe recovered quickly.
“This is ridiculous.”
Roman entered.
“Give her the drive.”
“Roman—”
“Give. Her. The drive.”
Chloe placed it down.
Then she laughed.
“You think this proves anything?”
“No,” Tessa said.
She tapped her laptop.
“But your conversation with Elias Mercer ten minutes before the engagement announcement does.”
Chloe’s face changed.
Roman stared at Tessa.
“You found it?”
“Deleted audio backup.”
Chloe whispered, “You recorded me?”
“No.”
Tessa turned the laptop.
“The building did.”
A voice filled the room.
Elias Mercer.
“Once you’re married, we need Castell’s financial keys.”
Then Chloe’s voice.
“And after that?”
“Roman becomes unnecessary.”
Silence.
Roman looked at his fiancée.
Chloe did not deny it.
Instead she straightened.
“You have no idea what my family can do to you.”
Roman’s expression became frighteningly calm.
“No, Chloe.”
He removed the engagement announcement card from his pocket and tore it once.
Then again.
May you like
“I think I finally do.”
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