The 100th Time's the Charm

She barely looked at me—just a quick, awkward glance.

Then she turned to Alec, all smiles.

"You like it? Then take it. It's useless to me anyway."

The second he slipped it into his bag, I lost it.

I marched over, yanked it from his hands, and punched him—hard. Right in the face.

Then I walked out. Didn't say a word. Didn't need to.

I couldn't spend another second in that house.

I slammed the door behind me, and through it, I heard Donna trying to soothe Alec.

"You can probably tell—he's got a crush on me. He just couldn't handle me giving you something. I've spoiled him too much. I'll fire him tomorrow, promise."

Fuming, I headed back to the office. Then my phone buzzed. Donna.

"Hector, you're so petty. It was just a WATCH. Did you really have to upset my client over that? Do you even KNOW he works at Leandro Corp?

"You're just some broke, low-class rich guy. The people there are elite.

"Of all the people to tick off, you pick HIM? I spent two hours fixing this so they wouldn't pull the contract."

Before, I'd probably say sorry—even when it wasn't my fault.

Now? I just laughed. Cold and quiet.

Leandro Corp had a deal with her company?

Oh right... that contract.

The one expiring tomorrow.

I called my assistant.

"Pull all investment from Donna's company. I'll handle the final meeting myself. And starting now, scale down everything in Fremora. Shift operations back to Carmoria."

Leandro Corp had always been Carmoria-focused. But eight years ago, I dragged the whole company back to Fremora—our home country—just to stay close to her.

Now, I was heading back to Carmoria. For good. Out of Donna's life, permanently.

Then another text popped up.

[Let's get divorced. I'm tired.]

This time, I didn't stop her.

I replied with one word:

[Okay.]

Next morning, I woke up at eight. From my office, I heard yelling outside.

I cracked the door and glanced down—some woman in a wedding dress was proposing to a guy.

I'd stopped believing in love a long time ago. Gave it a glance and turned to head back in.

Then I heard her voice.

I was on the 31st floor. Alec's office was on 29. The three floors had been merged, but still—her voice cut through like glass.

I turned back.

Donna, decked out in white, was down on one knee, holding out a ring.

"Will you marry me?"