ept moving, the sea breeze cold against my face. My tuxedo

My best man. My parents. Friends. I ign

w. A black car, a discreet luxury sedan, pulled up outside. A man in a tailored su

for the Ha

spectful. "Mr. Hayes sends his regar

ing empire on the West Coast had been trying to finalize a major logistics partnership wi

d of the will to

with a view of the entire city. Arthur Hayes, a man in his late sixt

A world-renowned neurosurgeon. A genius. We' d met a few times at social func

h pity, but with a kind of ca

voice direct. "I heard what hap

. There was n

er," he continued, getting straight to the point. "An alliance betwe

"What happened today was a public embarrassment.

," I said, my

opportunity," he said.

"I am not a person who believes in romantic fairy tales. I believe i

at her,

ation of today. You need a new narrative. I need a partner who understands my dedication to

eath. "Marry

This was insane. A business transacti

ger of two great families. It will completely overshadow the news of today. You will not be t

d. It was

exactly wha

her pathetic, loyal dog. She

g on. It was an ascent. It was a definitive

n her eyes. Only clarity. A proposal as

y,"

hat on

perhaps-in her eyes. "Good. Then it' s settl

clean. So far away from the messy, hum