In her high-rise apartment, Cynthia Sharpe sat on the floor, surrounded by envelopes. They were the stolen prototypes for William and Sophie’s engagement party invitations. She held a lighter, ready to burn the edges–a petty act of sabotage intended to delay the mail-out.
“Is this what it’s come to?”
Jaxson Vane stood in the doorway, his tie loosened. He looked at the lighter, then at Cynthia, with a mixture of pity and exhaustion.
“I’m just tweaking the design,” Cynthia lied, though her hand shook.
“You’re obsessed,” Jaxson said, walking over and snatching the lighter from her. “He’s getting married, Cynthia. He moved on. Why can’t you?”
“Because he ruined me!” she screamed, the tears finally spilling over.
Jaxson grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “He didn’t ruin you. You’re ruining yourself. And I’m tired of watching it.”
He locked eyes with her, offering her the first real ultimatum of her life. “You can have your revenge, Cynthia. You can chase a man who doesn’t see you. Or… you can have me. But you can’t have both.”
Cynthia looked at Jaxson–the man who had bailed her out, clothed her, and seen her at her worst. For the first time, the fire for revenge flickered and dimmed.