Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO KNEW MY REAL REPUTATION
Miles stopped smiling.
That was how I knew the message mattered.
He excused himself from the table and disappeared into the hallway.
Nora leaned toward me.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“That is not reassuring.”
I looked toward the doorway.
Miles had taken his phone out.
He was speaking quietly.
Watching me.
“Your friend recognized me.”
Nora frowned.
“From the newspaper?”
“Possibly.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
I reached for my water.
“It means Charleston is smaller than people think.”
Before she could ask again, Diane clinked a spoon against her glass.
Everyone turned.
“We’re here to celebrate Mother’s seventy-fifth birthday.”
Applause filled the room.
Eleanor smiled.
Then Diane continued.
“And I also have another announcement.”
Nora stiffened beside me.
Miles returned.
His confidence had come back.
That concerned me more than his fear.
Diane smiled toward him.
“Bennett Events has officially entered a strategic partnership with Harper Hospitality.”
Nora went still.
I looked toward her.
“What?”
She whispered:
“Miles’s family owns hotels.”
Diane continued.
“The agreement will allow both companies to expand throughout the Southeast.”
Everyone applauded again.
Except Nora.
Then Miles stood.
He looked directly at her.
“And I hope it will also bring our families even closer.”
Nora’s jaw tightened.
Eleanor muttered:
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Miles reached into his jacket.
Nora froze.
So did I.
He pulled out a small velvet box.
Her mother actually gasped with delight.
Nora whispered:
“No.”
Miles stepped toward her.
“Nora, before you say anything—”
“She already has a boyfriend.”
The room went silent.
Everyone looked at me.
Miles’s eyes hardened.
“This is between Nora and me.”
“No,” Nora said.
His expression changed.
She stood.
“This is between you and the fantasy everyone else built around me.”
Diane stared.
“Nora!”
“No, Mom.”
Her hands were shaking.
But she kept going.
“I don’t want to marry Miles.”
Miles closed the ring box.
“Nora, we’ve discussed this.”
“You discussed it.”
“I’ve been patient.”
The phrase bothered me.
Patient.
As if Nora were a decision he was waiting to win.
Then Nora said:
“And I don’t want Bennett Events either.”
Silence crashed through the room.
Diane’s face went white.
“What did you say?”
Nora swallowed.
“I’m leaving the company.”
Her mother laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because she genuinely thought Nora had lost her mind.
“To do what?”
Nora looked toward Eleanor.
Her grandmother nodded once.
Then Nora lifted her chin.
“I’m opening a bakery.”
Several relatives actually laughed.
Miles didn’t.
He stared at Nora in a way I didn’t like.
Then Diane said:
“You are throwing away a seven-figure future to bake cupcakes?”
Nora’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Her mother shook her head.
“No. Absolutely not.”
I felt Nora’s fingers brush mine beneath the table.
I took her hand.
Not because of the fake relationship.
Because she was trembling.
Diane saw.
Her expression hardened.
Then Miles looked at me.
“You have no idea what you just stepped into.”
I met his gaze.
“I’m beginning to.”
He smiled coldly.
“No, Mr. Cole.”
My pulse slowed.
He knew.
Then he said:
“But I think Nora should ask why Charleston’s most feared dock operator agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend for a thousand dollars.”
The room went completely silent.
May you like
Nora slowly turned toward me.
“What did he just call you?”
