ty's campus glowed with a rare, golden heat. Normally, this was Caroline's sanctuary,

k, his height and that unmistakable blue-eyed charm acting like a magnetic north for every girl in the vicinity. Groups of students were "lingering"

e's closest friend and startup partner, whispered. They

aring," Caroline rep

dots. "You're staring at him with that specific look of dre

ll, parts of it. She helped Caroline manage "Scripted Hearts," and she was the one who kept the books when Caroline was too bu

's shoulder. "Before someone tries to 'help' him find the l

," Carolin

rete pillar. The lobby was a hive of activity. She saw a group o

him, she pulled out her p

whisper. "I'm going to walk past you in a second. Do not greet

a low rumble on the other end. "Wh

to those girls. They aren't trying to help you find anything; they're trying to find your In

ld hear the girls' giggles through the phone. "I feel like a frau

nd they practically melted. Caroline felt a surge of irrational heat in her chest. She close

didn't stop until they reached the edge of the campus g

he snapped, not turning

his voice closer than she expected. He had closed

u so obsessed with who walks in

. "This time, I'm in front. I don't follow, Caroline. Not even for a 'st

, his expression a mask of professional patience. As soon as the doors closed, the cool, filtere

you to be inconspicuous," she said, looking at Harrison's outfit. He was wearing a na

idn't wear a suit. I got out of the car. I stood under a tree li

n call to say y

ed you were being a diligent student. Or," his blue eye

n't hi

one shifting into something unreadable. "Is that why you're so asha

t like to be the center of gossip. My friends will make a spectacle of it. And besides, w

genuinely perplexed. He turned to th

nto traffic. "Sir, it means your attire and gene

then back at Caroline. "What? This

ine shared a syn

her temples. "Let's just focus. Steven, y

Mr. Harrison are growing impatient. They want the wedding concepts finaliz

mly. "I have a routine meeting with my s

mpted, clearly hoping his

ith only three people," Harrison grumbled. "I am thirt

," Steven muttere

onto a quiet shoulder of the road. He put the car in park a

ve work early today," Steven

replied instantly. "You h

ay, Harry," Steven said, dropp

jaw dropp

shock. "You must be confused. Harrison and I went to

ou were hi

and arrogant. I was the only one brave or stupid enough to handle him. And now, after a decade of trying to

line muttered, looking at Harrison. "And I was f

ered. "Steven loves the paycheck. Now, can we please drive? Carolin

line admitted, her outburst

enport docks. They ate in a silence that was surprisi

arrison was watching a group of students at a nearby table. They were laughing, taking selfies, and sharing a

actually want, Caroline?" Ste

oice small. "Close family. A few fr

e Marcus Group doesn't do 'simple.' There will be at least one gala for two

I'll be a widow in two years, Harrison. Why d

the flash of p

y?" he asked, his voice

in three month

for the CEO position. She was a child, yet she was running a business and facing down a d

ng into gear. "The wedding invitations.

ed it," Ste

ed Hearts' to design the

head. "No. I can'

y n

mbling. "You never design for yourself. Especial

an opportunity, Caroline. The Marcus wedding invitations will be seen by the most influential people in

team, Harrison. The others h

, what will you have left? A failed startup? Or a brand that the whole world knows? Use us, Carol

the CEO, the man who knew how to find leverage in an

thousand. For

n three hundred, and that had nearly broken her. "Two thousand 3D,

uble. Triple. Whatever it takes to hire extra hands for the assembly. Ju

e sun. She thought about her dreams, about Maya, a

voice steadying. "I'll

es

from the studio. I don't want

, dimpled smile that act