inely interested or just another arrogant rich man looking for a fling, she could

e had a

Mr. Tristan. You can become my fri

triumphantly. "Progress! Great.

u'll get it-after you

. "Alright. I'll trust you with this

After all that, he still wa

she gave a half-mocking bow.

fford a bad review from a guy who clearly had money and influence. In the kitchen, she picked

id, wiping her hands. "

ays p

in the restaurant kitchen when her colleagu

o you've been forming 'not inte

ut even turning. "And that's y

ouquet of roses and a gold-rimmed

ere pristine. The chocolates, clearly impor

thank you for the delicious meal. If there's any chance-no matt

sinc

e-minute

sta

lle s

ranches. She was one of the top chefs chosen to cater

led heavenly. The chocolates-expensive. She could tell fro

ly look. "So... who

nabelle muttered. "W

ed chopping onions. But as she wo

have to do

her hands and walked o

the lot-no one. She sighed

been obsessing about

? he asked himself again as he star

im. Maybe he came on too strong. But something about her-th

he'd ac

nd phone number. "As my dad always says," Tristan murmured, "money

s and chocolates w

passed without a word,

't want t

fine. H

f in his work, just to avoid thinking about

wn Nu

lo, this is Trista

was a

ristan. It's.

art sk

"Anabelle? Wow. Honestly,

k, my boss is glaring at me and we're sw

y! Your re

ext you the address. Somewhere

before he co

nce in place before realizing a few staff were staring.

ived at the caf

, she was al

a woman had beaten him to a meeting spot

-shirt and jeans,

belle. Ho

just try to stay away from men, especially rich ones. Most of you a

ask though... What exactly is your issue wi

wish. It wasn't me-it

a moment, then bac

egnant to force their hand. She didn't want to, but he sweet-talked her. The day she found out she was pregnant, she caug

pa

ed to abort. Something went

s stomac

iv

too loud in his ear

friend had talked a

orry. That's awful. But believe

I called. You deserved at least that muc

had a little chat with your colle

hat idiot. And I guess you g

e word 'encouragement.'

e signs in at the front de

protocols," he said,

he gifts. The flowers smelled amazing. And those chocolates? I loo

as caught

as di

etically

iked

cated. Just... give me a chance. Let me prove that n

him for a long be

an. But just fr

ip. He didn't care how long it too

s how i

later, he a

ag

ace. The kind of peace he'd never fo

ound A

father warned her to let him be. F

ragedy

aurant. The police botched the hostage situation, and

bbers

was sh

ing everyone. He moved out of his luxury condo to a remote neighborhood. Became a recluse. The

use-except to collect

day, he st

saw

st like her-holding a pi

d, heart

ediately after she left. "Who

mith," cam

smi

ervice, sent a generous tip-and immed

woman named Jessica Sm

er, he had

other. She needed $500,00

at-Tristan began