Chapter 8
on one dud when
Hailey was on fire as she continued, “Chase? That loser’s nothing. Brynn, don’t you dare waste your life on one there’s a whole world of options out there.”
“And for the love of God, don’t revenge–marry some nobody just to stick it to that idiot” she yelled.
Random nobody? Brynn gulped, heat crawling up her neck.
She caught Dominic’s quick side–eye–half–smirking, half–something else and froze like a rabbit in a spotlight.
Her gut was screaming to shut Hailey down before this got uglier.
Gripping the phone harder, she jumped in the second Hailey took a breath.
Tve already got the license,” she blurted. “And my new husband? He’s smoking hot.”
She stole a glance at Dominic. His face didn’t flinch–just kept driving, smooth as ever.
“Like… a million times hotter than Chase,” she added, leaning into it.
Dominic’s lips quirked up, just a tiny smirk.
Brynn let out a soft breath, tension easing off her shoulders. One crisis handled–now for the next.
Hailey wasn’t sold, though. She huffed loud enough to rattle the phone.
Hailey wasn’t sold, though. She huffed loud enough to rattle the phone.
“Girl,” she argued, “I hate Chase as much as you, but let’s keep it real–he’s not a troll. A million times hotter? What, did this guy hypnotize you or something?”
Brynn’s mouth twitched. Okay, maybe she’d overdone it, but Dominic was hands–down better–looking than
Chase.
She frowned, bristling. “Hailey, why would I make it up? If he wasn’t a total stud, you think I’d sprint to lock it down?”
Hailey started to argue, then stopped herself. The license was real, after all.
She sighed, giving in, “Alright, alright, I’ll trust you on this. But when I’m back, you’re hauling this mystery guy out to meet me. I’ve got to check him out, make sure he’s for real.”
“Done. Swear it,” Brynn said fast, nodding even though Hailey couldn’t see.
“Brynn, listen up, Hailey’s voice dropped, getting soft and a little shaky. “I don’t care if you’re some Everett family hotshot or whose daughter you are–you’re my girl, forever. Something’s up, you spill it to me, okay?”
Brynn’s heart went gooey.
“Yeah, I know,” she said, voice warm.
“And if this discount husband of yours ever messes up, kick him to the curb. Don’t stress it–I’ve gorur back. Always your backup plan,” Hailey said, fierce and solid as a rock.
Brynn’s eyes got watery, a knot tightening in her throat. A friend like Hailey? That was gold–worth everything.
“No more yapping–I’m off to the bowling alley going to slap Chase and Kylie’s names on those pins and smash them into next month,” Hailey snarled, all grit and rage.
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Chapter 8
With that, she hung up fast, the line dropping to a flat beep–beep.
Brynn couldn’t hold it in–a laugh slipped out, her mouth curling up even with the tears.
“No divorce.” Dominic’s voice cut through the quiet, smooth and sudden.
Brynn blinked, caught off guard “Huh?”
“As long as you don’t regret it…” Dominic held her stare, something heavy and hard to read flashing in his eyes, this marriage is solid. For good.”
The house Dominic had lined up was a cute little spot, tucked away from the noise. Quiet, chill–a real hideaway.
He pulled up to the curb, dropped her off with a quick line about an errand, and took off, leaving her on her own.
Inside, it was clean and cozy, feeling warm right away. Brynn pushed the door open and stepped in, dragging her suitcase behind her.
“As long as you don’t regret it… this marriage stands. Forever.” His words from the car kept replaying, popping up uninvited.
“Pull it together, Brynn. Guys toss out lines like that all the time–don’t fall for it, she mumbled, shaking her head like she could shake him out of her brain.
Hauling her suitcase upstairs, she unpacked slow and steady.
By the time she was done.
done, her nerves had calmed down. She plopped onto the bed’s edge, letting out a long, tired breath
“Brrrt–brm.” Her phone buzzed, busting up the peace..
She’d just leaned back to chill when it went off again.
Frowning, she checked the screen. Her assistant.
Brynn paused for a second–two, tops–then hit answer.
“Ma’am, there’s… uh, something, the assistant said, stumbling over her words, like she was dodging a bomb.
Brynn kept her cool, not even flinching. Just say it. I can take it.”
“Mr. Everett called the board. He’s pushing to give your VP gig to Kylie,” the assistant said, careful but quick.
Then quieter, he went on. “And starting today, he’s already handed her that Suncrest Group deal you’ve been working on.”
Brynn’s frown got deeper. She’d seen this coming–had prepped for it—but not this soon.
She’d barely ditched the wedding, and Randy was already jumping to shove her out.
Her face tightened, a cold ache settling in her chest. Cold–blooded doesn’t even cut it.
“I’m so mad for you,” the assistant went on, her voice firing up. “This project–you put everything We all watched you grind
[your] win
“You were this close to sealing it, and now they’re just giving it to her? It’s garbage–she’s snagging y
The assistant’s anger kicked up with every word. She’d been with Brynn forever, knew how good she was, knew how much she’d poured into the company.
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15:13 Tue, 8 Apr A.
Chapter 8
Randy pulling this–damping her the minste the wasn’t his golden girl–lt her sp
Trx messed up” she spat, practically shaking through the phone
“The contract signing s tomorrow, yeah!” Brynn asked, her voice steady as the leaned against
Next to her assistant’s heat. Brynn was pure ice–cool, almost checked out. Maybe numb
A tired little pull dragged at her, deep down
“Yeah,” the assistant muttered, a faint nod coming through the phone.
Brynn sucked in a deep breath, her face turning stone–cold. TII hit the office tomorrow”
headboard
They thought they could just waltz in and grab her project with nothing but smoke and mirror! Brynn let out a quick, sour laugh. Good hack. They’d need jaws of iron to bite through what she’d put together.
By the time Dominic pulled into Evergreen Valley, the sky was going dark fast. He checked his watch–past sevens already.
Evergreen Valley was Oceanfront’s shiny prize, a gated chunk of heaven where the super–rich flexed their wealth.
Security was locked down tight: patrols all day and night, fancy tech eyeballing every corner. Dominic rolled the car up to
the curb.
It wasn’t just security either–think posh clubhouses with pools, private cigar rooms, the works. He took in the perfect lawns and sleek vibes as he stepped out.
This place wasn’t just a neighborhood; it was a brag
And in Evergreen Valley, money alone didn’t get you in–you needed juice.
“Dude, you’re killing me. We said six. What’s this–fashionably late! Declan Harper’s voice oozed fake annoyance as he sprawled in the courtyard, kicked back in a chair.
He clocked Dominic stepping out of the car and couldn’t help the dig.
A table sat between them, loaded with plates that’d been swapped out a few times, the smell of fancy food still hanging in the
air
Dominic raised an eyebrow, dropping into the chair across from him like it was no big deal.
I’ll owe you–tequila, Ley 925, next round,” he said, smooth as ever.
Declan’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas. “Well, hell yeah! You ditch me once, and I’m scoring a million–dollar bottle? Deal. Next time, blow me off again–go big, like an Islay Scotch. Double it.”
Dominic gave
him a blank stare.
Declan was a cheeky mess–always had been.
“Alright, cut the crap. How’d that wedding go?” Declan took a gulp from his drink, leaning in with a grin like he was starving for the dirt. “The president rolling in? Bet the Johnsons damn near fainted, right?”
He was already cracking up, imagining it–stuffy family types clutching their collars, totally lost.
Dominic’s eyes went fat. “If you weren’t my buddy. I’d have you tossed in a padded cell”
“You’d miss me too much,” Declan fired back, laughing, then narrowed his eyes, curious. “Hang on. Chase isn’t even on your radar–why’d you drag yourself out here for his wedding?”
15:13 Tue, 8 Apr NA.
Chapter 8
“Who said I was there for the wedding?” Dominic replied, his voice easy but sharp.
Declan blinked, “What?”
His face scrunched, gears grinding. “Not the wedding? Then why the hell were you there?”
Then it clicked–his eyes went huge. “No way. Was it for that- His voice jumped, shocked. “Nah.” Dominic shut him down, cool as ice, then dropped the hammer- “I was there to crash it.”
Declan’s jaw hit the floor. “What?”
It landed like a slap. He sat there, dazed, brain shorting out.
Stealing the bride? -No way he heard that right.
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