Flawless Prize

Ourfuture. I feel a glow. “So what happens now?”

“Now I have to mount the PR campaign of my life, and hope the board takes my side at the vote later this week.” Caleb says, looking grim.

“What about Nero?” I ask.

“That’s a matter for the feds.” Jonathan speaks up from the doorway. Caleb nods, so he enters the room. “I’ve been talking to my sources over there, and they’ve been wanting to nail him for a while. They’ll have plenty of charges to work with, so there’s a good chance at least one of them will stick.”

Caleb nods, giving me a reassuring smile. “That means you’re safe now. He won’t hurt you again.”

But still, I pause. I’d love to be sure, but something about this isn’t sitting right with me.

“Do we know for sure it was him?”

Caleb and Jonathan look at me like I’m crazy. “What are you talking about?” Caleb asks. “Of course it was Nero. He’s dangerous.”

“I know. He’s all kinds of bad news,” I agree quickly, “But this… ? I don’t know, something’s telling me it’s not his style.” I try to explain my hesitation. I’ve only met the guy a couple of times, but each time, he was direct. If a man like Nero wanted me dead, I don’t doubt for a second that I would be six feet under already.

“I mean, sending me ripped up roses and cryptic threatening notes? Running me off the road? Leaving the gas on in your apartment? It feels like someone’s playing games with me. With us. Does that seem like Nero’s style?”

“Who the hell knows what’s going on in that guy’s brain?” Caleb shrugs. “What matters is that it’s over. He’s going to answer for what he’s done.”

“But how does any of this fit into his plan?” I argue. “And how did he find us at the cabin? Nobody knew we were there—”

“It’s OK,” Caleb cuts me off, pulling me into a hug. “I know you’ve been through hell, but it’s over now. I promise. Nero will get what he deserves, and the two of us can finally move on.”

I take a deep breath. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m overthinking this.

After all, who else would go to such lengths to hurt us?

“You’re right,” I say, relaxing. “I guess I’ve just been jumping at shadows for so long, it’s hard to believe it’s really done.”

“We should celebrate,” he says, smiling at me. “Dinner at Le Bernardin?”

My eyebrows shoot up.

“Are you sure you want to?” I ask. “The rumor mill is churning, and you’re right in the middle of it. They’re going to talk even more, all around us, if we go out to one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city.”

‘We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Caleb says, looking stubborn. And I know him well enough by now to know, he’s got something to prove.

He wants to show the world he isn’t hiding.

And there’s no place I’d rather be than at his side.

I smile. “Then I’m right there with you.”

* * *

By the timewe arrive at the restaurant that evening, I’m having seconds thoughts whether this was such a good idea. The moment we step out of the car, I feel eyes on us. And not the usual glances of admiration from every woman in the room checking out Caleb, but more hostile looks. Curious. Skeptical. Wondering how many of the headlines online are true.

I squeeze Caleb’s hand tighter as we take our seats in a romantic corner booth, but he seems perfectly at ease, ordering wine and a number of plates for me to try. They come out, one after another, looking more like works of art than food—caviar, lobster, filet mignon.

“You couldn’t just settle for burgers and beer?” I tease, trying to relax.

He gives me a careful smile. “I have a reputation to uphold. A shot of us in McDonalds would send the press wild.”

That’s when I realize, he’s not relaxed at all. It’s just an act. He knows we’re being watched, too. He needs to show them all, nothing is wrong.

“We’ll have to cause a major scandal more often,” I joke, giving him a private smile. “That way, I’ll be eating every day of the week.”