Before His Wedding, the Good Girl He Used Quietly Vanished Chapter 13

Before His Wedding, the Good Girl He Used Quietly Vanished Chapter 13

Someone in the audience laughed.

The moderator chuckled along, thinking it was a punchline.

Only Everett, in the front row, went completely still. His fingers curled into tight fists.

It wasn’t him.

“Coming back here, the first thing I wanted to do was thank her.”

The audience applauded.

“No one else you’d like to thank?” the moderator asked.

“No one else.”

I set the microphone back on its stand.

I gave a small bow, turned, and walked off stage.

Tessa caught me backstage, grabbing my shoulder. “That was incredible!”

“Was it?”

I smiled.

In the dressing room mirror, I caught my own reflection. Same bright, crinkled eyes. Same curved

mouth.

The same smile as always. Except this time, it was mine.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

[Meet me.]

I stared at the screen.

“Who’s that?” Tessa leaned over to look.

“No idea.” I locked my phone and set it face-down. “I’m gonna go change.”

Half an hour later, I met Blair at the café next to the venue.

She was by the window.

She’d cut her hair short. It suited her-sharper, more in control.

Two Americanos on the table.

She pushed one toward me.

“Sit.”

I sat.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“You’re the keynote.” She sipped her coffee. “They posted the lineup a week ago.”

I smiled. “I figured you’d be in the audience.”

“I didn’t need to be in the room to hear it.”

“Okay.”

She slid her phone across the table. An employment contract on the screen.

“My company needs a technical consultant. You just graduated, you’re back in Fairgrove, and the timing’s perfect.” She tilted her head. “Consider it your chance to pay me back.”

I looked at the salary figure and blinked.

“But… why me?”

“Because you’re qualified.” She nudged the phone closer. “And because… I owe you.”

I frowned. “You owe me?”

She smiled and set down her cup.

“I lied to you back then. I wasn’t pregnant. I just needed the fastest way to get you out the door.”

So that’s what this was about.

It barely mattered.

“I knew.”

I was obedient, but I wasn’t stupid.

Someone like her could have crushed me without breaking a sweat.

Instead, she’d come in person, said what she needed to say, and let me walk out on my own terms.

I was grateful she’d given me an out instead of an ultimatum.

Of course I took the exit she handed me.

“I paid to get you out of the picture. That was for me, not you.”

She leaned back. “As long as you were there, he couldn’t see anyone else. You had to go before I had any leverage. Simple as that.”

I took a sip of coffee. “You’re bringing me into your company. Aren’t you worried about putting us

back in the same room?”

“Why would I be?” She raised an eyebrow. “The marriage deal is done, the project’s launched, and I got what I came for. He doesn’t love me. I don’t love him. We’re business partners, nothing more.”

I went quiet.

She looked at me, a slight smile forming. “Hiring you is my call. You’re good, and I need someone.

Besides…”

She paused. “He’s a different person since you left. But it’s not my job to thaw him out. If you can,

he’s all yours.”

“I’m not planning on it.”

“That’s your business.” She stood and buttoned her coat. “Keep the contract. Call me when you’ve

decided.”

She left.

I sat there a while longer. Then my phone buzzed.

Blair.

[I already told him it was me who got you out.]

[And for what it’s worth, he fought the marriage deal until there was nothing left to fight. I told him

if he didn’t handle what was in front of him first, he’d never get to what actually mattered. He

agreed.]

I read it twice.

Outside, the sky was gray. The sycamores had given up the last of their leaves.

I finished my coffee.

I pulled a pen from my bag and signed the last page of the contract.

Then I added a line beneath my name.

I crossed out the salary figure and wrote in half the amount.

I didn’t need the money.

That plane ticket she’d bought me years ago was already more kindness than most people ever get.

I snapped a photo and sent it.

Her reply was instant. […Fine. Your call.]

I put my phone away.

Outside, the wind bit straight through my collar. I pulled my scarf tighter.

Tessa was waiting by the door. “What happened?”

“I just jumped ship,” I said.

“What’s the pay?”

I told her.

Her jaw dropped. Then she smacked my arm. “Have you lost your mind?”

I smiled.

“I still owe her for a plane ticket.”

The End