Chapter 3

Three days after I resigned, my mother told me she had set me up on a date.

“He is the oldest son of the Sterling family. He is successful and has a very good reputation.”

She hesitated before continuing.

“You cannot stay hung up on Adrian forever. Besides, he is about to become your brother-in-law.”

I was going to refuse.

I had just died once. I was in no hurry to start another relationship.

At that moment, Vivian walked in with her arm wrapped around Adrian’s.

When she heard our conversation, she looked at him with concern.

“Adrian, do you think Claire is refusing the date because she still has feelings for you?”

Adrian glanced at me.

“Of course she will refuse.”

“She has chased me for years. She is not going to become interested in someone else overnight.”

“Quitting her job and pretending to move on are part of the same act. She is waiting for me to go after her.”

I was silent for two seconds before looking at my mother.

“All right. Send me the time and address.”

Adrian frowned.

“Claire, you do not need to date some random man just to make me jealous.”

“You are giving yourself too much credit,” I said calmly. “I think meeting someone new could be good for me.”

Adrian gave a cold laugh.

“Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep pretending.”

The next afternoon, I arrived at the restaurant on time.

The man was already there.

He wore a well-fitted black suit and carried himself with quiet confidence.

He stood when he saw me.

“Claire Bennett?”

“I am Julian Sterling.”

I sat across from him.

My eyes moved to his cuff.

A silver compass cuff link caught the light.

I froze.

It was the same cuff link I had seen before passing out on the cruise ship.

“Were you the one who helped me that night?”

Julian glanced at his cuff.

“You remember.”

“I saw you collapse on the deck, so I took you to the medical center.”

He was also the man who had stayed until my fever went down.

I thanked him sincerely.

Julian did not make a big deal of it.

“Anyone would have helped.”

Knowing he was the man who had saved me made him feel less like a stranger.

We had an easy conversation and enjoyed the rest of the meal.

When we left, Julian opened the car door for me.

“So, what did you think of the date?”

I smiled.

“I would not mind seeing you again.”

I did not expect to see him again only two days later.

After leaving Cole Group, I officially returned to photography under the name C. Vale.

Very few people knew that I was C. Vale.

Before I became Adrian’s assistant, my work had appeared on the covers of major international magazines. I had also won several international photography awards.

One of my ocean collections had sold to a private collector for seven figures.

Five years earlier, I had turned down every long-term project so I could stay close to Adrian. I also stopped releasing new work.

The public believed C. Vale had left the industry for good.

As soon as news of my return became public, offers from major brands and art organizations filled my inbox.

In the end, I accepted a global visual campaign from Sterling Group. They had been trying to work with me for three years.

Julian was sitting at the head of the table when I entered the project meeting.

Surprise crossed his face.

“So you are C. Vale.”

I had not expected my blind date to become my new business partner either.

For the next two weeks, Julian and I worked together almost every day.

He respected every decision I made during the shoots.

He never used his position to interfere with my work. He also never treated me as a woman who needed to depend on him.

When I was with him, I did not have to please him or watch his mood every second.

Meanwhile, things were not going well for Adrian.

After I resigned, he hired a new assistant.

During an important business meeting, she brought him the wrong version of a contract.

Adrian sent me a message immediately.

“Send me the final version of the contract.”

I read it and refused.

“I transferred all files before I left. My system access has also been removed.”

“Please contact your new assistant.”

I could feel his anger through the screen.

“Claire, you know how important this meeting is. What is the point of refusing to send me the contract?”

It was no longer my problem.

I blocked his number.

I later heard that the meeting had ended badly.

That had never happened when I worked for him.

I knew what he needed for every business trip. I knew what he drank when he could not sleep and which medicine he took when his stomach hurt.

I knew his needs better than he did.

I also checked every document myself before placing it on his desk.

Over time, Adrian had become used to me handling everything for him.

He was also used to believing that I would never leave or refuse anything he asked of me.

On the day we completed the first stage of the project, Julian drove me home.

He stopped outside the Bennett house but did not open the door right away.

“Claire, would you be my girlfriend?”

I looked at him.

After spending the past two weeks together, I knew he was interested in me.

He had never pressured me.

He had also never expected anything from me because he had saved me on the cruise ship.

He gave me respect and patience.

Adrian had never given me either of those things during the five years I stayed by his side.

I did not hesitate.

“Yes, I would.”