Updated Nov 23, 2025 • ~11 min read
I showed up at Jeremy’s apartment at midnight.
He opened the door in sweatpants and a t-shirt, eyes red like he’d been crying or drinking or both.
“Rose—”
“I believe you.”
He froze. “What?”
“I believe you. About Victoria. About the summit. About everything.” I stepped inside. “My gut says you’re telling the truth. So I’m choosing to trust that.”
“Rose—” His voice cracked.
“But I need you to understand something. If you’re lying, if I find out you played me, I won’t give you another chance. This is it. Last shot. You get that?”
“I get it.” He pulled me into his arms. “Thank you. For trusting me. I know how hard that is.”
I buried my face in his chest. “Why would she lie? What does she gain?”
“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.” His arms tightened. “No one threatens what we’re building. No one.”
The possessive edge should have bothered me. Instead, it made me feel safe.
We stood in his entryway, holding each other, until my phone rang.
Unknown number. Again.
I answered on speaker. “What do you want, Victoria?”
“Oh good, he’s there. Perfect.” Her voice dripped venom. “Tell me, Jeremy—have you told her about the contract yet?”
Jeremy’s expression went blank. “What contract?”
“Don’t play dumb. The Patterson Technologies acquisition deal. The one where you need a stable public image. Married looks better than divorced, doesn’t it? Especially to conservative investors.”
My stomach dropped. “What is she talking about?”
“I don’t know—”
“The merger with Donovan Industries,” Victoria continued. “Worth eight hundred million. But Donovan’s old-school. Family values. They specifically requested leadership with solid marriages. Ironic, isn’t it? Reconciling with your wife right when you need her for optics.”
I stepped back from Jeremy. “Is that true?”
“There is a potential acquisition. But that’s not why—”
“When did it start? The negotiations?”
His silence was damning.
“Four months ago,” Victoria supplied helpfully. “Right around when Jeremy started getting his ducks in a row. Interesting timing.”
I stared at him. “Four months? You’ve known about this deal for four months?”
“Rose, it’s not what you think—”
“Did you reconcile with me for a business deal?”
“No! God, no. I showed up because I couldn’t stand you marrying someone else. The acquisition is separate—”
“But convenient! She’s right—married looks better. More stable. Better for your image.”
“That’s not why I came back!”
“How do I know? How do I ever know with you?” I grabbed my bag. “You talk about honesty, but you’ve been hiding this massive deal that directly benefits from us being together!”
“I wasn’t hiding it! It just didn’t seem relevant—”
“Eight hundred million dollars isn’t relevant?”
Victoria’s laugh echoed through the speaker. “I’ll let you two sort this out. But Roselyn? You should know—I dated him during his last big acquisition. The second the deal closed, he stopped trying. Stopped pretending. Showed his true workaholic colors. Good luck.”
She hung up.
The silence was devastating.
“Tell me the truth,” I said quietly. “All of it. Does this acquisition benefit from us being married?”
“Yes.”
The honest answer somehow hurt more than a lie would have.
“But that’s not why I want this,” he continued. “Rose, I’d walk away from the entire deal if it meant keeping you.”
“Would you? Because four months ago you knew this was coming. And three weeks ago you showed up with unsigned papers. That’s awfully coincidental.”
“I didn’t even know about the marriage requirement until six weeks ago! I’d already decided to fight for you before that came up!”
“But once you knew, it gave you extra motivation. Admit it—part of why you’re trying so hard is because failing means losing both me and eight hundred million dollars.”
“That’s not fair—”
“Isn’t it? You’re asking me to trust you while hiding massive conflicts of interest!”
“I wasn’t hiding it! I just didn’t want you to think—” He stopped.
“Didn’t want me to think what? That you’re using me? That this whole romance is strategic?”
“No! Rose, I love you. The acquisition is business. You’re everything.”
“Then prove it. Walk away from the deal.”
He stared. “What?”
“If I matter more than eight hundred million dollars, walk away. Choose me over the business. Like you should have five years ago.”
“Rose, that’s not fair. I have investors, employees, obligations—”
“Exactly. You always have obligations that matter more than me.” I headed for the door. “This was a mistake. I should have trusted my instincts.”
“Your instincts tell you I love you!”
“My instincts tell me I’m the consolation prize! The wife who’s convenient for optics!” I yanked open the door. “I’m done, Jeremy. For real this time.”
“Rose, wait—”
“No. I’ve waited enough. For you to choose me, to prioritize me, to prove I matter.” Tears streamed down my face. “And you can’t. Even now, you can’t walk away from a business deal for me.”
“That’s not a fair test!”
“Life isn’t fair! And I’m tired of coming second to Patterson Technologies!” I stepped into the hallway. “Sign the papers. I’m done.”
I left him standing in his doorway and didn’t look back.
At home, I fell apart.
Julie showed up at one a.m., summoned by my incoherent texts.
“Tell me everything.”
I did. The acquisition, Victoria’s reveal, my ultimatum, Jeremy’s hesitation.
“You asked him to walk away from eight hundred million?” Julie looked impressed. “Ballsy.”
“Stupid, you mean.”
“No. Necessary.” She squeezed my hand. “You needed to know if you’re really his priority. And he couldn’t answer.”
“Because it’s an impossible question! Who walks away from eight hundred million dollars?”
“Someone who loves you more than money.” Julie poured wine. “Rose, I know you wanted different. But he showed you who he is. Business first, you second. That hasn’t changed.”
“But maybe I’m being unreasonable. Maybe I should understand that business is complicated—”
“No. Stop. You’re allowed to want to be someone’s first choice. That’s not unreasonable. That’s basic human need.” She handed me wine. “Jeremy’s a good man. But he’s not your man. Not if he can’t put you first when it matters.”
My phone buzzed. Jeremy.
I called Donovan Industries. Told them I’m withdrawing from acquisition talks.
My heart stopped.
What?
You’re right. I keep saying you matter most, but I wasn’t proving it. So I proved it. The deal’s dead. You win.
Jeremy—
Don’t. I’m not mad. You were right to test me. And I failed initially. But I’m fixing it. You matter more than any amount of money. I should have said that immediately instead of hesitating.
You just walked away from eight hundred million dollars
I walked toward you. Big difference.
Julie read over my shoulder. “Holy shit.”
“He actually did it,” I whispered.
“Yeah. He did.” She looked stunned. “That’s either the most romantic thing ever or the stupidest business decision in history.”
My phone rang. Jeremy.
I answered.
“You’re insane,” I said.
“Probably. But I meant what I said. You matter more.” His voice was rough. “I spent five years choosing wrong. I’m not doing it again.”
“What about your investors? Your employees?”
“I’ll figure it out. Patterson Technologies existed before Donovan. It’ll survive without them.”
“Jeremy—”
“Don’t talk me out of this. I made my choice. I’m choosing you. Over money, over business, over everything.” He paused. “Come back. Please. Let me prove this is real.”
I looked at Julie. She shrugged. “Your call.”
“Give me an hour,” I said.
“I’ll be here.”
I hung up. Stared at my phone.
“What are you going to do?” Julie asked.
“I don’t know. Part of me thinks he’s crazy for walking away from that much money. Part of me is terrified he’ll resent me for it. And part of me—” I stopped.
“Part of you is relieved he finally chose you first?”
“Yeah.”
“Then go. But Rose? Keep your eyes open. Make sure this isn’t just another grand gesture that fades when reality hits.”
An hour later, I stood outside Jeremy’s apartment again.
He opened the door immediately, like he’d been waiting.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I said.
“But you are.”
“You shouldn’t have walked away from that deal.”
“But I did.”
“What if you regret it? What if you resent me?”
“I won’t.” He stepped aside, let me in. “Rose, that deal would have made me richer. But I’m already rich. What I’m not is happy. And I’m never happy without you.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.”
“That’s the truth.” He closed the door. “Ask me anything. About Victoria, the acquisition, any of it. I’ll answer honestly.”
“Did you know about the marriage requirement when you showed up with unsigned papers?”
“No. I found out two weeks later. After we’d already started therapy.”
“And you didn’t tell me because…?”
“Because I knew you’d react exactly like this. You’d assume that’s why I wanted reconciliation. And it’s not.” He moved closer. “I wanted you back before I knew marriage helped the acquisition. After I knew, I worried that telling you would poison everything. So I kept it separate. That was wrong. I should have told you immediately.”
“Yeah. You should have.”
“I’m sorry. For that and for hesitating when you asked me to walk away. The right answer was ‘done’ with zero pause. I’ll do better.”
I searched his face. “What happens now? Without the Donovan deal?”
“We pivot. Find other opportunities. Patterson Technologies is successful without them. We’ll be fine.”
“And if we’re not? If this tanks your company?”
“Then I’ll rebuild. I’ve done it before.” He cupped my face. “I can make money, Rose. I’m good at it. But I can’t make another you. There’s only one. And I’m not losing her again for any amount of zeros in a bank account.”
“This is insane.”
“Yeah. But it’s also the sanest thing I’ve ever done.” He kissed my forehead. “Stay. Tonight. Tomorrow. However long you’ll give me.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too. But we’re scared together. That has to count for something.”
I let him pull me to the couch. We sat in silence, processing everything.
“Victoria’s a piece of work,” I finally said.
“Agreed. I’m having my lawyer send a cease and desist. If she contacts either of us again, we’ll pursue harassment charges.”
“Very civilized.”
“I learned from the best.” His smile was soft. “You always were better at handling conflict maturely. I’m trying to catch up.”
We fell asleep on the couch again, tangled together.
When I woke in the morning, he was already up, making breakfast.
“I could get used to this,” I said.
“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
My phone buzzed. Eric, my boss.
Henderson contract just expanded. They want year-long partnership. Meeting Monday to discuss. Great work.
I showed Jeremy. “Looks like at least one business deal is working out.”
“See? You’re good luck.” He handed me coffee. “And for what it’s worth, I’m glad Henderson’s expanding. You earned this.”
“We earned it. Your insights made that campaign.”
“Partnership. I like the sound of that.” He leaned against the counter. “So, where do we go from here?”
“Forward. Carefully. With open communication and no more secret business deals.”
“Agreed. Anything else?”
I thought about it. “Move in with me.”
He nearly dropped his coffee mug. “What?”
“We’ve been doing this dance for weeks. Separate homes, careful boundaries. But I’m tired of you leaving. Tired of wondering. So move in. If we’re doing this, let’s actually do it.”
“Rose—”
“Unless you’re not ready—”
“I’m absolutely ready. I’m just shocked you are.”
“I’m probably not. But I’m doing it anyway.” I smiled. “Fair warning though: I’m a bed hog.”
“I remember. I’m willing to make sacrifices.” He pulled me into his arms. “When?”
“This weekend? Unless that’s too fast.”
“That’s perfect. I’ll pack today.”
We stood in his kitchen, holding each other, choosing to leap together instead of playing it safe.
It was terrifying and exhilarating and possibly the best decision I’d ever made.
Or the biggest mistake.
Only time would tell.
Reader Reactions