Chapter 2

Alexander' s birthday was next week.

He loved vintage astronomy charts, the older the better.

There was a small, dusty antique shop downtown that sometimes had rare prints.

So, I was in the city, dressed in old jeans and a faded t-shirt, hair hastily pulled back.

Not exactly looking like the wife of a billionaire.

The Super Bowl victory parade for Ethan' s team, the Comets, was today.

I' d forgotten, or maybe just blocked it out.

The streets were packed, a sea of cheering fans.

I tried to cut through a less crowded side street, heading for the shop.

And then I saw him.

Ethan Vance, NFL superstar, golden boy, parading on a float.

He looked bigger, more arrogant than I remembered.

His arm was around a woman, sleek and blonde, clinging to him.

Brittany Kline.

My former intern.

The one who used to fetch my coffee and then stab me in the back with office gossip.

Now, she was his fiancée, dripping in diamonds.

Fate has a cruel sense of humor.

I tried to turn, to melt into the crowd, but it was too late.

Brittany' s sharp eyes, always searching for someone to belittle, found me.

Her perfectly painted lips curled into a sneer.

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in."

Ethan followed her gaze.

His eyes, once full of love for me, now held a mixture of surprise and cold amusement.

He looked me up and down, taking in my "ordinary" appearance.

"Sarah Miller, isn't it? Long time no see."

His voice was casual, dismissive.

Like I was a distant, slightly embarrassing memory.