Emily POV

"Emily!" Gracie's voice snapped me out of my shocked daze.

"Oh-yes. Mr. Callaghan," I said, quickly slipping back into professional mode. "It's nice to finally meet you."

I stepped forward and extended my hand. He stared at it for a second before a slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. He took my hand, but instead of shaking it, he lifted it to his mouth and brushed a kiss across my knuckles.

"Nice to meet you too, Miss Wilburn," he murmured, his eyes locked on mine.

I yanked my hand back as if burned.

Before I could recover, our boss, Rose, swept into the room with a bright smile. "Mr. Callaghan! Welcome." She pulled him into a quick hug while Gracie leaned toward me.

"Look at her," she whispered. "Operation: Get a Husband has officially begun."

I couldn't even laugh. My mind was spiraling. What if he recognizes me? What if he refuses the contract because of what I did earlier? I had shoved him. Called him arrogant. Thrown money in his face. This could ruin everything.

"Shall we begin?" Rose said, giving me a pointed look.

I swallowed hard and started the presentation, doing my best to sound confident. I deliberately skipped the dance segment. There was no way I was going to dance in front of him after everything that happened this morning.

When I finished, the room fell silent. All eyes turned to Cade Callaghan.

"What do you think, Mr. Callaghan?" Rose asked eagerly.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing as it settled on me. "The concept is meant to improve the image of my company. I won't lie - I've seen many proposals from other agencies." He paused. "And honestly, they were much better than this."

My stomach dropped.

"But we poured everything into this," Gracie protested.

"Your best isn't good enough," he said flatly, rising to his feet. "I'm sorry, but I'll be choosing a different agency."

"Mr. Callaghan, please-" Rose began, desperation creeping into her voice. "Can't you give us another chance?"

"Once I'm done with something-or someone-I don't go back." His eyes flicked to me as he said it. "Have a lovely day."

He walked out with his secretary, leaving heavy silence behind.

"That was our only real shot," Rose said, collapsing into a chair.

"We really did our best..." Gracie added quietly.

Michael sighed. "I guess we'll have to let this one go."

Guilt twisted sharply in my chest. This was my fault. Because of my temper this morning, we had just lost the biggest contract our agency had ever been offered.

I couldn't let it end like this.

"We're not losing this contract," I declared.

Before anyone could stop me, I ran out of the room, took the elevator down, and sprinted outside. Cade was just about to step into his sleek black car.

"Wait!" I called, grabbing his arm.

He turned, eyebrows raised. "What now?"

"I need to talk to you. Please."

"I've already said everything I need to say. There's nothing left to discuss." He gently pulled his arm free.

"Please, Mr. Callaghan. Just give me a minute."

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. What do you want?"

"The presentation was good. My team and I worked extremely hard on it. Please don't reject it because of what happened earlier this morning."

"And why would I do that?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Because... I'm sorry," I forced out. "I'm sorry for shoving you and being so rude. I was stressed and I lost my temper."

A smirk tugged at his lips. "My decision has nothing to do with that little tantrum, Miss Wilburn. I simply don't think your agency is up to my standard."

"Then give us another chance," I begged. "Let us prepare a new presentation. I promise we won't disappoint you."

He shook his head. "You're wasting both our time. You're off the list."

"Please-"

"Sorry, Miss Wilburn. My decision is final."

He slid into the car and it pulled away, leaving me standing on the sidewalk, watching my mistake drive off with our future.

Cade POV

"Welcome back, sir," my secretary greeted me as I entered the office.

"Any messages?"

"Your mother called. Also... Miss Jessica is waiting in your office."

I frowned. "Why is she here?"

"She said you were expecting her."

I exhaled sharply and headed to my office. The moment I stepped inside, Jessica rushed forward and threw her arms around me.

"My love, you're back," she purred.

I pushed her away. "Why are you here, Jessica?"

"I received your flowers and letter yesterday," she said, ignoring my cold tone. "I'm not accepting them. I won't let you end things."

"I was very clear from the beginning," I replied, moving behind my desk. "This was never going to be permanent. I don't do relationships. Only pleasure."

"Because of her, right?" Jessica's voice turned bitter. "That girl on the island you're supposed to marry."

"I've been honest with you. Don't make this messy."

"We can keep things exactly as they are," she pleaded, stepping closer. "You can have your island girl and still keep me as your mistress. She doesn't have to know."

"Would you be happy if the same thing was done to you?" I asked, anger rising.

"This isn't about me!"

I shook my head. "Your time is up, Jessica. Thank you for the months we shared."

That finally broke her.

"You bastard!" she screamed. "They were right about you. I should've never gotten involved with a heartless womanizer like you!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," I said calmly. "We both know you were only here for the money and the lifestyle."

She hurled one final insult before storming out and slamming the door.

I leaned back in my chair with a satisfied sigh. One mistress gone.

My phone rang.

"Sir, Miss Wilburn is here to see you," my secretary said.

A slow, intrigued smile spread across my face.

"Tell her to come in."

Cade POV

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring down at the bustling streets of Los Angeles, waiting for her.

Why did she follow me all the way here?

Most likely to beg for the contract. Their presentation wasn't terrible, but I had rejected it anyway - partly because of her little outburst this morning, and partly because something about it still felt... incomplete.

A soft knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Emily Wilburn stepped inside, still wearing the same simple white shirt and black trousers from earlier. Even without a trace of heavy makeup, she was striking. Beautiful, actually. With the right styling, she would be stunning.

"Have a seat, Miss Wilburn."

She sat down cautiously while I remained standing, studying her.

"You chased after me the moment I left your office," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.

"I had to. I couldn't just let it go." Her voice was steady, determined.

"You seemed ready to accept my decision earlier. What changed?"

"My family. My colleagues. My job." She met my gaze head-on. "I came here because I need you to give us another chance."

I raised an eyebrow. "After presenting something I didn't like, what makes you think I'll change my mind?"

"Because I believe you're a fair person, Mr. Callaghan."

I laughed outright. "Fair? You really think I'm fair?"

"I'm usually a good judge of character."

"You judged wrong this time," I said, stepping closer. "I'm not fair, Miss Wilburn. When I want something, I play dirty. Very dirty."

"Dirty as in... illegal?" she asked carefully.

"No. I play dirty, but I stay clean. Legally speaking."

That earned me the first real smile I'd seen from her. It transformed her face.

"What can I do to get that second chance?" she asked suddenly.

I tilted my head, intrigued. She has no idea how dangerous that question is when asked to a man like me.

"I didn't mean I'd sleep with you," she added quickly, as if reading my thoughts. "That's the last thing I'd ever do."

Her blunt rejection stung more than I cared to admit. Women usually threw themselves at me. Why was she so different?

I was about to respond when my secretary barged in without knocking.

"I'm sorry, sir, but your mother is on the line. She said if you don't take her call, she'll catch the next available flight here."

Knowing my mother never bluffed, I picked up the phone.

"Hello, Mom."

"Finally! Your secretary had to threaten me before you answered?"

"I'm in an important meeting right now-"

"Don't you dare hang up. This is important too," she cut in. "You need to come home. Your bride is tired of waiting."

"I'm not ready."

"Why not? It's been three years since you put a ring on her finger! You barely visit the island, and when you do, you treat her like a stranger."

"Because I don't want her!" I snapped, forgetting Emily was still sitting there. "You've always known that."

"That girl's father gave you his kidney when you were dying. He paid for your education. He made you the man you are today. And you can't even fulfill one simple request?" My mother's voice rose with anger.

"I'm grateful to him. I respect him like my own father, but-"

"But nothing, Cade! Get to the island and do your duty. Marry Isabel."

I clenched the phone tighter. "I have a reason, Mom. I'm in love with someone else. I found her... and she changed me. I'm going to marry her. And as soon as possible, I'll bring her to the island with me."

"You're lying!" my mother screamed. "You've always said you'd never fall in love. I won't allow this, Cade. I will not let you marry someone unworthy of the Callaghan name!"

"Do whatever you want. I don't give a damn."

I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the desk. Only then did I remember I wasn't alone.

Emily was watching me with wide eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Were you listening to my conversation?" I growled.

"I'm sorry. You didn't ask me to leave, so I stayed. But I can pretend I heard nothing. I'm very good at that."

Her words barely registered. I was still replaying what I had told my mother in anger.

I'm in love with someone else... I'm going to marry her... I'll bring her to the island.

Shit.

I had just created a massive problem for myself. I was heading back to the island in a few days. If I showed up without a fiancée, my mother and Isabel's father would force the marriage I'd been avoiding for years.

I looked at Emily again.

Why not her?

She was beautiful, feisty, and currently desperate for something only I could give her.

"Have a seat, Emily," I said, my voice calmer now. "You and I have a lot to talk about."

Emily POV

I sat down, unease crawling up my spine.

From the phone call, it was clear Cade Callaghan already loved someone and planned to marry her. That surprised me. Everything I'd heard painted him as a ruthless womanizer. On my way up to his office, I had even seen a gorgeous brunette leaving, looking furious.

"What do you want to talk about, sir?" I asked.

"About giving you that second chance you begged for."

My heart leaped. "You're really willing to give us another chance?"

"Yes."

Relief washed over me - until his next question.

"Tell me something... Are you single?"

"What?"

"Are you single?" he repeated, watching me intently.

"Why does that matter?"

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.

"Because I need you to help me with something. In exchange, I'll give your agency the contract."

I swallowed hard, already knowing I wasn't going to like what came next.

"And what exactly would that be?"