"I understand where she's coming from, and at the same time, I'm grateful to you. You're the one who helped Daniela get to where she is today."
"But gratitude doesn't mean I'm willing to step aside. Six years ago, I already made the wrong choice once. This time, I'm not letting go."
She'd mentioned me to him. She'd told him I existed, and he'd simply accepted it.
But what about me? From start to finish, I'd been the fool. Daniela had never once come clean.
A bitter ache crept through my chest, but I still reached into my briefcase and pulled out a share transfer agreement.
"This is a transfer of equity for the company. All you have to do is sign, and Roseling Corp is no longer a Pruitt Group subsidiary. From this day forward, it's yours."
"I only have one condition. Leave her. Give her back to me."
"You still don't see the truth about the three of us." Geoffrey's voice cut like a blade. "The one she truly loves is me. She just can't bring herself to hurt you, her old benefactor."
Every word landed like a knife. Then his expression hardened.
"Otto, what Daniela and I have isn't going to be shaken by outside forces."
"Even if I'm left with nothing, I will be with her."
And just like that, two men stood locked in a stalemate over one woman.
After a long silence, the tension in Geoffrey's face suddenly broke into a smile.
"How about this. We let Daniela choose between us herself. Whoever she doesn't pick walks away for good. No more fighting. Deal?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Geoffrey leaned close to my ear and laid out his plan.
That evening, Daniela received an anonymous video.
In the footage, Geoffrey and I were both bound to wooden chairs. The camera panned to reveal a man in a mask.
"Ms. Pruitt, CEO of the Pruitt Group. These two should be the most important people in your world. If you don't want anything to happen to them, bring everything you have to the rooftop of the abandoned building on Old Mill Street."
"Come alone. If you call the police, I guarantee they'll be the first to die."
Two hours later, Daniela arrived at the rooftop. Alone.
Her gaze went to Geoffrey first, her eyes soft with worry. Then she turned to me, her look heavy with something harder to read.
Finally, she faced the masked man and pulled a black card from her pocket.
"Everything you asked for. Now let them go."
The kidnapper verified the funds, a note of approval creeping into his voice. "You're a woman of your word, Ms. Pruitt. But today I'd like to play a little game."
"You can only take one of them with you. The other goes over the edge. Your choice."
Daniela's composure shattered. "I'm taking both of them!"
The kidnapper said nothing. He seized the chairs Geoffrey and I were tied to and dragged them toward the ledge.
"If you don't choose, they both go over!"
Panic consumed her. Real, raw panic unlike anything I'd ever seen. Her teeth clenched so hard they ground audibly.
"Wait!"
"So you're saying only one of them walks out of here alive. Is that it?"
The kidnapper didn't answer. He just nodded.
In the final moment, Daniela raised her hand and pointed at Geoffrey.
"I... I choose him."
Geoffrey glanced at me, a veiled look of triumph spreading across his face.
I sat there like a fish ripped from water, mouth gaping, frozen, watching it all unfold in silence.
I stared at Daniela, and the question tore out of me. Why. Why him.
And Daniela, perhaps out of guilt, couldn't even bring herself to look at me.
After untying Geoffrey, the two of them left together.
One of the hired men pulled off his mask, then loosened the ropes binding me. He gave me a taunting grin.
"You lost, Mr. Delgado."
"Per your agreement with Mr. Harding, you're not to appear in front of Ms. Pruitt ever again."
I nodded, a hollow smile breaking across my face. "Don't worry. I'm a man of my word."
...
I sat alone on that rooftop for a long time.
Finally, I dialed a number.
"It's over between us. From now on... she doesn't need me to protect her anymore."
"I want to treat this like a dream. Destroy every trace of what we built together. Starting with Pruitt Group, the part you control."
It was time for me to go. Daniela had chosen Geoffrey. I'd made a bet, and I'd lost.
She'd given up on me. So let her give up everything I'd ever given her, too.
