Chapter 1

On the weekend, my family set me up on a blind date, and my loudmouthed best friend, Chloe Lawson, insisted on tagging along. She said she wanted to vet the guy for me.

The food had barely hit the table, and I hadn't even gotten a word in.

Chloe cleared her throat, pointed at the quiet, decent-looking man across from us, and curled her lip.

"If you want to marry our Maya, fine. Seven pieces of gold jewelry, a diamond ring, the newest iPhone, and a Range Rover. Plus two Costco Executive Memberships."

"Miss even one thing and I'm not agreeing to anything. The door's out and to the right. Go enjoy being single for the rest of your life!"

The man kept his head down, gripping his teacup hard, and said nothing.

Just then, the phone in my bag started vibrating like crazy. A video call request popped up on the screen.

I gave them an apologetic look, got up, and headed for the restroom.

When the video connected, the person on the other end of the screen was me. Bruised, swollen, with three broken fingers!

The me from five years in the future was sprawled in a pool of blood, sobbing and screaming.

"Maya, run!"

"That man will agree to every condition Chloe sets, but he's an extreme misogynist. Three years from now, you'll end up just like me."

I hung up and went back to my seat. Right then, the man lifted his head and smiled at Chloe.

Chloe didn't notice a thing. She was still tapping the table, grinning and egging him on.

"Oh my, the strong, silent type? Can't you talk?"

"If you can't even show that much sincerity, you're going to die alone with no kids to carry on your name, you know?"

...

Adrian Grant's voice was so mild that there wasn't a trace of anger in it.

"Miss Lawson is right. Sincerity really does need to be put on the table."

I stared at the man across from me, cold sweat sliding down my spine and into my underwear.

My stomach churned. I grabbed my bag off the table.

"My stomach suddenly hurts really bad. Let's call it a day."

I had just pulled out my phone to pay the bill at the front desk when someone grabbed my arm with a hard, painful grip.

"Ugh, why are you being so jumpy!"

Chloe yanked me back into my chair and leaned in close to my ear, her voice low.

"Maya, have you lost your mind or what?"

"Mr. Grant owns a private dental practice. He pulls in several million a year. He's a catch!"

"You landing a guy like this is the luckiest break of your life, and you dare give me attitude?"

Adrian took a dark red Cartier velvet gift box out of the inner pocket of his coat and slid it in front of me.

"Since this is our first meeting, I wasn't sure what you'd like, Miss Bennett."

"I passed the boutique and picked up a Ballon Bleu. Just a small token from me. I hope you don't mind."

Chloe snatched the red box and popped the clasp open.

"Mr. Grant, you're way too generous! Maya's just never seen anything like this before. I'll accept it for her!"

She took the watch out and fastened it right onto her own wrist.

I reached over and pulled at Chloe's arm, trying to get the watch off and give it back.

"Mr. Grant, this is too expensive. I can't accept it."

Chloe flung my hand away and shot me a vicious glare.

"Do you have no manners at all?"

"Mr. Grant is sincerely interested in getting to know you. What's wrong with a little first-meeting gift?"

She turned to Adrian and broke into a smile.

"Mr. Grant, just ignore her. She's always so dramatic. Deep down, she's probably over the moon."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, the faintest smile at the corner of his mouth.

He glanced out the window at the rain pouring down.

"It's raining too hard. It'll be tough to get a ride around here."

"My car's parked in the underground garage. Miss Bennett isn't feeling well, so I should be the one to drive you both home."

I opened the Uber app right away, my voice shaking with fear.

"I've already called an Uber. I don't want to trouble you, Mr. Grant."

Chloe grabbed my phone and canceled my ride.

"You'd pass up Mr. Grant's Porsche for some crappy twenty-dollar Uber that reeks of cigarettes? Are you a masochist or something?"

She hooked my arm and dragged me toward the restaurant exit.

I struggled desperately to break free of her grip.

Chloe hissed a threat at me.

"Maya, if you dare make a scene here, I'll call your mom right now and tell her you wrecked this match on purpose!"

Adrian walked ahead of us and casually swiped his card at the front desk to pay as he passed.

We went down into the dim underground garage.

Adrian pressed his key fob, and the headlights flashed.

"Please, get in, Miss Bennett."

Chloe had already eagerly pulled open the passenger door and slipped inside.

I stood outside the car, my legs stiff.

Adrian stood beside me and lowered his voice.

"It's windy out here. Don't you want to get in, Maya?"