The morning light streamed into Avery’s apartment as she stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her blazer. Her mind raced with thoughts of the threatening note she’d found in her office the day before. She hadn’t told Shawn—it felt too dangerous to involve him, and she didn’t want to add to his worries.
Shawn entered the room, holding two steaming mugs of coffee. “Good morning, boss lady,” he said with a smile, handing her a cup.
“Morning,” she replied, forcing a small smile.
Shawn studied her face for a moment. “You’ve been tense lately. Is everything okay at work?”
Avery hesitated, taking a sip of her coffee to buy herself time. “Just the usual. Big projects, demanding clients. You know how it is.”
His green eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t push. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
“Of course,” she said quickly, turning back to the mirror. “I’m fine, really.”
Shawn nodded, though his concern lingered. “Alright. Just don’t forget to take a breath now and then. We’ve got the venue meeting this afternoon. It’ll be fun to see everything in person.”
“I’ll be there,” Avery promised, though the weight of her unfinished work loomed large in her mind.
Later that day, Avery’s best friend, Janice, arrived at the stunning Victorian estate Shawn had reserved for the wedding. The sprawling gardens and elegant ballroom were exactly what Avery had dreamed of, but she was notably absent.
Shawn greeted Janice with a polite smile, though his disappointment was clear. “She’s stuck at work,” he explained. “She said she’d try to make it, but…”
Janice folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Let me guess—work emergency?”
“Something like that,” Shawn said with a sigh.
The two walked through the venue, discussing decorations, seating arrangements, and schedules. But as they stood in the grand ballroom, Janice turned to Shawn, her expression serious.
“Can I be honest with you?” she asked.
“Always,” Shawn replied.
“You’re marrying one of the most driven people I’ve ever known,” Janice began. “Avery’s incredible, but she’s also… intense. Her work will always be a big part of her life. Are you ready for that? For all the late nights, the canceled plans, the moments where you might feel like you’re competing with her career?”
Shawn’s jaw tightened, but he met Janice’s gaze. “I’ve thought about it. And yeah, it’s not easy sometimes. But I knew who Avery was when I fell in love with her. She’s passionate, and that’s part of what makes her amazing. I’m not here to change her—I’m here to support her.”
Janice softened slightly, nodding. “Good answer. Just make sure you remind her of that. She needs someone to ground her when she gets lost in her work.”
“I will,” Shawn said firmly.
Meanwhile, Avery sat in her office, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork. The evidence of sabotage at Kane Enterprises was piling up, and every minute felt like a race against an invisible clock. She glanced at her phone, which displayed a missed call from Shawn. Her stomach twisted with guilt—she’d promised to be at the venue meeting, but she couldn’t pull herself away from the chaos at work.
As she typed out another email, Cara, her assistant, poked her head into the office. “Ms. Deveraux, the legal team is waiting for you in the conference room.”
Avery nodded, pushing thoughts of the wedding out of her mind as she stood and grabbed her notes. She told herself that Shawn would understand—he always did.
That evening, Shawn returned home to find Avery still at her desk, her face illuminated by the harsh glow of her laptop screen.
“Hey,” he said softly, leaning against the doorframe.
Avery looked up, her expression weary. “Hey. How was the venue?”
“It was great,” Shawn replied, though there was a hint of frustration in his voice. “Wish you could’ve been there.”
“I’m sorry,” Avery said quickly. “Work’s just been… a lot.”
“I get it,” Shawn said, sitting beside her. “But, Avery, this is our wedding. You’ve got to make time for it—or at least let me help more.”
“I know,” she murmured, though her mind was already drifting back to the documents she needed to review.
Shawn placed a hand on hers, grounding her. “We’re a team, remember? Don’t forget that.”
Avery nodded, her heart aching at the disappointment in his eyes.
The next morning, Avery arrived at Kane Enterprises early, determined to make headway on the investigation. But as she unlocked her office, she immediately noticed something was wrong.
Her desk drawers were slightly ajar, and papers were scattered across the surface. The files she’d been reviewing the day before were gone.
Her heart raced as she scanned the room, trying to piece together what had happened. Someone had broken in—and they hadn’t been subtle about it.
She quickly called Cara. “Get building security up here now,” she said, her voice sharp.