The socialite who'd asked the question stared expectantly at Aaron. He realized he'd again gotten lost in thought. He was surrounded by enemies; he needed to focus.

"I'm afraid I already have a date," he lied. He needed to find one quickly, but where? One of Jennica's friends, perhaps?

The woman pouted. "You're never available! Don't tell me you're already engaged."

Most people of his generation in this circle were married or engaged. It wasn't an unreasonable assumption. He had been one of them in his previous life. Admitting he was unattached, however, would be suicidal in front of this crowd.

He didn't get the chance to answer. Lacy attached herself to his arm and spoke for him. "Of course he does; who do you think you are? Aaron would only marry the best."

Tears welled in the woman's eyes. "You're engaged to her?"

"Absolutely not!" he shouted, breaking free and roughly shoving the "leech" away. "I wouldn't marry Lacy Knighton if we were the last two people on Earth."

Everyone flinched as the temperature seemed to drop drastically. Aaron's disgust was palpable.

Lacy's composure cracked, revealing her fury. She'd clearly thought Aaron wouldn't contradict her to spare her pride. She was wrong. He cared nothing for her, least of all her feelings.

"Oh, you don't mean that!"

"Yes, I do," he said icily. Those nearby visibly recoiled from his anger.

"How delusional are you? I've avoided you for six years, and you still don't get it. You're not worthy of breathing the same air as me. Get lost!"

Several socialites gasped and whispered excitedly. Lacy hadn't been so publicly humiliated in years. She ran off in tears, pursued by Max, who attempted to comfort her, shooting Aaron a venomous look as he went.

Aaron sighed. He was done—done with these shallow, money-obsessed people and their idle gossip. He was going home.

Alistair grabbed his sleeve. "Where do you think you're going?" he thundered.

Aaron fearlessly shrugged him off. This man meant nothing to him. "Home. I don't feel well."

"You just insulted the daughter of one of my most important business partners in front of everyone. Apologize!"

His father's icy demeanor rivaled his own, but Aaron wouldn't back down. "No."

"What did you just say?" Alistair asked menacingly.

"I said no. Lacy Knighton is a worthless piece of trash, and I don't appreciate her clinging to me. She needed to be put in her place before she got any more bright ideas."

Let's see if she'd dare claim ties to Aaron after this; almost everyone present had heard his assessment.

"Lacy Knighton is the best candidate for your marriage," Alistair hissed.

"You may be my boss at the company, but your authority ends there. I won't marry anyone I don't choose, and there's nothing you can do about it," he said firmly, turning to leave.

His father yelled after him, but his pride prevented him from pursuing his son. Aaron left easily enough.

He loosened his bow tie and fell back onto his bed. His plans to expand his interests beyond Hale Investments were well underway, but they might need to accelerate.

Alistair couldn't simply fire him for a fight; he was too valuable to the company. The other board members wouldn't allow it. That didn't mean Alistair wouldn't try.

Aaron's empire outside Hale Investments had been quietly developing for five years. He had contacts in New York outside the Hales' social circle, but most were in nearby states or overseas—unknown to his father.

He'd planned a slow, stealthy takeover, surprising his father with his ultimate victory. But if his father thought he could force his son's hand…a hostile takeover wasn't out of the question.

Aaron wasn't the same man he used to be. Nothing would stop him now, especially not a worthless blood tie.

He texted Aiden: "Do we have enough manpower for Plan B?"

Aiden replied: "Not quite, my dude. A few more months of networking with overseas investment bankers might do it. I can recalculate if you want."

Aaron: "Do that. Our timeline may have accelerated."

Aiden: "Is your dad trying to marry you off again?" (Aiden had a knack for seeing through people, oddly considering his affinity for machines over humans.)

Aaron: "Yes."

Aiden: "My family's asleep; I can start compiling files on those people you asked for. A Christmas gift."

Aaron: "Thanks."

He sighed. The people Aiden referenced were those he'd dealt with during his previous life's overseas expansion—future titans of the global stock market.

Aaron had much travel ahead, accelerating the plan. He probably wouldn't see Keeley much—but how much could happen in a few months' separation?

He could still text her daily, maybe even call and hear her cheerful voice. They would be fine.