Lacy Knighton had never been so furious. Days after the humiliating events of her birthday, Alistair Hale hadn't offered a single apology. She'd seen Aaron arrive with another woman—a common occurrence at such events—and hadn't been overly concerned. Alistair had promised Aaron to her, and he'd never broken a promise before.

Then, disaster struck. Right before her father was to announce their engagement, Aaron proposed to the woman—that wretched woman—in front of all her guests. Announcing Lacy's engagement was now impossible. "What on earth was he doing?!" she raged. No one but she was fit to be Mrs. Hale; she'd been preparing her entire life. She was the most suitable woman to stand by Aaron's side.

"That redheaded tramp…" she seethed, "where did she even come from?"

Lacy wanted to confront the woman, but her mother restrained her. Image was everything; a public scene would be disastrous. Ironically, Lacy was the one supposed to be under the Hales' protection.

Calmer now, Lacy researched the woman online. Bethany Carlisle was remarkably private, but Lacy discovered she was the daughter of a prominent Boston Harvard family. That explained Alistair's silence; a union with the Carlisles expanded the Hales' influence into another major city.

Lacy refused to accept this. She'd waited to marry Aaron since she was thirteen. No one would take him from her. She would destroy Bethany Carlisle, if it killed her.

The problem was how. Bethany was unknown in New York, and despite her Harvard education, lacked readily accessible Boston connections. Lacy's usual contact, Max, refused to help.

"He's engaged! Let it be," he said crossly. "You'll never be Mrs. Hale, so don't embarrass yourself."

Enraged, Lacy smashed an antique crystal vase. Max had never refused her before. Could he still believe they would marry? Whatever. She didn't need him. She would handle Bethany herself. Soon, Bethany would be in New York, planning the wedding. That's when Lacy would act.

Even with a nascent plan, Lacy felt despondent. It had been the worst birthday of her life. Who wouldn't be devastated to watch the man they loved propose to someone else at their own party?

Shopping failed to cheer her. Her friends gossiped relentlessly about Aaron's fiancée, pushing Lacy further into despair. She ended up in a high-class bar, drowning her sorrows in Manhattan after Manhattan.

"A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be drinking alone," a smarmy voice purred from her left.

"Drop dead," Lacy snarled. She didn't need unwanted attention.

"Well, that's not very ladylike. No wonder Aaron Hale doesn't like you."

She looked up, speechless. The man was breathtakingly handsome: dark-haired, tall, with a chiseled jawline. She would remember a face like that, yet he wasn't part of her social circle. How did he know about her and Aaron?

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"Graydon Meyer, at your service," he said with a dazzling grin.

Graydon Meyer! A rising tech star, a self-made millionaire. He owned his own app development company. Lacy's world was old money; she'd never met him. He was nouveau riche, the kind high society scorned.

"I've never met you. How do you know who I am?"

He shrugged, ordering a drink. "Word gets around. You and I happen to have something in common."

"And what would that be?" she asked dryly.

She had nothing in common with this playboy. She was sophisticated; he was crass. His exploits with models during Fashion Week were tabloid fodder.

"We've been wronged by the Hales," Graydon said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Aaron's not at fault," she said defensively. "It's that woman. He'll come to his senses."

She had to believe that. His coldness wasn't personal; he ignored those he deemed unworthy. Any response was a positive sign.

"Why don't I help you with that?"

Her eyes narrowed. "And how would someone like you pull that off?"

He smiled dangerously. "I have my ways."

Lacy slammed a hundred-dollar bill on the bar. "You're barking up the wrong tree. I'm perfectly capable of winning his heart myself."

Graydon laughed. "Aaron Hale doesn't have a heart. He'll never love anyone, let alone you."

Lacy stormed off. What did he know? Had he even met Aaron? Aaron might be cold, but no man could resist her. She would win him over and prove Graydon wrong. The removed text was an advertisement and was irrelevant to the story's content.