"You don't have to thank me."
"I do. Because you didn't just throw money at the problem. You listened to what Dad actually needed. You talked to Mom about what would help most. You—" Her voice quivers before steadying again. "You made it about them, not about proving you could fix everything."
"Your father's a good man. Your mother shouldn't have to do this alone."
"She's not alone anymore. Because of you." She kisses me softly. "So thank you. For seeing my family as your family."
"They are my family now."
"I know. And they love you for it. Dad told me last week that you're 'much better than the last one.'"
I snort. "That's a low bar."
Harper laughs, and I pull her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Speaking of 'the last one,'" I say carefully. "I heard something interesting when I went over to your parents’ this week."
"About Thomas?"
"Apparently he and that Alanna chick broke up. Messily. Something about her cheating on him with someone from their pickleball league."
Harper is quiet for a moment, then starts laughing. "Are you serious?"
"According to your mother, who heard it from a neighbor, who saw the whole thing unfold at the club. Thomas apparently broke his racket and stormed off mid-game."
"Oh my God."
"Gets better. Apparently people have been asking him about the Thanksgiving episode. He keeps having to explain that his ex-wife is the Harper from the viral StreamEats show. The one who's married to the CEO."
Harper's smile is wicked. "I should feel bad about that."
"But you don't."
"Not even a little bit." She takes another sip of champagne. "What goes around comes around, I guess. He cheated with my best friend. She cheated with his pickleball partner. It's almost poetic."
"Karma's a bitch."
"And apparently so is Alanna." She sets down her glass. "Anyway. Ancient history. I have better things to think about. Like the fact that I'm engaged to you. Again."
She's quiet for a moment, fingers smoothing over my bare chest, light enough to ignite a fire in my veins.
"Victor?" Harper's voice is thoughtful now.
"Hmm?"
"What happened with Patricia Franklin? After you fired her?"
I'm quiet for a moment, running my fingers through her hair. "The corporate espionage case is moving forward. Rachel's team found evidence she'd been feeding information to FoodFirst for months—not just about you, but about other acquisitions, strategic plans, everything."
"Is she going to jail?"
"Probably not jail. But career suicide? Definitely. The SEC is investigating potential insider trading violations. No board will touch her after this."
"And Richard Francis?"
"Also under SEC investigation. Turns out his partnership with Vanessa Chu involved some questionable stock transactions before the acquisition announcement. They were trading on inside information about the deal terms—textbook securities fraud." I pause. "FoodFirst's deal with CulinaryVision fell apart completely when the SEC started asking questions. The whole thing imploded."
Harper lifts her head to look at me. "So they both destroyed their careers trying to destroy yours."
