THE BILLIONAIRE'S FORGOTTEN VOWS

Elena's phone rang at exactly 9:47 PM, just as she was tucking Lily into bed.

"Ms. Carter?" The voice from the other end said.

"This is Jennifer Holm from Blackwood Enterprises. We received your proposal for our annual charity gala."

Elena's heart stopped. Blackwood?

No. It couldn't be. There were thousands of companies with that name. It didn't mean...

"Mr. Blackwood was very impressed," the woman continued.

"He'd like to meet with you tomorrow morning. 9 AM sharp. Will you be available?"

Elena's grip tightened on Lily's pink bedspread as her knuckles going white.

Blackwood? That very one name that had haunted her for years.

"Ms. Carter?" Jennifer's voice sharpened with impatience.

"Are you there?"

"Yes." The word came out from her trangled. Elena cleared her throat, forced professionalism into her tone and said.

"Yes, I'll be there."

"Excellent. I'll send the address and security instructions to your email. Mr. Blackwood looks forward to meeting you." She said before the line went dead.

Elena sat frozen on the edge of Lily's bed, with the phone still pressed to her ear, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might break through her ribs.

Lily's small hand found hers in the dim light. "Mommy? You okay?"

Elena looked down at her daughter's face, those wide hazel eyes that were so much like her own, the soft brown curls spread across the pillow. She forced brightness into her voice, the same fake cheerfulness she'd perfected over five years of doing this alone.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Just work stuff."

"Good work stuff?"

Elena's smile felt like it might crack her face.

"Very good work stuff. Now close your eyes. It's way past bedtime."

Lily yawned, her eyes already drifting shut.

"Love you, Mommy." She said.

"Love you more, baby girl."

Elena waited until her daughter's breathing evened out before she stood, her legs were unsteady as she pulled the door halfway closed and walked on autopilot to the living room of their tiny apartment.

The space was small but clean, decorated with thrift store finds and the twins' artwork covering every available surface. It was the little space she had built from nothing.

Mia Torres, her best friend was sprawled on their sagging couch, reviewing their company accounts on the battered laptop that had seen better days. She looked up when Elena entered, her expression shifting from concentration to concern in a heartbeat.

"You look like you've seen a ghost. What happened?"

Elena's voice came out barely above a whisper.

"We got the Blackwood contract."

Mia's eyes widened, her mouth forming a perfect O. She snapped the laptop shut and jumped up, her voice pitching high with excitement.

"What? That's amazing! That's..." She stopped mid-celebration, really looking at Elena's face.

"Why do you look like you're about to throw up?" She asked again.

Elena couldn't speak, she couldn't make her mouth form the words. Instead, she crossed to where her own laptop sat on the dining table with a folding piece of furniture