Chapter 2 - The Nob Hill Illusion
The rehearsal dinner took place on the expansive rooftop terrace of my Nob Hill penthouse. The glittering skyline of San Francisco provided the perfect backdrop for Tristan’s grand delusion.
The terrace was packed with Apex executives, venture capitalists, and our families. Tessa Jenkins was there, of course, hovering near the catering tables in a tight silk dress, wearing a smug, secret little smile every time Tristan looked in her direction. She truly believed she had outsmarted a woman with a PhD in molecular engineering.
Tristan tapped his champagne flute, wrapping his arm securely around my waist.
"To my brilliant, beautiful Zoe," Tristan announced, projecting his charismatic voice across the terrace. "When we started this journey, people said we were crazy. But you were the brains, and I was the muscle, and together we built an empire. I cannot wait to stand at the altar tomorrow and make you my wife. You are my everything."
The crowd "awwed" and applauded. Tessa rolled her eyes, taking a long sip of her wine, secure in the knowledge that his words were entirely hollow.
I turned to Tristan, looking deeply into his lying, arrogant eyes, and offered a radiant, chilling smile.
"Thank you, Tristan," I said smoothly, my voice carrying over the crowd. "Tomorrow is going to be a day you will never, ever forget. I promise you that."
Tristan kissed me passionately, entirely unaware that the champagne he was drinking was paid for by the woman who had just legally detonated his career.
Later that evening, as the guests filtered out, I caught Tessa lingering near the coat check. She looked at me with fake, wide-eyed innocence. "It was a beautiful dinner, Dr. Hastings. You must be so excited for tomorrow."
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"I am, Tessa," I replied, stepping just a fraction of an inch into her personal space, letting the temperature in the hallway plummet. "You've been so incredibly... helpful to Tristan lately. Make sure you get a good seat at the ceremony. You won't want to miss a single second."
She blinked, a momentary flash of unease crossing her features, before she nodded and hurried out the door.
