He Let His Intern Replace Me, So I Married a Billionaire

On the three thousand six hundredth day of dating John Henson, his parents came to tour the company.

I led the team myself.

Everything from the tour route down to the little desserts for the two of them.

I'd stayed up rewriting the pages of the reception plan eight times over.

But on the day his parents arrived for the tour.

John gave last-minute notice.

A new intern would take over everything in my place.

Kayla Fox took my plan.

And handled the two of them so smoothly they were utterly charmed.

She even asked John in front of everyone:

"Don't tell me this is the girl you've been dating for almost ten years?

"Smart and thoughtful, even knew to swap our desserts out for the sugar-free ones.

"No wonder you like her."

John just smiled. He didn't correct her.

Back in the office, I cried as I demanded to know why.

His voice came out cold:

"We're not even engaged, and you're already this eager to show your face in front of my parents.

"Marjorie Walker, are you really this desperate to get married?"

I went rigid.

He brushed past me:

"Don't push it too far."

I didn't argue.

On the day of our tenth anniversary, he blocked my wedding car:

"Weren't you supposed to marry me? Why are you marrying someone else?"

I smiled:

"Mr. Henson doesn't like pushing things too far. I do."

…

John left his warning behind and walked away.

Leaving me alone in the office, silent for a long while.

By the time I came out.

Dale Henson and Lesley Henson had already finished their speeches.

Kayla stood right at their side.

Lesley couldn't keep the doting tenderness out of her eyes as she looked at her:

"Sweetheart, it's our first time meeting, and I didn't prepare anything for you.

"This heirloom jade bracelet. I'd like you to wear it."

Down in the crowd, my heart lurched up into my throat.

The heirloom jade bracelet.

That was something the Hensons only brought out for a daughter-in-law.

And Lesley was taking it off to hand it to Kayla, just like that?

Kayla reached out to stop her:

"Oh no, no, ma'am! This is far too precious! I can't accept it!"

"Still calling me ma'am?"

Lesley's eyes crinkled with a smile.

Kayla's face went red:

"But…"

"That's enough, dear."

Lesley took her by the wrist:

"We'll be family from now on. Why so distant with your own mother?"

Kayla's face flushed even deeper.

She glanced shyly toward John.

I stood below the stage.

My fists trembling faintly.

John's gaze slid over my face.

A faint smile touched his lips:

"Mom's giving it to you. Just take it."

Kayla looked up at him, bashful, then back at Lesley.

Dale laughed:

"The girl's shy. Put it on her yourself."

Lesley didn't refuse.

Smiling, she drew Kayla's wrist over and slipped the bracelet onto it.

Kayla ducked her head, embarrassed.

In the end, she didn't pull away.

Someone set off the confetti cannons first, I couldn't say who.

The whole room broke into cheers:

"To Mr. Henson and the future Mrs. Henson, a hundred years of happiness!"

"Look at you, Kayla! Who'd have guessed your boyfriend was Mr. Henson himself! You kept that one buried deep!"

"Exactly! If you hadn't said anything, we'd have thought it was Director Walker!"

"Right? The way she fusses over Mr. Henson every single day, and how anxious she was to impress when his parents came to tour, anyone who didn't know better really would've thought they were a couple!"

I rose to my feet.

And left the scene.

Every part of the program ran exactly as I had planned it.

Today was supposed to be Lesley's birthday.

The birthday surprise I'd arranged for her, meant to follow her speech.

Now, under Lesley's direction, it had been turned into a blessing for the happy new couple.

A cake as tall as a person was wheeled out.

I watched John get nudged along to Kayla's side.

Lesley pushed Kayla up to the cake as well.