Patent Pending

"Simon? How's the engagement party shaping up? Still happy with the setup?" Natalia's soothing voice floated out of the phone.

"I'm actually calling to talk about calling off the engagement. Ms. Jones's assistant wouldn't let me through to the venue and had the security guys get rough with me.

"Ms. Jones herself didn't even try to sort things out–just brushed it off and demanded I apologize to Mr. Holmes.

"I guess I'm not cut out for the high standards of the Jones family. I'm staying out."

The line went dead for a beat.

"What?!

"That troublemaker! Just wait till I get my hands on her..." Natalia's grumbling trailed off, replaced by the roar of an engine.

"Mrs. Jones, don't fall for that schemer's lies. She's pulled the wool over your eyes!"

Elias lunged for my phone, looking like a kicked puppy.

"I was just trying to welcome Mr. York at the door, and he wouldn't come in, just stirred up a scene.

"After all my years of dedication to Jones Group, is an apology too much to ask for?"

Natalia's voice turned icy.

"Mr. Holmes, huh.

"You're done here. Go clear out your desk with HR."

Elias's expression stiffened.

"Why are you messing with my daughter's wedding? You think I'd fall for those lies?"

To my surprise, Natalia took my side. Elias's face gave a little quiver, his fingers tightening around his phone.

He blinked hard, fighting back tears as he turned to face Tania.

"Mrs. Jones, if you don't care about your own daughter, can't I be the one to care?

"Are you really okay with using Ms. Jones as a bargaining chip, just to cozy up to some professor? You're setting her up with an orphan who's got no connections. Do you see her as nothing more than a pawn in your game?"

The line went dead silent.

It took a while before Natalia let out a weary sigh, her voice suddenly sounding older.

"Tania, is that what you think, too?"

"Do you believe... Is it my fault? Is that why you've done all this, refusing to get engaged to Simon?"

Tania shot me a look, then quickly looked away.

"If Simon is willing to sincerely apologize to my assistant, I'm still open to the engagement," she said.

A sharp scratch echoed as nails dragged across the phone case. I glanced over and saw Elias's face twist up.

"So... Simon... what's your take?"

There was an expectant pause on the line.

What were they waiting for? An apology from me to Elias?

I had dealt with Natalia on the patent deal before, and I had pegged her as someone fair.

I trusted the values she was supposed to have instilled, so when my mentor, Melissa, said Tania was to be my fiancee, I came with an open heart.

As it turned out, a businessperson was always just that.

They stepped over the line to get what they wanted, even if it meant bending the truth.

I had to wonder: did she really think Tania was the only one for me?

The thought struck me as funny.

I reached out and gave a light tap on the shoulder of the person in front of me.

Cecilia shivered ever so slightly.

She was seething with anger over Natalia's words, ready to lash out with a biting comeback, but I cut her off.

Her anger melted into curiosity as she turned to me, tilting her head up a notch, blinking, and giving me her full attention.

"Cecilia, I've decided to look for a new fiancee."

"Are you throwing your hat in the ring?"