Chapter 1
The Skyline Crown occupied the highest floor of the tallest skyscraper in the city.
Its rooftop restaurant was reserved for presidents, royalty, and billionaires.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled above tables dressed in white linen.
A live orchestra played softly beneath the stars.
Beyond the glass walls, millions of city lights stretched to the horizon.
It was the perfect place for a proposal.
Or so Andrew believed.
For three years...
Andrew Collins had hidden his true identity.
Outside the business world, almost nobody knew the face of the mysterious founder of Collins Global Holdings.
He preferred living quietly.
Driving ordinary cars.
Wearing simple suits.
Paying cash.
He wanted someone to love the man...
Not the fortune.
Then he met Vanessa Morgan.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Confident.
She claimed money never mattered.
She often smiled and said,
"I only care about honesty."
Andrew wanted to believe her.
Tonight...
He planned to ask her to become his wife.
He also planned to reveal his biggest secret after she accepted.
Their closest friends surrounded the dinner table.
Champagne glasses sparkled beneath the chandelier.
The violinists began playing a romantic melody.
Andrew quietly stood.
His heart pounded.
He reached into his jacket pocket.
Removed a small velvet ring box.
Then slowly dropped to one knee.
The restaurant erupted into applause.
Several guests took out their phones to record the moment.
Andrew smiled warmly.
"Vanessa..."
"You've made the last three years the happiest of my life."
"I don't want another day to pass without asking..."
He opened the ring box.
Inside rested a flawless diamond solitaire.
"Will you marry me?"
For one brief moment...
Everything was silent.
Vanessa stared at the ring.
Then at Andrew.
Then...
She laughed.
Not a nervous laugh.
Not a surprised laugh.
A cruel laugh.
The kind that makes an entire room uncomfortable.
She pointed directly at him.
"Are you serious?"
More laughter escaped her.
"You actually thought I'd marry you?"
Andrew remained on one knee.
His smile slowly disappeared.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Andrew..."
"You're sweet."
"But you're a nobody."
She gestured toward the expensive restaurant.
"Do you even know how much tonight's dinner costs?"
"Our vacations?"
"My jewelry?"
"My lifestyle?"
She leaned closer.
"You could never afford my life."
Several guests exchanged awkward glances.
Nobody expected the rejection to become humiliation.
Vanessa wasn't finished.
"I deserve a man with power."
"A man with influence."
"A billionaire."
She looked around proudly before delivering the final blow.
"Not someone pretending to belong at my table."
The restaurant fell completely silent.
Andrew looked at the ring for several seconds.
Then...
Without saying a word...
He gently closed the ring box.
He stood.
Brushed the dust from one knee.
Slipped the ring back into his pocket.
When he finally looked at Vanessa again...
There was no anger.
Only calm.
A calm so complete that it unsettled everyone watching.
He gave a faint smile.
"Thank you."
Vanessa frowned.
"For what?"
Andrew answered quietly.
"For showing me your true colors..."
"...before I made the biggest mistake of my life."
Before Vanessa could reply...
DING.
The private rooftop elevator doors opened.
A man in a crisp pilot's uniform stepped inside.
Every eye turned toward him.
He walked directly past the guests.
Stopped in front of Andrew.
Then bowed respectfully.
"Good evening, Mr. Collins."
"Your helicopter has completed pre-flight inspection."
"The helipad is cleared."
"We're ready for departure whenever you are, sir."
The entire restaurant froze.
Vanessa blinked.
"...What?"
The pilot continued as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Your aircraft is fueled."
"Flight plans to your private estate have been approved."
"Captain and crew are awaiting your instructions."
A champagne glass slipped from someone's hand and shattered across the marble floor.
One of the guests whispered,
"...Private helicopter?"
Another quietly added,
"I thought Andrew worked for a consulting firm."
The pilot looked confused.
"Consulting firm?"
He smiled politely.
"Mr. Collins owns the company that purchased this entire building last year."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Vanessa's face drained of color.
Her breathing became uneven.
She looked back at Andrew.
Then at the pilot.
Then back again.
Her voice barely escaped.
"Andrew..."
"...who is he?"
Andrew met her terrified gaze.
May you like
His expression never changed.
"He works for me."
