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Chapter One

Austin Fortune almost missed the plain white envelope at the bottom of the stack of papers his assistant Felicity Schafer had set on his desk After he’d read the letter, he wished he’d never seen it and for aas if he hadn’t read it

Maybe it would just disappear

Instead, the reality of it danced around him like illuminated dust motes

Felicity, his gatekeeper, his right hand, the person who kept hianized and on track ahead of the fray, had tendered her resignation

“Is this a bad joke?” heit on for size

But no Even though Felicity was good-natured, it would’ve been out of character for her to kid around about so like this

“She’s leavingthe words out loud made it sound personal It wasn’t personal—it ork, but it sure felt personal

He looked up frolass wall of his office She was engrossed in so on her computer He didn’t knohat He could see her in profile Her head was bowed over her keyboard, her dark blond hair a curtain hiding her face

What the hell was he supposed to do without her? Everytyped up and waiting for hiy booster She remembered birthdays, anniversaries and the minutiae of family and client particulars that elevated and solidified his business relationships and could prove costly if forgotten She was always gales Ulti with client presentations

Plain and siood and was always there to help him succeed

It wasn’t just asomeone new Felicity was a rare find She had an uncanny ability to anticipate his every need—even before he knehat he needed In all fairness, he paid her well and she see him?

He ski for clues, but in true Felicity form, it was short and to the point

Dear Austin,

Please accept this letter as notification that I a my position with Fortune Investments at the end of the month