Chapter 1

Shayna Rogers glared at the delicately wrapped package lying on her office table. It was a square box, wrapped in red with satin ribbon. She had first laid eyes on the package through the glass walls of her office when she arrived at work that morning. She was not the type of person to receive random gifts so finding a package waiting on her table was a bit of a surprise. She worked in a secure office building and security was tight so no outsiders had access to the building. She was sure it was just one of the office staff’s lame attempts at getting everyone to share the love for Valentine’s Day. But was it just that?

She sipped her cup of morning coffee while staring suspiciously at the wrapped box. There was no other way of finding out other than opening the carefully wrapped package. Shayna reached for the card that was tied to the red satin ribbon. She couldn’t help the slight tremble in her fingers as she opened the small envelope … She went still as she read the card.

'Happy Valentine’s Day to the love of my life, Shayna. All my love, Erik.'

The blood drained from her face and a new fear took over her mind. It had been just over a year since the last unknown telephone call on her mobile phone and she had a sense of inner peace since her move to the city. Her apartment was relatively secure and her new offices had very tight security, for both clients and office personnel. She had thought that the nightmare was over and that part of her life was now in the past. Erik had finally come to his senses and realized that she wasn’t in love with him.

Shayna could now see how wrong she was. Valentine’s Day was just over a week away and Erik had obviously put in a great deal of work to find her again. It was clear that Erik was planning on using this lover’s day to get back together with her. She looked over at the wrapped package with disgust.

Just then, her phone started buzzing. Shayna stared at it for a moment hoping that it was Jane, her ever faithful assistant. She had left early yesterday to meet with a client and Jane had been looking into a new acquisition for her. Maybe she needed some sort of help. And then she saw it, “unknown number”. Preparing for the worst, Shayna answered the call.

“Hello,” she said grimly.

“Hello, my love. Did you receive my surprise?”

His voice was enough to send shivers of terror along her spine and she disconnected the call before throwing her phone to the floor. Shayna started to head out of her office but the phone began to buzz again. She tried her best to ignore the buzzing and to push the identity of the caller far from her mind. He couldn’t even possibly be close to her.

Shayna glanced around the office. ‘There are multiple staff members busy at workstations around the office. There is security. He cannot get to you.’ she told herself trying to stay calm. But Shayna was unable to shake the feeling that Erik was going to find her. He was a prominent businessman with political ties and had many ties on the NYPD. No one believed her. No one believed that Erik was a violent abusive man that was not accustomed to taking NO for an answer. He had to have what he wanted.

The phone finally stopped buzzing. But, by then, Shayna was furious. She was tired of moving around, constantly on the run and changing numbers. New York was a big city, but he had always somehow managed to find her. It was the place where she had thought that her dreams would come true, but in reality, only her nightmares had come to life.

Just as Shayna was about to delve into the intricacies of a particularly complex merger agreement, her concentration was shattered by the insistent ringing of her office phone. With a sigh, she reached for the receiver, her brow furrowing in annoyance as she answered.

"Shayna Rogers speaking."

"Ms. Rogers, I apologize for the interruption," came the voice of her diligent personal assistant, Emily. "But there's an urgent call for you. It's Mr. Thompson from Thompson Enterprises."

Thompson Enterprises was a formidable client, and their latest acquisition deal was crucial for her firm's success. However, dealing with Mr. Thompson was always a challenge, his brusque demeanor and demanding nature testing Shayna's patience at every turn.

"Patch him through, Emily," Shayna replied, steeling herself for the upcoming conversation.

Emily connected the call from Mr. Thompson and Shayna's breath caught in her throat, the mention of the property's proximity to her childhood home sending a shiver down her spine.

"Ms. Rogers," Mr. Thompson's voice crackled through the line, his tone carrying a hint of excitement. "I've got news that might interest you. There's a property in Texas that I am interested in acquiring."

"Tell me more," Shayna managed to say, her voice betraying none of the emotions churning inside her.

Mr. Thompson described the property with a fervor that mirrored Shayna's own memories. He spoke of the rolling hills and lush pastures, where cattle grazed lazily in the warm Texas sun, and the charming farmhouse that had been a sanctuary in her turbulent teenage years.

Shayna listened, her mind drifting back to the halcyon days of her youth, where the scent of wildflowers hung heavy in the air, and the echoes of laughter danced on the breeze. She recalled carefree summers spent exploring every corner of her father's sprawling land, each adventure bringing her closer to the boy who had captured her heart so many years ago.

Lost in her memories, Shayna's reverie was abruptly interrupted by Mr. Thompson's voice on the other end of the line.

Mr. Thompson continued. "The property I'm referring to is none other than the Radisson Ranch."

Shayna's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name, though she kept her composure. Radisson Ranch—a place deeply etched in her memory, but one she hadn't anticipated crossing paths with in her professional life.

"But there's more," Mr. Thompson pressed on. "It seems there's considerable interest in the property from other buyers. And Dayton Radisson, the current owner, has expressed a desire to personally meet with potential buyers. He wants to ensure that whoever acquires the ranch aligns with his vision for its future."

Shayna's mind raced as she processed the information. She hadn't anticipated the added complexity of dealing with Dayton directly, nor the competitive landscape surrounding the acquisition.

"Understood, Mr. Thompson," Shayna replied. "I'll move swiftly to ensure Thompson Enterprises is well-positioned in negotiations."

Mr. Thompson's next words caught Shayna off guard. "Excellent, Shayna. I've arranged for you to travel to Texas next week to meet with Dayton Radisson personally. You'll be representing Thompson Enterprises in this matter."

Shayna's heart raced at the prospect of returning to Texas, to the place where memories of her past still lingered. But she quickly composed herself, pushing aside the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

"Thank you, Mr. Thompson," Shayna said. "I'll make the necessary preparations and ensure we present the best possible case for acquiring the Radisson Ranch."

Shayna's steps were purposeful as she entered her apartment, the familiar scent of home enveloping her like a warm embrace. With a sigh, she kicked off her heels and loosened her hair, feeling the tension of the day slowly ebb away with each step she took.

Making her way to her bedroom, Shayna's gaze fell upon the sleek dresser tucked against the wall. Without hesitation, she crossed the room and pulled open the top drawer, revealing an array of neatly organized belongings. Her hand brushed over the contents, searching until it found what it sought—a sleek, black mobile phone tucked away in the corner.

As Shayna retrieved the phone, a pang of nostalgia washed over her. It had been years since she last used it, relegated to the confines of the drawer as a relic of the past. But despite the passage of time, she had never been able to bring herself to part with it. It was a tangible reminder of a love lost, a connection severed but never forgotten.

With trembling fingers, Shayna powered on the phone, the screen illuminating with a soft glow. Memories flooded her mind as she scrolled through the contacts, each name a reminder of a chapter in her life now closed.

And then, there it was—Dayton's name, etched in digital letters as if frozen in time. Shayna's heart skipped a beat as she hovered over the contact, her thumb poised over the call button. It was a moment she had replayed in her mind countless times, a fantasy of what could have been.

But as she stared at the screen, a wave of clarity washed over her. She had spent too long dwelling on the past, allowing the ghost of Dayton Radisson to hold sway over her life. It was time to let go, to move forward without looking back. With a resolute nod, Shayna placed the phone back in its rightful place. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she closed the drawer.