Promise

Chapter 1: New York's Most Eligible Bachelor

Robyn

The first time I ever fell in love was also the last.

Nearly ten years ago, I kept a secret that killed me. And to this day, it haunted me to my core.

New York's most eligible bachelor had etched his way into my heart when we were kids and sealed my fate with intertwined fingers. 

And I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I would never fall out of love with Christian James Ryder.

Christian

"Get to the point." Or else, your face is at serious risk of meeting my fucking fist. 

Trevor Roth–my right hand man–stopped talking, much to my elation. 

"Are you even listening to me?" He asked, flipping through the papers in the white manila folder he held.

"Of course," I responded dryly.

"What was the last thing I said?" 

"You said, are you even listening to me?"

He looked up at me, stared for a beat, and then rolled his eyes. "Christian, this might actually be trouble."

Trevor was a smart man. He knew that if there was a problem, we'd have it taken care of in minutes. If someone threatened my company or my family–not necessarily in that order–they didn't live to tell the tale. So his concerned expression did give me pause.

"What is it?"

"There's a guy who's claiming you assaulted him."

Ice slid down my spine. "What?"

Trevor rubbed an uncomfortable hand down his face. "He's saying that you beat him up. Unwarranted."

"That's preposterous. I would never do that." Anymore. 

"There's photos, Christian."

"Show me."

When my eyes fell on the photos he handed me, realization washed over my bones. The fight wasn't unwarranted. But it was illegal.

Ever since I was a kid, I'd always been angry. Even if I didn't look like I was. The rage was simmering just below the expensive suits and the practiced smile. Bare-knuckle boxing was illegal in most states, including New York. But it was the only thing that helped me. 

The heir to Ryder Incorporated being involved in illegal activities? Not much of a surprise. But the same heir being involved in activities that let him beat people to a pulp just to work out his anger? Yeah, that was an issue for my image and my company. 

I'd known I had to follow in my father's footsteps and take over Ryder Incorporated. Our family business was a holding company for a multitude of businesses all over the world. If it was a name you knew, we had shares in it. With respect to market capitalization, we had grown into the third-largest public company.

In essence, we had more money than anyone could ever need in their life. 

I loathed my father. I loathed everything about him. No one ever knew because in the world's eyes, he was the brilliant man who built an empire and was passing it off to his son. Who sent his son to Stanford, unlike his daughters who went to Harvard just like him. But it wasn't for the education.

Stanford, because it was on the other side of the country. Stanford, because it was far away from people I knew and loved. Stanford, because it was prestigious and haughty. Stanford, because it was what was expected of me.