My date told me I wasn’t her type, and ten minutes later the woman beside us asked me to marry her

*Word count target: ~3,000 words*

Before Julian could declare total victory, the massive double doors at the back of the ballroom swung open with a loud bang.

Everyone turned.

Walking down the red carpet wasn't a lawyer, nor a private investigator—it was my sister Hannah, holding a thick manila folder, flanked by two federal investigators in dark suits.

Julian’s smile faltered. "What is the meaning of this? Security, remove them!"

Hannah marched right up the grand staircase, ignoring the security guards who didn't dare touch her while federal badges were visible. She took the microphone right out of Julian’s hand.

"Security can't touch federal agents, Julian," Hannah announced, her voice echoing across the hall with absolute authority. "And as an independent forensic auditor, I didn't come here to investigate Claire Whitman. I came here to investigate *you*."

The room gasped for the second time in ten minutes.

Hannah opened the folder. "Over the past three years, Julian Whitman has systematically embezzled over twelve million dollars from Whitman Enterprises’ environmental development fund, routing the money through offshore accounts in the Caymans. To cover his tracks, he tried to stage a hostile takeover by discrediting Claire and proving her unfit for leadership."

Julian’s face drained of all color. He lunged forward to grab the microphone, but the two federal agents stepped in, pinning his arms behind his back with swift, professional efficiency.

"This is a lie! Fabricated evidence!" Julian shrieked as they led him away in handcuffs, flashbulbs blinding him as he was dragged out of the ballroom in total disgrace.

Silence fell over the room once more—a heavy, stunned silence.

I stood frozen on the dance floor, my brain trying to process the dizzying turn of events. I looked at Claire. Claire looked at me.

"You knew about Julian's embezzlement," I said softly, the pieces finally clicking together. "That's why you needed control of the company by Monday. Not just for the grandfather's clause, but to stop him from destroying everything."

Claire nodded slowly, a tear finally escaping her eye and tracing a path down her cheek. "I had the evidence, Ethan, but I couldn't move against him without the board's backing. And I couldn't trust the board because Julian had paid off half of them. I needed someone incorruptible standing beside me. I needed you."

"And the dinner? The bread? The rejection?" I asked, a faint, disbelieving smile touching my lips.

"I paid Lauren fifty dollars to dump you," Claire confessed, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "My investigator said you were eating alone there, so I set the stage. I needed to see how you handled rejection before I made the craziest gamble of my life."