Read Online $10,000,000 Marriage Proposal by James Patterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Patterson
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flow of information, and she would simply have to wait. Suze shut down her computer and crawled into bed. It was beyond frustrating to have such big stakes, and no idea of when or how they would play out.
Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling. And then it dawned on her. She couldn’t track down any of Mr. Moneybags’ personal information, but the way the contest was being conducted told her plenty. Suze realized, with great certainty, that Mr. Moneybags would contact all three finalists tomorrow. This contest was not slow and drawn out. He was not reveling in the suspense. He wanted to find someone, and he’d used his financial position to attempt to do so as efficiently as possible. Tomorrow her life might change. And yet even tomorrow was too long to wait.
After half an hour of restlessness Suze went to the bathroom and popped half an Ambien. Whatever the news might be tomorrow, she wanted to be ready for it.
Chapter 24
The next morning, when Suze arrived at her desk, there was an envelope waiting for her. Her first name, written in careful calligraphy, was the only thing on the envelope. It had obviously been delivered by messenger, and she had no doubt at first glance that this was it. She was about to find out if she’d won or lost this lottery of love.
After hiding the unopened envelope carefully in her desk drawer, she went to the café and ordered the usual: a regular mochaccino. She brought it back to her office and sat still for a moment, warming her hands on the cup.
She was pretty sure that this meant she hadn’t won. There had been many envelopes in Suze’s past, and for the most part they had heralded success. She had known without looking that she’d gotten into every college to which she’d applied. The same was true for business school. But the handful of times she hadn’t been accepted to a program or landed a fellowship or been offered a job, she had felt doubt. This was a virtue. She never doubted herself, but she could always sense when the match wasn’t perfect. Then again, this contest was unlike any she’d ever entered. There were too many variables. Who could say what a perfect match with the presumably unmet mystery man might feel like? Certainly, neither Janey nor Caroline had more reason to feel confident than she did.
Suze took out the envelope. Would she be disappointed if she lost? Did she even want to win? She was 100 percent certain that even if this slim envelope held a check for ten million dollars, she hadn’t found her perfect match. Maybe he had, but she hadn’t. Not only was the process deeply flawed but the odds were simply against it. And yet…ten million dollars was life-changing. She would carefully consider any proposal that came with that bonus.
She tore open the envelope. The letter inside was neither long nor formulaic.
Dear Suze,
First, my lawyers tell me I have to write this: This letter falls under the confidentiality agreement you signed when you filled out the application. Any violation will cause injury that would be difficult to quantify, but would cause me irreparable damage. Please have another look at your copy of the agreement if you have questions about that.
Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I want to say how fortunate I feel to have had the chance to “meet” you through my counselors. Every step of the way, I was impressed not just by your accomplishments, your analytical mind, your self-awareness, but by your ability to balance these qualities with warmth and a sense of fun. I have great admiration for you, but, to be frank (why belabor this, right? You’ve been too generous with your time already), I don’t think we’re a match. I’m sorry if this is disappointing to you, but somehow I doubt it will be. You’re probably a step ahead of me in knowing what would be best here.
Suze, you are an amazing woman. I wish you every happiness, and I know you will find love easily. You deserve him, and he deserves you. And who knows,
Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling. And then it dawned on her. She couldn’t track down any of Mr. Moneybags’ personal information, but the way the contest was being conducted told her plenty. Suze realized, with great certainty, that Mr. Moneybags would contact all three finalists tomorrow. This contest was not slow and drawn out. He was not reveling in the suspense. He wanted to find someone, and he’d used his financial position to attempt to do so as efficiently as possible. Tomorrow her life might change. And yet even tomorrow was too long to wait.
After half an hour of restlessness Suze went to the bathroom and popped half an Ambien. Whatever the news might be tomorrow, she wanted to be ready for it.
Chapter 24
The next morning, when Suze arrived at her desk, there was an envelope waiting for her. Her first name, written in careful calligraphy, was the only thing on the envelope. It had obviously been delivered by messenger, and she had no doubt at first glance that this was it. She was about to find out if she’d won or lost this lottery of love.
After hiding the unopened envelope carefully in her desk drawer, she went to the café and ordered the usual: a regular mochaccino. She brought it back to her office and sat still for a moment, warming her hands on the cup.
She was pretty sure that this meant she hadn’t won. There had been many envelopes in Suze’s past, and for the most part they had heralded success. She had known without looking that she’d gotten into every college to which she’d applied. The same was true for business school. But the handful of times she hadn’t been accepted to a program or landed a fellowship or been offered a job, she had felt doubt. This was a virtue. She never doubted herself, but she could always sense when the match wasn’t perfect. Then again, this contest was unlike any she’d ever entered. There were too many variables. Who could say what a perfect match with the presumably unmet mystery man might feel like? Certainly, neither Janey nor Caroline had more reason to feel confident than she did.
Suze took out the envelope. Would she be disappointed if she lost? Did she even want to win? She was 100 percent certain that even if this slim envelope held a check for ten million dollars, she hadn’t found her perfect match. Maybe he had, but she hadn’t. Not only was the process deeply flawed but the odds were simply against it. And yet…ten million dollars was life-changing. She would carefully consider any proposal that came with that bonus.
She tore open the envelope. The letter inside was neither long nor formulaic.
Dear Suze,
First, my lawyers tell me I have to write this: This letter falls under the confidentiality agreement you signed when you filled out the application. Any violation will cause injury that would be difficult to quantify, but would cause me irreparable damage. Please have another look at your copy of the agreement if you have questions about that.
Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I want to say how fortunate I feel to have had the chance to “meet” you through my counselors. Every step of the way, I was impressed not just by your accomplishments, your analytical mind, your self-awareness, but by your ability to balance these qualities with warmth and a sense of fun. I have great admiration for you, but, to be frank (why belabor this, right? You’ve been too generous with your time already), I don’t think we’re a match. I’m sorry if this is disappointing to you, but somehow I doubt it will be. You’re probably a step ahead of me in knowing what would be best here.
Suze, you are an amazing woman. I wish you every happiness, and I know you will find love easily. You deserve him, and he deserves you. And who knows,
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