PROLOGUE

We all have those people and times in our lives that we never want to face again. Maybe it's a mistake we made that cost us more than we could ever imagine. Maybe it is the loss of a friendship that can never be replaced. Maybe it is a death. Maybe it's all three. Whatever it is, we march forward and strive to forget, to fill, if you will, the emptiness that is caused by any one of these. For me, it was all three. The mistake I made was trusting with my entire being the one person that I never meant to trust. The friendship I lost was that of the person I had sworn never to trust. The death, well, let's be honest, it started with the death of a dream and led to a million little deaths over the course of ten years. So, I did just that. I dove headlong into working towards the goals that I was told I could never achieve and tried to ignore the gaping void that had left me breathless and aching. It was the kind of void that can only be caused by the loss of someone or something so close to you that it feels like part of your very soul was ripped from you. But, I digress; this is not a story of pain, torture and self-healing. Oh no. This is the story of a sucker punched girl who comes face to face with the sucker who emotionally punched her.

NOW & THEN

Chapter 1: Now

Lighting? Check. Caterer and wait staff are set up? Check. Band and sound? Check.

"April, we can go ahead and start serving the appetizers." My assistant's voice answered, "I'm on it. I've also given the signal to start the beverage service. I have things under control. Now, Elena, why don't you get a glass of Merlot and relax? You are supposed to be here as a guest."

"No can do. You know I can't relax until I know everyone else is having fun."

Taking one final look around Founders Hall, I decided that everything probably would run smoothly tonight. I had my best people working the event so that I should be able to enjoy myself despite the obligatory earpiece that I was wearing. Not only was this a client appreciation night but also a chance to announce the new VP of Saltzman Consulting. Everything from the decorations to my black silk dress, heels and pearls had been especially chosen for this night. Looking up, I spotted the guest of honor descending the grand staircase.

"Jenna, you look amazing!" My friend Jenna was a numbers guru and had just been named Vice President of Finance at her company. She and I met one night at RiRa's. I had stopped in for a celebratory Irish ale after signing the contract for my 100th event. She had come in for a celebratory Irish ale after dumping her loser boyfriend. At first glance, Jenna was the kind of girl that every man loved and every woman hated. She was skinny in all the right places, honey blond hair, green eyes and a perfect complexion. But once you meet Jenna, you can't help but like her. She possesses an infectious personality and a heart of gold. While making small talk at the bar, we realized that we lived in the same building and had a shared love of tennis and business. Over the years, we had become friends and, now, business associates.

"Thanks. I went shopping today. After all, it's not every day that I get recognized as the VP of my company at an event planned by my best friend! Can't you lose that earpiece tonight? I thought you were lining up your A team so we could have fun."

"No can do. This is my first event since signing the contract with Saltzman and I don't want anything to go wrong." My earpiece was my crutch. As long as I wore it I felt like I had control of any eventuality. Of course, it wasn't likely that anything would go wrong. I suffered from a well-known syndrome. I am a perfectionist in every sense of the word which is precisely why I am such a successful business woman. I had formed Elena Gilbert Events shortly after graduating from college and had never looked back. This was my first major contract. For the next year I would be in charge of every event Saltzman sponsored in addition to all of the other events my company would be handling. It would keep me busy but my company was what I thrived on.

"So, Jenna, what is this promotion going to do to your potential love life?"

"I don't have a potential love life but, if I did, it wouldn't be affected since Saltzman doesn't have a nepotism policy. In fact, we've had a number of interoffice relationships."

"But have there been any involving the CEO and a Vice President?" I couldn't help but laugh at the look on Jenna's face. "Ok, ok. I'll drop it but not because I'm showing you mercy. It's just that your supposedly non-existent potential romance has been staring at you ever since you walked in and is headed over here right now. "Hello Ric. I hope everything meets with your approval?"

"Elena, it is perfect. You do a beautiful job. I just hope that you will feel free to enjoy yourself this evening. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet some of our clients not to mention celebrating with Jenna."

"Thank you, Ric. I was just telling Jenna that I want to make sure tonight goes well. You know how I am when I am focused on an event. But I will definitely make as many contacts as possible tonight. I want your clients to be able to put a face with a name when I work with them for their events." I had learned that everything runs more smoothly when the client feels like we have a personal relationship. Luckily, I am a people person.

"I hope you'll at least join us in a champagne toast to our new VP." Ric smiled at Jenna. It may not have been apparent to anyone else, but I would've sworn that Jenna seemed to float for a few seconds under the gaze of her boss. This had all the makings of a fairy tale—or a nightmare. The jury was still out as to which one it would be. Jenna was certain that Ric thought of her as a business associate and friend. As sure of herself as she was in the boardroom, Jenna was clueless when it came to her effect on men. Let's put it this way, I couldn't foresee Ric instituting a strict no-interoffice-dating policy at his company any time soon.

"Elena, I want to make sure you meet our Vice President of Marketing. He's been dealing with some of our international clients and just got back in town so I haven't had a chance to introduce you two. Of course, he'll be one of the main contacts you'll be working with so I wanted to set up that contact as soon as possible. Oh, here he comes now," said Ric as he saw someone approaching behind me.

"Damon, I want you to meet Elena Gilbert."

Turning to face the approaching man, my smile suddenly faltered as I looked into the eyes of the one person I never thought I'd see again.

Maybe I'll have that glass of wine after all.