Jeremy had been in Aldermere for a long time.

A month passed, and New Year's Day was almost here — and still he hadn't come back.

Scarlett had gone back and forth on it before finally calling him, but the call never went through. It was only by chance, running into his secretary at social function, that she got any information at all. Secretary Stone told her he wouldn't be back until mid-January.

Half a month more.

Scarlett didn't want ...