Olivia Grant sat in her penthouse apartment in Manhattan, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the bustling city below. The skyline glittered in the evening light, but all she could see was Jack's face, his quiet, sad smile, and the words he'd spoken that had left an imprint on her soul. "Don't mistake success for happiness."
It had been three weeks since she had left Wyoming, three weeks of photo shoots, fashion shows, and glamorous parties. Her face was on every billboard, her name on everyone's lips. But the exhilaration that had once come with it now felt hollow, like she was going through the motions of a life she no longer recognized.
Olivia sighed, turning away from the view and sinking into her plush leather couch. Her phone buzzed beside her, the screen lighting up with a name she hadn't seen in years.
"Graham Nichols."
She hesitated for a moment, memories flooding back of a time before Jack, before she had made her name in the fashion world. Graham had been her first real love, back when they were both struggling models trying to make a name for themselves in New York. He had been charming, ambitious, and devastatingly handsome—the kind of man who could make anyone fall for him. Including her.
Against her better judgment, she answered the call.
"Olivia," came Graham's smooth, familiar voice. It was like no time had passed at all. "It's been too long."
"Graham," she replied, her voice guarded. "It has."
"I'm in town," he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Let me take you to dinner. We can catch up, talk about old times. I heard you've been spending time in Wyoming—how on earth did you end up there?"
Olivia's heart skipped a beat. The thought of Jack still lingered at the edge of her mind, but Graham's charm was as intoxicating as ever. He represented the life she was supposed to want, the life that had always been so easy to fall back into. They had shared so much history, and part of her was curious to see if that old spark still existed.
She found herself agreeing before she could second-guess the decision. "Alright. Dinner sounds good."
Later that evening, Olivia found herself sitting across from Graham at one of Manhattan's most exclusive restaurants. The candlelight flickered between them, casting a warm glow on his sharp features. He looked just as she remembered—tall, dark, impeccably dressed, with a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.
"So," Graham leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine glass. "Tell me about Wyoming. I never thought I'd see you trading in your stilettos for cowboy boots."
Olivia laughed, but it was tinged with nerves. "It wasn't exactly planned. I needed a break, and it just… happened. It was peaceful, quiet."
"And?" Graham's eyes narrowed, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Did some rugged cowboy sweep you off your feet?"
Her heart fluttered, and she bit her lip, unsure of how to answer. She didn't want to talk about Jack—not with Graham, not here. But Graham's question hung in the air, expectant.
"There was someone," she admitted softly, her eyes dropping to her plate. "But it's complicated."
Graham leaned forward, his smile fading into something more serious. "Complicated how? Because if you ask me, it doesn't sound like you've let go of him."
Olivia's breath hitched. She wasn't sure how to explain it to Graham—the pull she had felt toward Jack, the way he had opened her eyes to a life she had never imagined for herself. But she also knew that leaving him behind had been a choice she wasn't ready to fully face yet.
Graham reached across the table, his hand brushing hers, and the touch sent a jolt of nostalgia through her. "Olivia, we were good together once," he said quietly. "We had something real. We could have that again."
Her heart raced, torn between the man sitting across from her and the man she had left behind. Graham was everything she had once wanted—a man of her world, who understood the demands and pressures of her career. But with Jack, things had felt different—deeper, more grounded. Jack didn't care about fame or success. He cared about her.
Graham's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, she wondered if he could sense her hesitation. His hand tightened around hers, and he smiled—a smile that used to make her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
"You don't have to settle, Olivia," he said softly, his voice low and persuasive. "You deserve the world. And I'm offering it to you."
Her mind was spinning. Here was Graham, someone who had always made her feel like she belonged in the glittering world of fashion and fame, offering her the life she had fought so hard to achieve. But as he spoke, all she could think of was Jack's steady gaze, his quiet strength, and the way he had made her feel more herself than she had in years.
What am I doing? she thought, her heart pounding. Why does everything feel like a choice between two different lives?
Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed on the table. Olivia glanced down and froze. It was a text from Jack.
"Thinking of you. I hope you're doing well, Liv."
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a split second, the noise of the restaurant faded away. She could almost see Jack standing in the Wyoming sunset, his rough hands resting on her shoulders, his voice whispering in her ear that love didn't have to be complicated—it just had to be real.
Graham watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. "You okay?" he asked, his voice softer now, as though he sensed the shift in her.
Olivia looked up at him, her heart torn in two directions. She had spent her life chasing after the next big thing, always reaching for more, never satisfied with what was right in front of her. But what if she was about to make the same mistake again?
"I—" she started, her voice faltering. She needed time to think, to sort out the whirlwind of emotions inside her. But she wasn't sure if she had that luxury anymore.
Before she could finish her thought, Graham leaned forward, his eyes intent. "Don't let someone from the past hold you back, Olivia. You and I, we could have a future. A real one."
Her heart raced as she looked into his eyes, wondering if she was about to make a decision that would change everything—or if the decision had already been made the moment she had left Wyoming.
The storm of emotions swirled inside her, and Olivia realized that this wasn't just about choosing between two men. It was about choosing the life she truly wanted.
And she wasn't sure she was ready to face that choice. Not yet.