The Night Before the Wedding, My Fiancé Requested a Cheating Leave

The night before our wedding, my fianc slid a Pre-Wedding Freedom Pass across the desk to me.

Eleanor Cox, there's a first love I never got to break up with.

Give me seven free days. I want to be there for her, to make up for what we lost.

I stared at him.

We've been together seven years. We get married tomorrow. And you want me to hand the groom over to her?

Russell Simmons kept his head down, but his voice didn't waver.

"Ten years ago the Simmons family went bankrupt. I ran off in the middle of the night to dodge the creditors, and I owe Crystal a relationship I never finished."

"She and I won't cross the line. As for our wedding, let's just push it back seven days."

I didn't sign it. Russell moved out anyway.

Every day he sent me a report of where he'd been.

Day one, he took our wedding photographer with him and shot couple portraits with Crystal Henson.

Day two, the two of them went to see his mother together, and the heirloom jade bracelet that had been meant for me ended up on her wrist.

The evening of day three, Crystal Henson sent me a friend request.

"Eleanor, tonight I'll give you Russell's report for him."

In the photo she was tucked against his chest in Russell's shirt, his belt and her stockings scattered on the floor.

"Don't misunderstand. We were talking about the old days, and Russell cried and said he owed me a wedding."

"Later he drowned his sorrows in drink, so I had no choice but to stay and take care of him."

I set my phone down and dug out the agreement from seven years ago.

When Russell had nothing, I was the one who sold my mother's keepsakes to rent his office space.

Sixty percent of the company's shares are in my name.

That night I messaged Legal.

"Audit all of Russell's bad debts."

"In four days, I want Russell to hand over the company with his own hands."

Early the next morning, Finance sent me a settlement invoice for five point two million.

Russell was going to charter a plane, take Crystal Henson to an island, and throw a wedding.

I stared at those words, "island wedding," for a long time.

Back when we were choosing our own venue, I'd had my heart set on an island too.

But Russell had turned me down, citing the budget.

"Eleanor, a chapel wedding for eighty-eight hundred is nice too. All my money is tied up in the projects right now."

"Once these two projects are locked in, I promise I'll give you the grand wedding you deserve."

Looking at that five point two million request, I called Finance.

"The company's projects need the working capital. Don't process this invoice."

Half an hour later, my office door was pushed open.

Russell appeared in front of me holding a cup of hot cocoa.

"Eleanor, your favorite, hot cocoa, light on the milk, five parts sugar."

"You've been running the company for me these past few days. That's a lot to ask. Thank you."

I like it made that way, but he only ever bought it for me when he was coaxing me into giving in.

I looked up, and the first thing I saw was the two of them in their wedding clothes.

I didn't take the cocoa. My voice came out cold.

"The company's money is tied up in the projects. There's no way to cover an extra expense this large."

Crystal Henson clutched her wedding gown, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

"Eleanor, please don't blame Russell."

"He had too much to drink last night and said he owed me a wedding."

"I tried to talk him out of it, but he cried and carried on, saying he had to make up for this regret."

Tears slid down from the corners of her eyes, and Russell looked at her, full of guilt.

"I don't need the island wedding. Just getting to be Russell's partner for these seven days is more than enough for me."

Russell took her hand and said it firmly.

"This is something I promised you. I'll see it through."

Russell snatched the finance sheet out of my hand and carved out a million from each of the projects.

I raised my hand to stop him.

"My wedding venue is a chapel. The whole package comes to eighty-eight hundred."

"You and her are only trying out a seven-day romance. Why should you get to divert company money?"

Russell held her hand and refused to let go, not even a little.

"Eleanor, you're not the same as her."

"You get a wedding, you'll register the marriage with me, you have legal protection."

"All I can give her is a ceremony, so I don't want to go through the motions with her."

Seeing that I still wouldn't budge, Crystal Henson's eyes went red.

"It's fine, Russell. If Eleanor doesn't want to, that's all right. Getting to wear this gown for you just once is enough for me."

"These seven days are borrowed anyway. In the end I still have to give you back to her"

As she spoke, she reached to tug the bracelet off her wrist.

"Even this. I should give it back to Eleanor."

Russell pressed her hand still, aching at the red mark on her wrist.

"My mother gave it to you. It's her seal of approval. You don't have to take it off and hand it over to her."

He grabbed the pen out of my hand and signed the payment order.

I pointed at the project sheet, my voice low.

"If the capital on these projects can't cycle through, the company is going to lose money."

Russell glanced at me, his eyes distant.

"You've handled bigger problems than this before."

"For these few days, I trust the company won't run into any trouble in your hands."

I contacted Legal again to have them reject his request.

"Eleanor, the CEO just said it. For these seven days you run the company, but all finance approvals are his call."

At the same time, a message popped up on my phone.

Eleanor, let me take the finance work off your hands.

That way you'll have more time to prepare for the wedding. The second Crystal and I are done, I'll come back and marry you.

I let out a long breath and pushed the feeling in my chest back down.

Once I'd saved the invoice he'd signed, I forwarded it to several of the company's shareholders.

In three days, we convene a shareholders' meeting.

I had just finished organizing the material I'd gathered when Russell walked back into the company.

He held his phone up in front of me, a notification on the screen.

"We didn't pay on time yesterday, so the venue got booked by someone else."

"Crystal and I will have to wait three more months."

I looked at the deposit that had already gone out.

"Didn't you say the freedom window was only three days?"

"Three months from now, you're still going to hold a wedding with her?"

Russell nodded firmly.

"I never said I'd extend the agreement. It's only the ceremony that's moved to three months from now."

"Relax, Eleanor. Our wedding is still on as planned."

"Once Crystal finishes this last wish of hers, she won't cling to me anymore."

Without waiting for my agreement, Russell led Crystal into the office again.

"Crystal's never had a stable job, and she has her parents to take care of."

"Since the wedding's pushed back three months, this is the perfect chance for her to do her internship at our company."

Crystal looked at me and put on her sensible act.

"Eleanor, if you don't like having me here, I can go find another job."

"I'm not trying to take your spot. Russell's the one who asked me to try out the secretary position."

Russell had always been picky. He'd gone through secretary after secretary, screening for people skills, screening for degrees.

Yet now he sat her down in the seat right beside his own.

"The venue got delayed because of you in the first place, Eleanor, so don't make a fuss over the trouble."

After he'd set up her workstation, he turned to me.

"Eleanor, I'm not a man without a sense of proportion. Work and the prenuptial agreement are two separate things."

"I'll honor my promise to you, but bringing Crystal on for this job is purely for the good of the company."

Russell signed her employment application himself, then took the company seal off my desk.

"She's an art student with no training. What can she possibly do for the company?"

Russell answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Anything she doesn't know, I can teach her. Since Crystal's going to be my secretary,"

"she needs to get more familiar with how I work and live."

"Eleanor, clear out your spot and let her use it for now. I'll have someone set up a different office for you."

The other offices were crammed with clutter and sat far from every department.

I gathered up my things and let the corner of my mouth curve.

"I'll go handle my work in the conference room. No need to trouble anyone to clean a room out. I'll be moving back sooner or later."

Russell frowned.

"What I mean is, Crystal will very likely stay at the company for good"

"Never mind. Go get Miles for me. Have him take a photo of our new colleague."

As I left, Crystal hid behind him and shot me a smug little smile.

Less than half an hour later, the company account Russell managed put out a post.

But the photo attached wasn't the onboarding shot Miles took.

It was the couple's photo from their first day carrying out the agreement, taken back at the old amusement park.

People at the branch offices who didn't know me piled on the likes.

So this is Mr. Simmons's fiance?

From a campus romance to making it big together, so sweet, I'm obsessed!

Russell even liked the replies.

A long while passed before the two of them came out to explain.

We're just friends who share some good memories. Please don't misunderstand.

I was staring at the IPO application documents when Crystal forwarded the post to me.

"Eleanor, don't read too much into it. Russell's already explained."

I didn't reply. Instead I forwarded it to several shareholders.

On the grounds that it could hurt the company's public listing, I demanded the photo be taken down.

The shareholders were already unhappy about him casually diverting project funds, and they took it straight to the CEO's office.

Less than ten minutes after the new post came down, Russell called me in.

He threw his phone at me and glared.

"Did you get the shareholders together and put them up to this, coming after me?"

"It's just one photo. You'd humiliate Crystal over that?"

I shrugged.

"You have to keep business and personal separate. The company was never a place for the two of you to play out a romance."

Crystal's face darkened, bit by bit.

"How did I never notice before how unreasonable you are."

"You're just jealous, so you go after her at every turn."

He pushed a suspension notice in front of me.

"Don't come to the company for a while. Get some proper rest."

"The wedding's coming up. This is a good time for you to go look after my mother."

"Otherwise Crystal will win my mother over and really take your place."

By chance, I caught sight of the share transfer agreement on Russell's computer.

He was transferring five percent of his shares to Crystal.

I'd walked beside him for seven years.

Now, of everything he'd promised, there wasn't a single thing I wanted anymore.

After coming home early yesterday, I spent the whole night sorting through everything.

What belonged to me went into the suitcase.

Everything Russell had ever given me went into the trash.

I had just slipped the engagement ring off my finger, about to set it in the jewelry box, when I heard the door open and close.

Russell saw the suitcase, paused for a moment, then came and stood in front of me.

"Are you angry with me?"

He put the suitcase away and smoothed a hand over the top of my head.

"I just wanted you to calm down. We're getting married tomorrow. I don't want you making an ugly scene in front of everyone."

He set my things back where they'd been, then turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

Before long, a bowl of pasta was pushed in front of me.

"Eat it while it's hot. It's good for your stomach."

Two eggs, fresh baby greens, and a few shrimp on the side.

Seven years ago, when we'd first started the company, we lived in the office to save money.

On my birthday, Russell had cooked me pasta too.

A thin broth with no richness to it, one egg split between the two of us.

"Eleanor, once the company's stable, once I have money, I'll give you a home. I promise."

"I'll never let you struggle alongside me again."

Looking at this generous bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce, I had no appetite at all.

He handed me the schedule for tomorrow's wedding, his voice going soft.

"I promised you. Seven days, and I'd marry you."

"Today's the last day. There's one more thing I need to ask of you."

His eyes moved over both of my hands.

"Where's your ring?"

I pointed to the jewelry box on the vanity.

That was the diamond ring he'd used to propose to me, in front of all our family and friends.

The vow from that day still seemed to sound in my ears.

"Eleanor, marry me. I'll protect you for the rest of my life, and I'll never change."

But in the next breath, he said to me:

"Crystal wants me to propose to her before her free days run out."

"There's no time to have a ring made. Eleanor, lend me yours for one day. I'll return it tomorrow."

I tossed our wedding schedule aside and didn't touch the bowl of spaghetti.

"No."

Russell got flustered, and as he leaned toward me he knocked over the bowl, splashing broth across the back of my hand.

My arm went red and swollen at once, but he still wouldn't give up.

"It's just borrowed to propose and take a few photos. You know it's all fake anyway."

"Tomorrow I'm marrying you. Once we sign the papers, we'll be the real husband and wife."

I held to my decision, and the phone in his pocket suddenly let out the sound of crying.

"I knew Eleanor wouldn't lend it."

"Russell, let's just forget it. I'll leave tomorrow instead."

Russell pulled out his phone, coaxing her patiently.

"Seven days means seven days. Not one day less!"

"I'll take care of this. Just wait for my proposal."

The moment the call ended, he rushed straight to the vanity, trying to snatch the jewelry box.

"I bought the ring. I'm only borrowing it."

"Besides, if I don't show up tomorrow, this wedding won't happen at all."

"So there's no point in you clinging to that engagement ring."

Seven years of dating, and I'd waited year after year for his proposal.

But this time, I wasn't going to wait for him anymore.

"Take the ring. I don't want it."

Russell got what he came for and drove off in a hurry.

I printed several copies of all the documents and put them into the hands of every shareholder.

Several of the major stakeholders wrote back, one after another.

For tomorrow's meeting, we fully support replacing the head of the company.

Nine in the morning. At this exact hour, Russell and I were supposed to be walking down the aisle.

But I was already dressed for something else, seated in the conference room.

Russell stormed in with Crystal beside him, furious.

"Eleanor! There's not a single guest at the venue. Even you, the bride, are gone."

"What kind of game are you playing, calling a shareholders' meeting!"

I didn't so much as lift my eyes.

"The wedding's off. That eighty-eight thousand went into a company project."

When I did look up, I saw the diamond ring on Crystal's finger.

She hurried to pull it off.

"Eleanor, I'm so sorry. We finished so late last night, I didn't get the chance to return it to you."

"Don't cancel the wedding because of me. I'll be out of your life right away."

Russell gripped her hand tightly.

"Don't go. Actually, since all the shareholders are here, there's something I want to announce too."

He took out a share-transfer agreement.

"I'm transferring five percent of my shares to Crystal. She has the right to sit here as well."

I cut him off and spread out several documents.

"These are the company's current projects. All of them have stalled."

"Once the funds were pulled out, there wasn't enough cash to keep them running."

Russell slammed the bills from his pocket onto the table.

"At the end of it, this is still about me and Crystal."

"No project stalls over a mere five point two million."

Crystal rose to her feet, her eyes brimming with tears.

"This is all my fault. I'll leave right now, and I'll refund the cost of the island wedding."

Russell gestured for her to calm down.

"This has nothing to do with you. Eleanor's just carrying her personal feelings into work."

I couldn't be bothered to explain further and switched on the projector.

Once the five point two million was pulled out, the projects came to a halt.

Some of them had even lost the clients' trust, which meant penalty fees on top of everything.

"Every one of these transfers was signed off personally by Mr. Simmons."

Russell clearly hadn't expected it to blow up this badly. His face changed in an instant.

"Which project hasn't had its little problems before? Are you telling me you bear no responsibility at all?"

I nodded.

"You're right. I do bear responsibility."

I handed him a document folder. Every shareholder had a copy of the same material.

"Over the years the projects ran up plenty of shortfalls, and in the end I covered them all out of my own pocket."

"I should reflect on that. I shouldn't have filled so many of Mr. Simmons's holes for him."

"So I sent every last one of those old accounts to the legal department."

Russell stared at me in disbelief. The auditor stood, and his tone was grave.

"After Ms. Cox withdrew her private funds, Mr. Simmons's projects ran at a loss, and on top of that he misappropriated company funds."

"All of it added up... he owes the company twenty million dollars!"

The words had barely landed when Russell's face went white as a sheet.