She Made a List of the Perfect Man — Then Fell for the One Who Failed Every Rule
Chapter 11
Jessica left Nina’s office with tears in her eyes.
For the first time, she understood her own story.
Michael had never been the perfect man.
He was stubborn.
Work-obsessed.
Difficult.
He could be intimidating.
He had flaws.
But he was honest.
He had given her a second chance when he could have destroyed her career.
He had protected her work.
He had listened to her.
He had seen the person behind the lies.
And somehow, that mattered more than everything on her list.
Jessica pulled out her old notebook.
She opened to the first page.
Handsome.
Successful.
British.
Adventurous.
She crossed them out.
Then she wrote:
Honest.
Kind.
Patient.
Loyal.
Someone who makes me want to become better.
She stared at the final sentence.
Then she closed the notebook.
She knew what she had to do.
She ran to Harrington Capital.
Michael’s assistant told her he had already left.
Jessica’s heart sank.
“Where did he go?”
“I don’t know.”
She ran outside.
Across the street, she saw him.
Michael was standing beside his car.
“Michael!”
He turned.
Jessica ran toward him.
“I need to tell you something.”
His expression softened.
“Jessica.”
“I was wrong.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
He waited.
“I thought love was about finding someone who checked every box.”
She laughed nervously.
“It isn’t.”
Michael smiled slightly.
“What changed your mind?”
“You.”
His smile disappeared.
Jessica stepped closer.
“You weren’t the perfect man I was looking for.”
Michael’s eyes stayed on hers.
“But you became the man I couldn’t stop thinking about.”
