"What did she say to you?"
Evan's tone was pure dismissal. He rubbed his brow wearily.
"Claudia's not that kind of person. You must have misunderstood. She's young, she doesn't know better. Cut her some slack."
I laughed.
"She's your secretary, not your grandmother. Why should I cut her any slack?"
"Bernice!"
He slammed his pen on the desk and shot to his feet.
"Can you grow up? Stop acting like some jealous schoolgirl!"
"I'm at a critical stage in my career. Claudia gives me emotional support. She helps me focus on my work. And you? What do you do besides pressure me and pick fights?"
Emotional support.
So five years of giving him everything I had still couldn't compete with a young girl batting her eyelashes and playing the victim.
I looked at him, and suddenly, I didn't want to fight anymore.
"Fine. I'll drop it."
"The Global Summit is next month. The organizers gave us two spots, and I secured one for you. This is your best shot at breaking into the international market. Don't screw it up."
His expression softened instantly. He walked over and patted my shoulder.
"I knew you'd come around. You've always been the sensible one."
"Don't worry. Once I've got a solid foothold, I'll marry you. A big, proper wedding."
I looked at him. Not a single ripple stirred inside me.
This was his best opportunity.
And the perfect moment for me to pull the net closed.
Over the next month, I watched him and Claudia grow bolder.
The core algorithm my team had spent a year refining, he handed straight to Claudia.
She entered it in a competition and won an innovation award.
At the ceremony, Claudia teared up on stage and said, "I want to thank my mentor, Evan Fox. I wouldn't be here without him."
The internet praised them as a dream team.
No one knew that algorithm had been built on countless all-nighters pulled by my team.
My birthday. I'd reminded him two weeks in advance.
He promised he'd be there, swore he'd celebrate with me.
On the day itself, I waited for him all night. He didn't even send a "happy birthday."
The next morning, I saw it. Claudia had posted on social media the day before.
Evan had taken her to Disneyland. He'd arranged a private fireworks show just for her.
The caption read: "My little one. Be happy forever."
I was hospitalized with a stomach hemorrhage. I called him. His voice was thick with irritation.
"I'm on my way to the vet with Claudia. Her cat's sick. Just call a nurse. You're a grown woman. Stop being so dramatic."
Then he hung up.
I lay in the hospital bed.
For the first time, I realized that for five years, I'd been completely blind.
I stopped arguing with him. Stopped making scenes. Stopped asking about him and Claudia altogether.
I just went to work and came home on time, every day.
As if nothing had happened.
Evan probably assumed I'd given in. That I'd finally accepted Claudia's presence in his life.
The way he looked at me carried a new kind of satisfaction, like he was granting me a favor by staying.
He didn't know I was simply waiting.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
To take back everything I'd given him, with interest.
The moment came soon enough.
The Global Summit. Investors, media, industry titans, all under one roof.
Evan was set to unveil our new product at the event.
It was the key to cementing his place at the top of the industry.
The day of the summit, I sat in the front row and watched Evan stride onto the stage, radiating confidence.
He took the microphone and spoke with effortless charisma.
He talked about his journey from a penniless college kid to a rising star in tech.
He painted himself as a self-made genius who'd defied the odds.
Not once during the entire speech did he mention me. Not once did he mention the Pruitt Group.
