“Especially now that you’re pregnant,” my friend had warned me, “you need to be careful. He might try to edge you out of your own company.”
Back then, I’d laughed it off. I thought they were just being overly suspicious.
Yet, looking back now, the memory chills me.
After all, if it weren’t guilt or something else at play, why would Xavier specifically delete my building access?
When I asked him, he paused, clearly taken aback.
“What? How is that possible? I definitely didn’t do that!” he protested. “Maybe someone deleted it by accident. Give me half an hour. I’ll look into it and have them restore it right away.”
I opened my lips to say more, but ultimately, it turned into a gentle 'mm,' and I ended the call.
Soon after, he sent me what sounded like a perfect explanation.
“Vivian, I checked,” he said briskly. “Yesterday, when HR was consolidating attendance records, they saw you’ve been on maternity leave for months and took it upon themselves to remove your access. I gave them a scolding and had them put it back. From now on, you can come to the company anytime, just like before.”
The way he said it in such a matter-of-fact tone made it sound as if the company had quietly become his.
But he seemed to forget that I’m the company’s legal representative. I’m the one who truly holds the reins.
If I hadn’t given him this company to run, even ten years of struggling would not have brought him to where he is today.
“Ma’am, where to?” the taxi driver prompted gently.
I sat dazed in the back seat.
It was the third time he’d asked.
Finally, I shook my head and passed him a thousand dollars.
“Nowhere,” I said softly. “Let’s just wait here.”
Lifting my gaze to the office building not far away, I settled in.
All afternoon, I sat restless in that cab, watching the front doors as people streamed in and out.
Sure enough, I eventually saw Xavier come out holding Yssa’s hand.
My breath hitched.
So after that feather-light apology, he hadn’t made things difficult for her at all and didn’t even mention firing her. At the time, I couldn’t understand why he’d be so lenient with an intern.
Now the answer was right in front of me.
I watched as he stopped, slipped an arm around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Go back to the apartment and wait for me,” he murmured. “I’ll come find you once I finish up.”
“I don’t want to,” Yssa pouted, clearly reluctant. “Is that old bat trying to seduce you again? Is she using that CEO title to pressure you into sleeping with her?”
“Xavier, maybe you’re scared of her, but I’m not,” she went on, chin tilted. “Worst case, I’ll report her and let her husband see what a slut she really is…”
“That’s enough, Yssa. Don’t cause me more trouble,” he said at last.
But his tone was unbearably gentle, the way you’d soothe a lover.
Then he added, low and earnest, “Vivian’s family background is formidable. Not even her husband can rein her in. I promise you, as soon as I’ve secured real control of the company in the next two years, I’ll cut ties with her completely and marry you.”
I almost burst out laughing from sheer anger. My hand moved instinctively, searching for a cigarette. Then, I remembered I’d thrown them all out months ago, when I got pregnant.
No wonder Yssa kept calling me a temptress for "seducing her husband.”
This was the root of it.
In her world, I’m the mistress.
They chatted a few more times on Instagram, soft and conspiratorial. Then, Xavier hailed a taxi and, ever considerate, opened the door for her.
“Yssa, take good care of yourself,” he said. “I’ll be home tonight.”
She looped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the lips, and they clung to each other for a long, syrupy moment before parting.
“Xavier, I’ll be waiting…” she whispered.
Only after her cab pulled away did Xavier straighten his clothes, smooth his expression, and turn to head home.
