POV: Claire
The night was stretching out behind me, but my mind went back to one month ago when Daniel had publicly ordered a new model sports car that I had personally picked out the color for, to make up for the recent neglect, as a birthday gift. He had been neglecting our Friday nights more than usual, his work taking over everything. But for my birthday, he had made a special effort.
On the day of my birthday, I left the office early, my heels clicking against the concrete floor as I made my way to the company underground parking lot.
The garage was quiet, the air cool and carrying the faint smell of oil. The lights above cast long shadows on the concrete floor, the cars lined up like silent witnesses to the scene unfolding. I saw the sleek black car waiting for me, its lines smooth and inviting, but from a distance, I spotted Emily sitting in the driver's seat, her hands on the center console, while Daniel was standing beside her, bending over to show her how to use the controls, his body close to hers.
My steps slowed, a wave of confusion washing over me as I realized something was off.
I walked toward them, my heels making small sounds on the floor, each step bringing me closer to the truth that was about to hit me.
Emily saw me coming, her eyes widening in panic. She immediately jumped out of the car, closing the door with a sharp click, the sound echoing in the garage.
She looked at me with wide eyes, her expression innocent but her voice had a reproachful tone.
"I didn't know this was the boss lady's birthday gift," she said, her words carrying a hint of blame. "I thought it was just a car for a client meeting. I didn't mean to drive it away. It was an accident."
Her tone was innocent, but the blame was on Daniel for not informing her in advance, not on her for driving the car away.
Daniel frowned at her, his brows furrowing, his face showing the first signs of discomfort. He didn't apologize to me right away. Instead, he looked at Emily and said, "Emily, your car broke down. I just let you borrow it temporarily to meet a client."
His voice was steady, but I could see the strain in his posture, the way his shoulders tensed, the way his eyes avoided mine.
I stood there, my heart sinking as the reality set in, the excitement of the gift turning into this cold disappointment that left me feeling empty.
I didn't lose my temper or snatch the keys from the car. I just looked at Daniel coldly, my gaze locking onto his without a word, the silence speaking volumes.
The silence was heavy, the only sound the distant hum of the ventilation system, the air feeling thicker with tension, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.
Then, I reached into my purse, pulled out my phone, and dialed the number for the car dealership.
I put the phone on speaker, my voice calm and clear, my hand steady on the phone.
"Hello, I need to return a car I ordered. The black sports car, the one I picked the color for. Please process the return for me."
The person on the other end confirmed the details over the line, their voice professional and polite, the words bringing a sense of finality to the situation.
The representative asked whether the vehicle had already been delivered and registered in my name. I looked through the windshield at the temporary dealer tag still fixed to the rear window.
"Not yet," I said. "It's still in the company garage."
"Then we can arrange collection from there today," the representative replied.
Emily's fingers tightened around the key fob. After a second, she placed it carefully on the hood. Daniel opened his mouth as if he wanted to interrupt, but the representative was already asking for the pickup address. I gave it calmly, one detail at a time. The sleek black car stayed exactly where it was, no longer waiting for me, no longer something Daniel could hand to someone else and still call mine.
I ended the call, my hand steady on the phone, the weight of the decision settling on me, the air in the garage suddenly feeling colder.
I looked at Daniel again, my eyes cold.
Daniel's face turned red, and for the first time, he looked humiliated.
He took a step closer, his voice angry and questioning, the anger rising in his tone.
"Are you really going to return the gift just because Emily drove it once? It's not like she did anything wrong. It's your birthday gift."
His tone was sharp, the anger evident in every word, the frustration clear.
I didn't respond to the accusation. I reached for my bag and slung it over my shoulder, the strap feeling familiar against my arm, a small anchor in the chaos.
I looked at him, my voice calm but firm.
"I’m returning something that stopped feeling like mine before I even got it."
The words left my lips, feeling like the truth I had been holding back, the end of something I hadn't realized was over, the words carrying the weight of my feelings.
I turned around without looking back, my heels clicking against the floor as I walked toward the elevator at the far end of the lot, each click echoing my resolve.
I pressed the button, the doors opened with a soft ding, and I stepped inside.
The doors closed behind me, sealing me in, and I leaned against the wall, the cool metal a contrast to the heat of the moment I had just left behind, the echo of the parking lot fading as the elevator moved upward.
The elevator started moving, carrying me away from the parking lot and the scene that had just unfolded, my mind already turning to the road ahead.
